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GET THE FACTS ON COWS’ MILK ALLERGY AND LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
National Allergy Week is from the 19th to the 23rd of May, and to help answer
your questions and lay some myths to rest, The Dairy Council brings you the
facts about Cows’ Milk Allergy and Lactose Intolerance.
Most people outgrow cows’ milk allergy People often wrongly diagnose themselves with
Cows’ milk allergy occurs when the body’s immune sys- cows’ milk allergy or lactose intolerance
tem reacts inappropriately to ordinarily harmless protein Many more people believe they have lactose intoler-
in milk. Unlike other allergies, cows’ milk allergy occurs ance, or cows’ milk allergy, than actually have these
predominantly in childhood, and most children outgrow conditions. Symptoms can be very similar to other
the condition. Approximately 2% of infants, and chil- conditions and many people exclude cows’ milk and
dren, in the UK are affected by cows’ milk allergy, with dairy foods from the diet without being diagnosed by
80-90% of them outgrowing the condition by 5 years a qualifi ed medical practitioner. Anyone who feels they
of age, and only 0.1-0.5% of adults may have an allergy or intolerance
being affected.
Fact
to any food should visit their GP.
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Symptoms vary from person to
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Excluding milk and dairy foods
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from the diet can lead to nutrient
The symptoms of cows’ milk allergy defi ciencies
can range in severity from eczema to Milk and dairy foods are packed with
life threatening anaphylactic shock. nutrients essential to good health
Diagnosis must only be made by a such as calcium, phosphorus, mag-
medically qualifi ed doctor and a State nesium, protein, vitamin B12 and
Registered Dietitian should be involved iodine. Without dairy, our diets can
in the management of the condition. become low in these nutrients unless
suitable replacements are consumed.
Goats’ milk, sheep’s milk, and soya-
based drinks often cause symptoms too At present the only treatment for cows’
Many people believe that milk from milk allergy is complete avoidance of
animals such as goats and sheep can be cows’ milk, as well as foods containing
used as a suitable replacement for cows’ milk. How- cows’ milk. If you are diagnosed with cows’ milk allergy,
ever, in many cases, those with an allergy to cows’ milk your GP or dietitian should also advise you on how to
protein also react inappropriately to the proteins in the replace the nutrients you need to help keep you fi t and
milk from other animals, and may also react badly to healthy.
soya protein. It is essential that people with this condi-
tion are closely monitored by medical professionals.
In conjunction with the British Dietetic Association (BDA),
Lactose intolerance is completely different from
The Dairy Council has just produced two new leafl ets
cows’ milk allergy called Cows’ Milk Allergy and Lactose Intolerance to
Lactose intolerance is very different to cows’ milk aller-
highlight the facts about these conditions. To order these
gy. Lactose intolerance occurs when the body does not
or any other Dairy Council leafl ets free of charge, or for
produce any or enough of the enzyme lactase, which
further information on dairy research or nutrition advice
is needed to break down the sugar in milk, otherwise
relating to dairy, please visit www.milk.co.uk, or contact
known as lactose. Symptoms of lactose intolerance
include bloating, constipation, and fl atulence. They can
The Dairy Council at info@dairycouncil.org.uk or on 020
be unpleasant but are not life threatening.
7395 4030.
People with lactose intolerance can still eat dairy foods
Other free publications available from The Dairy Coun-
Studies have found that many people with lactose intol- cil include: Fill your bones with calcium, Bump 2 Baby,
erance can still tolerate some dairy foods such as hard
Baby Nosh, Tiny Tums, Tiny Teeth, Get Healthy Feel
cheeses and yogurts, as well as up to 240ml of milk (a
Great, Chomp, Bag of Bones, Milk & Sport, The Health
large glass) without experiencing symptoms, as long as
Benefi ts of Milk, Say Cheese! The cheesy little booklet of
it is consumed with other foods and spread throughout
facts, and The Facts About Milk
the day.
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