A milk allergy can be a frightening, frustrating condition for your child or yourself and is one of the most common food allergies that affects children and adults—more than 2% of children and roughly 2.6% of adults in the US report having a milk allergy.
Cow milk is the most common trigger for patients with a milk allergy, but milk from animals like goats, sheep, buffalo, and others can cause a reaction, as well.
To better understand a milk allergy, its symptoms, and ways to manage it, let’s take a closer look at this common food allergy.
What Is a Milk Allergy?
Milk allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to the proteins found in milk, most especially casein and whey. Sensitive immune systems treat these proteins and possibly other milk proteins like invaders and trigger chain reactions in the body that are designed to flush the protein(s) out as soon as possible.
There are two types of milk allergies: IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated. It’s possible to have only one or both of these milk allergies.
IgE-Mediated Milk Allergy
An IgE-mediated milk allergy means that the immune system will make immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in response to the presence of milk proteins. IgE antibodies are what can lead to anaphylaxis, the most severe allergy response that requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of an IgE-mediated milk allergy include:
- Breathing difficulty
- Coughing and wheezing
- Facial swelling
- Mouth tingling or itchiness
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rashes and hives
- Throat swelling
- Tongue and lip swelling
Symptoms typically appear soon after consuming a milk product, often within the first 30 minutes.
Non-IgE-Mediated Milk Allergy
A non-IgE-mediated milk allergy means that the immune system will respond to the milk proteins, but it will not trigger the production of IgE antibodies during the response.
Symptoms of a non-IgE-mediated milk allergy include:
- Acid reflux
- Fatigue or lethargy
- General physical discomfort
- Skin rash
- Sleeping trouble
- Slimy or bloody stools
- Vomiting and diarrhea
Non-IgE-mediated symptoms are typically delayed, meaning a patient can consume a milk product and begin feeling its effects two or more hours later.
Is a Non-IgE-Mediated Milk Allergy the Same as Lactose Intolerance?
The short answer to this question is, “No, they are different.”
- Milk allergies, even non-IgE-mediated milk allergies, are triggered by the presence of proteins in the milk product.
- Lactose intolerance is caused by the body’s inability to properly digest lactose, or a type of sugar found in all mammal milk.
Simply put, a milk allergy affects the immune system, and lactose intolerance affects the digestive system.
What Milk Products Can Tigger Milk Allergies?
There are many, many milk products that those with a milk allergy should be weary of, including:
- Raw or pasteurized milk
- Buttermilk
- Creamers
- Whipping cream
- Butter or ghee
- Cheeses
- Yogurts
- Ice cream
- Kefir
- Whey protein powders
- Condensed milk
How to Read a Food Label for Milk Ingredients
Manufacturers are required to label food products with the ingredients used to produce them. For the most part, companies will make it easy for label readers to know what ingredients are in the product by including the line “Contains X, Y, Z” or “May contain X, Y, Z” if there is the possibility of cross-contamination. When reading the label, look for “Contains milk” or “May contain milk” to know if the product should be avoided.
If the “contains” line is missing from the label, there are a few keywords you should look for in the ingredients list. These include:
- Milk
- Casein
- Whey
Be Careful, Even With Products Labeled “Dairy-Free”
Even if a food product implies that it is milk-free, it’s important to read the label just to be safe. Be careful with labels like:
- Animal-free dairy
- Animal-free milk
- Dairy-free
- Kosher
- Kosher-dairy
- Milk-free
- Non-dairy
- Plant-based
- Vegan
Read the ingredients list and avoid the product all together if you suspect the label is misleading. “Non-dairy” doesn’t always mean “milk-free” because they can still contain casein. Plus, certain labels like “____-free” are not always regulated by the FDA or the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA). Producers may put that label on packaging for food that does, in fact, contain milk-based ingredients.
How Can I Protect My Child or Myself From Milk Allergies?
If you or your child suffers from a milk allergy, the best course of action is to be diligent with what is eaten and avoid milk products as much as possible.
Tips to protect yourself include:
- Reading food labels
- Avoiding dishes that use milk products or milk-based ingredients
- Being careful of cross-contamination
- Speaking to waitstaff about your allergy at restaurants
- Communicating with your child’s teachers, school staff, daycare team, babysitters, and others about your child’s allergy
- Partnering with a trusted allergist to provide the treatment and management plan to stay safe and reaction-free.
Do you or your child suffer from a milk allergy? Talk to the team at Langford Allergy for effective allergy care, treatment, and management.
Dr. Langford, Dr. Mathew, and our team of allergy specialists are dedicated to helping milk allergy patients stay safe during every meal or snack. Food allergies are frustrating or frightening, but there are treatments and management plans that can help keep you safe and free of reactions.
Schedule an appointment to talk with us about your milk allergy today: 478-787-4728
Langford Allergy delivers allergy, asthma, and immunodeficiency care to patients throughout Middle Georgia, including:
- Bonaire, GA
- Byron, GA
- Forsyth, GA
- Fort Valley, GA
- Gray, GA
- Macon, GA
- Milledgeville, GA
- Perry, GA
- Warner Robins, GA
And other surrounding areas.
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