Names that mean milk
- Milk, milk powder, milkfat, buttermilk
- Whey, whey proteinThe liquid left when milk is made into cheese. Common in protein bars and snacks.
- Casein, caseinateThe main protein in milk. Sodium caseinate shows up in coffee creamers.
- LactoseThe sugar in milk.
- Butter, gheeGhee is clarified butter.
- Cream, sour cream
- Cheese, curdAs in cheese curds.
- Yogurt
- Dairy
Look-alikes that aren’t milk
- Cocoa butter, shea butterFats from plants.
- Peanut butter and other nut or seed buttersNamed for their texture. Check them for peanuts and tree nuts instead.
- Coconut milk, coconut creamMade from coconut.
- Soy, oat, almond and rice milkPlant drinks. Check them for their own allergens.
- Cream of tartarA baking powder ingredient that comes from winemaking.
- Bean curdAnother name for tofu, which is soy.
- Butternut squashA vegetable.
What the law requires
| United States | A major food allergen.1 The FDA counts milk from cows, goats, sheep and other ruminants, and milk from an animal other than a cow should name it, as in “whey (goat milk).”2 |
|---|---|
| European Union | One of the 14 allergens: “Milk and products thereof (including lactose).” Whey used to make spirits, and lactitol, are exempt.3 |
| Japan | Mandatory (乳).4 |
On labels in other languages
| Spanish | Chinese | Japanese |
|---|---|---|
| leche, lácteo, suero de leche | 牛奶、乳、乳成分 | 乳、乳成分 |
Milk proteins made without cows still count
Under FDA guidance, a protein from a major food allergen is labeled as that allergen even when it’s made another way, for example by fermentation. So a milk protein made without a cow still has to be declared as milk.2
The most common undeclared allergen
The FDA says milk is the most common cause of recalls for undeclared allergens in the US. It has singled out dark chocolate as a higher-risk product for people allergic to milk.1