Foods containing hidden lactose

❌ You think you've eliminated lactose of your diet? Think again.

It goes everywhere In your sauces, cold meats, pastries... even in your medicines. It's called hidden lactoseIf you're suffering from digestive disorders, it could be the main culprit behind your persistent digestive problems. Here's how to spot it and avoid it.

Is lactose only present in dairy products?

Lactose is a sugar naturally present in milk. He is also featured in :

• cow's milk (whole or skimmed),

• yoghurts,

• fresh cheeses,

• creams, etc.

But what is less well known is that he is often added as an additive or texturing agent in many industrial productsincluding those which, on the face of it, have nothing to do with milk...

Unsuspected foods where lactose hides...

Some industrial sauces contain lactose! Avoid this risk with homemade sauces.

Most pastries contain lactose, so be careful...

Lactose is present in some cooked meats because it improves texture and shelf life.

In medicines, lactose plays the role of an excipient, an inactive ingredient capable of giving a given product its taste, consistency or colour.

Industrial sauces and preparations

Many sauces contain milk or cream:

• béchamel, pasta or meat sauces,

• Salad dressings (mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup),

• Broths and soups in bricks or sachets.

These products sometimes use powdered milk or whey for texture or conservation reasons.

Bread, Viennese pastries and cereals

Lactose is used for :

• improve texture and the conservation sandwich bread, burger buns, bagels, Viennese pastries...

• enhance the taste of industrial biscuits, breakfast cereals, muffinsetc.

Cold meats and processed meats

Some charcuterie products may contain :

• from powdered milk or milk proteins,

• to improve texture or extend shelf life.

This concerns sausages, pâtés, terrines, industrial hamsetc.

Medicines and food supplements

Approximately 20 % of medicines that use lactose as an excipient, in particular :

• contraceptive pills,

• common analgesics,

• vitamin, mineral or probiotic supplements.

Always check the composition, and ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

How can you recognise the presence of hidden lactose?

Many foods available in supermarkets contain hidden lactose, so you need to be vigilant about their composition to avoid digestive problems.

On food labels, lactose can appear under different names:

• milk, milk powder, whey,
• cream, butter, whey, lactulose,
• lactalbumin, lactoglobulin...

⛔ Milk powder is undoubtedly the worst enemy of lactose intolerant peopleIt contains around 50% of lactose, but you should also be wary of a large number of sweet and savoury processed foods.

💡 Did you know?  Butter contains only traces of lactose, which often makes it tolerable for mild intolerances.

Our advice on avoiding hidden lactose

Here are 4 things you can do to limit your consumption:

1. Read labels carefully food and pharmaceutical products.

2. Favouring home-made products A homemade purée or sauce contains no hidden lactose.

3. Choosing plant-based alternatives Drinks made with almonds, oats, rice, soya or coconut cream...

4. Use supplements based on lactaseThe LACTOLERANCE range, for example, makes it easier to digest lactose when it is difficult to avoid.

In a nutshell

Lactose is hidden in many everyday products ready meals, pastries, sauces, cold meats, etc.

For intolerant people, Identifying these hidden sources is essential to avoid digestive problems. Fortunately, there are alternatives and solutions for continuing to eat without depriving yourself and with complete peace of mind.

Vincent

Hello, I'm Vincent
Like you, I'm lactose intolerantI know exactly what you're going through and the difficulties you encounter on a daily basis. For over 10 years, I've been helping our customers to use our dietary supplements and giving advice and tips on how to improve their digestive comfort. I'm also a keen cook and gourmet, so you'll find my favourite recipes for a lactose-free diet in this blog.

Lactose intolerance is not inevitable! With LACTOLERANCE you can digest with complete peace of mind