Share
The world is full of hidden dairy. You can avoid eating things that contain dairy if you know the common products that secretly contain dairy. You can always read the ingredients and allergens to be extra sure. Dairy is sometimes one of the hardest things to give up, whether you're doing it for health reasons or because you want to switch to a vegan or plant-based diet.
It can be very challenging to identify items that secretly contain dairy. We must be on the lookout for more than simply the term "milk," after all. Numerous milk derivatives with cunning names can be found in some products. However, we have done some research to assist you in determining which goods frequently contain hidden dairy, so you can avoid them when you go shopping.
The information on food labels is meant to educate people so they can make informed eating decisions. As for someone who is lactose intolerant, reading labels becomes an important task, as being ignorant can put them in a tough spot later because most of the packaged products on the market contain dairy in some way or another, which is also mentioned on the labels in fine print or words that most of us may not comprehend at large.
The front, back, and sides of a package contain information that informs us about the contents of the item and provides help in selecting healthier choices of processed foods. However, the abundance of figures, ratios, and occasionally complicated-sounding substances may cause more confusion than clarity. Therefore, it becomes crucial to understand and read the labels very carefully.
Chewing Gum:
It appears that not all gum is dairy-free. Who could have imagined? Recaldent is an ingredient certain manufacturers use that comes from milk. Recaldent is a milk protein derivative that binds to tooth surfaces to maintain the delicate calcium and phosphorus balance required for strong, healthy teeth and oral tissue. Apart from chewing gum, recaldent is also found in toothpaste and is believed to be great for dental health.
Granola Mixes:
Verify that a granola mix is free of butter before purchasing it. There are granola blends available that are oil-based and dairy-free. However, it is always preferred to prepare your own mix because making your own granola mixes ensures that you always know exactly what is in them. Since butter is added to many granola mixes to give the granola a more velvety, smoother, and richer texture and taste, it becomes important to check the labels.
Cereal Bars:
Even "natural cereals" and "health food" cereals in boxes often contain some kind of dairy, contrary to popular belief. Casein, which is the main protein present in milk and amounts to 80% of the total protein, is obtained by separating it from the milk by acidifying; whey protein, or whey protein isolates, which are the other 20% of the milk proteins; and nonfat milk powder, which is a product created by eliminating the fat and water from milk, are frequently included in these. These products are all basically byproducts of milk. To make label-reading a bit simpler, these products will mention the allergies they contain, particularly milk, almonds, and soy, in bold.
Dairy-Free Cheese:
Okay, this might be a bit unclear. Why does it contain dairy if it is dairy-free? Well, casein is still present in some nut cheeses. Nut cheeses may not be an option for you if this is a deal-breaker unless you can find one without casein additions.
Sherbet:
In addition to fruit, water, and sugar, this common ice cream substitute may also contain milk, egg whites, or gelatin. Sherbet brands offered in grocery shops frequently have cream or milk fat in them. Choose sorbet, which is a similar product that is produced from fruit, water, and sugar. To be certain, you should, however, always look at the ingredients.
Crackers:
While some natural and organic companies have started making non-dairy alternatives that can be obtained at natural and health food stores, store-bought crackers nearly invariably contain butter, butterfat, or nonfat milk powder.
Flavoured Chips:
Milk may be included in the flavouring that is put into potato chips, like the cheese powder, etc. Cheese culture, salt, and other ingredients are combined to create the rich cheese powder. The flavour of the powder is very similar to that of ordinary cheese, minus the moisture. It is recommended to avoid chips altogether or switch to traditional snacks like kodabale, nippattu, kara mandakki, etc. to prevent this secret dairy element.
