Is lactose free milk dairy free?

Have you recently stumbled upon lactose-free milk and found yourself curious to know whether or not it’s dairy free? It’s a fair question given the growing trend towards alternative milks these days. So let’s put on our investigative hats, whip out our magnifying glasses, and get to the bottom of this great lactose-free versus dairy-free debate!

What is Lactose-Free Milk?

Before diving into whether or not lactose-free milk is dairy free we must first understand what it actually is. Lactose happens to be a type of sugar that occurs naturally in milk and other dairy products. Unfortunately, some people lack an enzyme known as lactase which helps break down lactose in their bodies leading them to experience stomach issues such as bloating, gas, cramps, and diarrhea when they consume certain types of foods.

To solve this problem for all those unfortunate souls who cannot comfortably digest regular cow’s milk without any gastrointestinal stress there came along another type – called lactoѕе-frее milk, Cow’s still used for producing this version but with minimal alterations made in order . It undergoes additional processing stages that help remove the lactase from Cow’s milk by making use of enzymes derived from plants eventually resulting in less than 0.01% (by weight)vof residual lactose remaining contained per serve.

Quick Overview Of Dairy

Ah! The term “dairy.” A single term that encompasses many different things like butter cheese sour cream ice cream etc., You could say “when someone says ‘dairy’, they’re talking about solid animal-based products”. Pretty straightforward right? So if we examine its definition under ICA rules – “essentially can be defined as substances obtained from manufacturing liquid raw material produced by secreting organs” Ah-Huh so means anything coming from an animal organism would fall under the umbrella of dairy.

Back to Lactose-Free Milk

Now that we’ve got a bit of basic knowledge under our belt, let’s take a look at what makes up lactose-free milk to decipher whether or not it falls under the category of being considered as “dairy”. At first glance, It might seem complicated but in reality producing lactose-free milk is quite simple, just remove sugars from cow’s milk.

Most commonly used technique- Ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing which has been around since 1950s and involves heating raw Cow’s Milk rapidly up-to 280°F for about 2 seconds then cooling it down before storing in air-tight containers Eventually resulting into destroying all bacteria , germs as well as essential vitamins & minerals .But don’t worry – these can subsequently be added back in later without worry. This processing method allows it to remain unspoiled upto six months plus less space required for refrigeration due to its long shelf life.

So Is Lactose-Free Milk Dairy-Free?

In general when someone says “is ___ dairy free?” What they really mean is “does this product contain substances derived animal secretions?” [Yes] ((The FDA requires companies label milks :Cow’s, Soy etc.,however most places sell them unlabeled) when referring onlyto solid based foods like cheeses creams along with thickening agents that come from cows Farm animals . Since ethically speaking no contribution by mammals get removed while producing lactoѕе-frее milk actually still qualifies within definition vicinity of getting classified as products containing elements derived through mammal secretions i.e ‘’Dairy”.[Though] ((When discussing solely liquid beverages))it could fall outside the realm called “dairy”.

Doesn’t make sense? Think about vegetable-oil buttery substitutes – you’ll find them on same aisle next block whatever regular butter is (as evidenced which product contains substances derived only from animals: butter) but cannot find lactose-free milk there cuz, it does not matter if ‘milk’ produced only through cows and whether it has all its components or not – the defining factor remains that lactoѕе-frее version still heavily relies upon milk. So yes, technically speaking Lactose-Free Milk isn’t dairy free.

Hold On!

Wait a minute before cursing life let’s first consider in light of new findings It’s totally possible for you to dodge any unwanted effects after having your glass of ‘lactoѕе-ргоduced’ beverage considering “why” ~ A Study conducted as far back as 1970s highlighted one can easily get used digesting levels up-to 18g/day i.e regular cuppa Cow’s Milk In addition to that just like Greek Yogurt containing naturally lesser sugars than plain -all serving equal weightof different types milks vary . Compare two containers side by side see chart below

Type Weight (in grams) Lactase Present? Sugar Content (per cupfulness)
Whole Cow’s Milk 244 gms(8oz) approx. Yes 12 gms
Lactоѕе-Fгее Cow’s Milk (slightly heavier) 605 gms(approx1 pint) No Less than2%approx

Now clearly we could stay away forever or perhaps switch entirely for something else(goat milk almond soy ) ,but why should one compromise on taste when an option exists ?! May be trying small doses initially seeing body responds them upping consumption gradually eventually arriving at point where drinkable quantity significantly goes Up .

Final Thoughts

Ease of availability along with its nutritional value aside all said and done – it might be best to avoid both lactose-free milk if your intent is a full-fledged vegan lifestyle; considering how much use hormones antibiotics get employed in farms these days. Despite that Do note however that purchasing various non-dairy alternatives will give you higher levels inferior amino acid profiles, and should only ever be considered as alternative where necessary
On the other hand for those whose primary concern solely lays digestibility of Cow’s Milk ‘Lactose-Free’ offers an excellent choice So although not strictly dairy free ,This type offers comfort without too many consequences making sure we remain our jolly selves throughout the day!

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