Avoid All Sources of Cow's Milk

In very young children, cow's milk is the leading cause of allergic reactions. Once you know your child has a cow's-milk allergy, all milk and milk products must be completely removed from the diet. Not even small amounts should be eaten.

Avoid buying "deli" meats because the slicers may be used to cut both meat and cheese products. Also, some deli meats contain milk used as binders and listed as "flavoring."

Another problem that is increasing is the presence of cross contaminants in processed foods. For example, several children have had an allergic reaction after eating tofu ice cream. The ice cream had significant levels of cow's milk protein in it. Tofu ice cream is not made with milk, but much of it is made in dairy plants, and the batch had been contaminated. To combat this problem, the Neogen Corporation has developed tests to help food manufacturers determine if milk residues have come into contact with foods that should be milk-free.

Read Food Labels

Knowing how to read a food label will help you avoid problems caused by cow's milk in foods.

 
Avoid foods that contain milk or any of these ingredients:
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artificial butter flavor       lactulose 
butter, butter fat,            milk (in all forms including 
   butter oil                     condensed, derivative, 
buttermilk                        dry, evaporated, goat's 
lowfat, malted,                   milk, and milk from 
casein (casein hydrolysate)       other animals, milkfat,
caseinates (in all forms)         nonfat, powder, protein,
cheese                            skimmed, solids, whole) 
cream                          nougat 
cottage cheese                 pudding 
curds                          rennet casein 
custard                        sour cream, sour cream 
ghee                              solids 
half & half                    sour milk solids 
lactalbumin, lactalbumin       whey (in all forms) 
   phosphate                   yogurt 
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Foods that may contain milk protein: 
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caramel candies
chocolate
flavorings (including natural and artificial)
high protein flour
lactic acid starter culture
lactose
luncheon meat, hot dogs, sausages
margarine
non-dairy products
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Use Soy Formula and Soymilk

If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, your doctor may recommend that you give a soy-based or casein-hydrolysate formula that will provide the nutrients usually found in milk and milk products. Some soy-based formulas are Isomil, Prosobee, Nursoy, and I-Soyalac. Casein-hydrolysate formulas contain milk protein that has been extensively broken down so it isn't as likely to cause an allergic reaction as regular milk. Some casein-hydrolysate formulas are Alimentum, Nutramigen, and Pregestimil.

Avoid whey-hydrolysate formulas because they contain some whole milk proteins.

Soy-based infant formulas are fortified with nutrients. If your child is currently on a milk-free infant formula, continue to use it as long as your child willingly drinks it. There is no need to stop using soymilk as your child gets older.

Provide Missing Nutrients

Milk is normally the main source of calcium and vitamin D in a child's diet. These nutrients are needed to build strong bones. If your child is on a diet without milk and is not drinking a formula, ask your doctor about calcium and vitamin D supplements. Calcium supplements include Biocal, Caltrate, Neocalglucon, Oscal, Rolaids, Titralac, and Tums. You can also use a calcium-fortified orange juice, which has approximately the same calcium content as milk.