Factsheet - Allergy - Milk (Dairy) Free Diet
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Milk free (Dairy Free) diet
Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for education purposes only. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.
Cow's milk is used widely in the foods we eat. Sometimes it is easy to see where it is used and sometimes it is harder to find. Usually children who react to cow's milk will also react to goat's milk and milk from other animals. Children sensitive to cow's milk are not usually sensitive to beef.
Look carefully for the word "milk" on packaged food ingredient lists and avoid those foods.
Avoid foods which contain:
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Food likely to contain cow's milk protein:
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Cow's milk substitutes
| Instead of: | Use: |
| Cow's milk infant formula for a child less than I year of age | Breast milk, soy formula, hydrolysed formula or amino acid formula. Speak with a medical professional to choose the right one based on your child's diagnosis |
| Cow's milk for a child over 1 year of age | Soy drink - choose one with more than 120mg calcium /100mls soy drink Rice drink - choose one with more than 120mg calcium /100mls rice drink |
| Yoghurt | Soy yoghurt |
| Cheese, sour cream | Soy cheese, soy sour cream |
| Ice cream | Soy ice cream, sorbet, milk free gelato |
| Butter and margarine | Milk free margarine eg Becel®, Sundew®, Nuttelex® |
Some soy products may contain small amounts of cow's milk protein and may need to be avoided if your child is highly allergic. Ask your doctor or dietitian.
These include:
- Soy yoghurt (a milk-based starter may be used)
- Soy cheese (may contain casein).
Note: Toffuti brand sour cream, cream cheese and cheese is milk free
Milk and Nut-Free Chocolates
Sweet William - milk chocolate/ tangerine milk chocolate (dairy free, gluten free, lactose free, peanut free)
chocolate spread (gluten free, lactose free, dairy free, peanut free)
available in Woolworths, Coles (health food isle), IGA (confectionery isle), health food shops.
www.sweetwilliam.com.au
Kinnerton- milk/dark chocolate (nut free, dairy free, gluten free, egg free)
available at Big W, Target, Aldi, Darrell Lea, Kmart., Myer, Sugar Fix
Willow - chocolate bars, Christmas, Easter and Valentine novelties, frogs
Available 03 9587 1079 or via www.allergyblock.com.au
For more information
- www.sch.edu.au/health/factsheets/#A
- Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
- FSANZ - Food Standards Australia and New Zealand for information on food labelling
Cow's milk and dairy products are the main source of calcium in our diet. When it isn't possible to use cow's milk it is essential to make sure your child gets it from other sources.
Daily calcium requirements are:
| CHILDREN | BOYS | GIRLS | |
| 1 - 3 years | 500mg | ||
| 4 - 8 years | 700mg | ||
| 9 - 13 yrs | 1000 - 1300mg | 1000 - 1300mg | |
| 14 - 18 yrs | 1300mg | 1300mg |
Add up the usual amounts of these foods each day
| FOOD | CALCIUM CONTENT | QUANTITY CONSUMED | CALCIUM CONSUMED mg |
| Soy drink* - 100ml | 120 mg | ||
| Rice drink with added calcium*-100mls | 120mg | ||
| Soy Yoghurt **- 200g (1 large tub) | 300 mg | ||
| Soy Cheese - ** 20g (1 slice) | 60 mg | ||
| Soy Ice cream ** -2 scoops | 120 mg | ||
| Soy Custard** - ½ cup | 150 mg | ||
| Tofu*- 60 g (2 cubes) | 14 - 190 mg | ||
| Salmon with bones - ½ cup | 400 mg | ||
| Sardines - 1 small tin | 230 mg | ||
| Breakfast cereal with added calcium** | Check label | ||
| Broccoli ½ cup | 20mg | ||
| Supplement | |||
| Other | |||
| TOTAL |
* Calcium content of foods can vary between brands
** Check all ingredient lists carefully as they may contain cow's milk protein
Calcium Supplements
In some cases it may be necessary to give a calcium supplement.
Examples:
- Sandocal, (1000mg calcium/tablet) a pleasant fizzy drink which can be made up with water or juice
- Caltrate, (600mg/tablet) a tablet which can be crushed and added to food or drink
- Nature's Way Kids Calcium chewable Burstlets (200mg calcium) - strawberry flavoured. Can be chewed or popped and squeezed into mouth or food.
- Calcia (500mg) chewable lemon or orange flavoured tablet
- Calsup (500mg) mint flavoured chewable tablet
For more information
- www.sch.edu.au/health/factsheets/#A
- Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)
- FSANZ - Food Standards Australia and New Zealand for information on food labelling
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| The Children's Hospital at Westmead Tel: (02) 9845 3585 Fax: (02) 9845 3562 www.chw.edu.au |
Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick Tel: (02) 9382 1688 Fax: (02) 9382 1451 www.sch.edu.au |
Kaleidoscope, Hunter Children's Health Network Tel: (02) 4921 3670 Fax: (02) 4921 3599 www.kaleidoscope.org.au |
& Kaleidoscope, Hunter Children's Health Network - 2005-2009.