Tips

An EU regulation in effect since November 2005 requires that many different components be listed on food packaging, including lactose.

People suffering from lactose intolerance can also ask food manufacturers about lactose levels in a particular product. Most food manufacturers provide lists of lactose-free products. Patients can also seek advice from a nutritionist.

Lactose intolerance does not lead to nutritional problems so long as patients eat a balanced, healthy diet. Since people with lactose intolerance can’t eat dairy products, they should take care to find an alternate source of calcium.

If you can tolerate small amounts of lactose, then look for food products naturally low in lactose, or which have been specially produced to be low in lactose. Some cheeses, such as appenzeller, tilsiter and camembert, are low in lactose, as is unpasteurised yoghurt. Lactose-reduced milk is available in many supermarkets.

If you cannot even a small amount of lactose, you can take supplements containing the enzyme lactase. These do not need to be prescribed by a doctor, and are available in health food shops and pharmacies. However, not everyone with lactose intolerance can tolerate these supplements.  

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