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Treating food allergies and replacements for milk

 A growing number of alternative health practitioners say milk is the cause of many health problems, but nutritionists and dieticians say cutting it out of diet means we are missing out on vital nutrients.

Read the second part of our investigation below to find out how to spot an allergy and the safe milk replacments to try if you do decide to stop drinking it.

What do I do if I think I have an allergy or intolerance?

If you think you may have an allergy or intolerance, Allergy UK says your first step is to visit your GP. He or she can then refer you to a trained nutritionist or allergy specialist to help manage your condition.

However, Muriel Simmons, chief executive of Allergy UK, says many doctors do not have the experience or knowledge to recognise a food allergy or intolerance when presented with one.

For this reason, it may be useful to keep a food diary a few weeks before seeing your doctor. You should write down everything that you eat and drink, even things like gravy and milk in your tea. If you see a pattern emerging, you can point this out to your doctor and then he or she can refer you for more help.

If you think you may have an allergy, this is usually confirmed with a blood test or skin prick test. The blood test is looking for the raised levels of antibodies in your blood that trigger your allergy.

During the skin prick test a tiny amount of the substance you think you may be allergic to - in this case milk - will be injected into your skin. If you are allergic, this will trigger a reaction and your skin may appear red, raised and itching.

For food intolerances, however, there is no clinically proven test. Allergy UK warns that an intolerance cannot be diagnosed by 'reading' the face, electromagnetic testing or through hair analysis - common tests that are often found in chemists and alternative health clinics.

To identify a food allergy, they recommend an elimination diet i.e. cutting out all the foods you suspect may trigger a reaction and then gradually reintroducing them to identify the suspect food. Elimination diets should only be done under the supervision of a trained nutritionist or allergy specialist.

If your GP refers you to an allergy specialist, you may have to wait up to seven years in some areas to see one! This is because there are so few in the country. If you would prefer to see a private nutritionist or allergist, Allergy UK has details of practitioners in your area. See the section 'More Information' below for details.

What can I have instead of milk?

If you have been advised to cut milk out of your diet by a trained nutritionist or allegy specialist, you will need to replace the nutrients from other sources.

Women need 700mg of calcium a day - just over the total amount of calcium found in one pint of milk.

Calcium rich foods
Rich sources of calcium include pulses such as lentils, green vegetables, dried fruit, and nuts and seeds. But you need to eat a lot of these replacements to top up your calcium levels. In order to meet your daily requirement, you would have to eat 100 dried apricots or 1.2 kilos of broccoli every day!

Soya and rice milks
Other milk replacements are soya or rice

Milk contains vital
vitamins and nutrients.

milk fortified with extra calcium. However, many people are also intolerant to the protein found in soya. Your allergy specialist will be able to tell you if you are also allergic or intolerant to soy proteins.

UHT milk
Another replacement is drinking UHT milk. This is cows' milk that has been heated up to very high temperatures. This process kills off the protein found in milk, making it suitable for those that are allergic to milk proteins. But if you are unable to digest milk because you do not produce the right enzymes rather than being allergic to the protein, this may not be a suitable replacement for you. You allergist will be able to advise you.

Other animal milks
You can also try using goats' or sheeps' milk as a replacement. However, people who are intolerant or allergic to the protein found in cows' milk often react to other animal milks too. Again, your allergy specialist will help you identify which replacements are most suitable for you.

If all these replacements are unsuitable, you may have to take a calcium supplement. Your nutritionist or allergy specialist will discuss this with you if it is needed.

Many people who are allergic or intolerant to milk have problems shopping for suitable foods. Sainsburys and Tescos have just launched a range of foods that are 'free from' most common allergy triggers such as nuts, wheat and milk. You can also write to the major supermarkets for a list of all their products that are 'free from'.

For a list of other manufacturers who make 'free from' foods, contact Allergy UK.

More Information

Allergy UK (formerly the British Allergy Foundation)
Helpline: 020 8303 8583. Open 9am to 9pm weekdays, 10am to 10pm Saturdays.
Website: www.allergyuk.org.uk. You can download factsheets on allergies and intolerances from this website.

The British Nutrition Foundation
General Enquiries: 020 7404 6504
Website: www.nutrition.org.uk

British Dietetic Assocation
Website: www.bda.uk.com

For more patient and consumer information about dairy allergies and intolerances, visit No cow's milk for me thanks!, the UK site devoted to the subject on www.dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/park/gfm11/index.htm