Dealing with a food allergy means that you are going to learn very quickly what is okay for you to eat and what is not okay to eat. While it’s nice to think that those differences are going to be clear and concise with no possibility of a mix-up, the reality is very different. If you are dealing with a common allergy, most products list allergens on the labels. But, some can hide them away in the full list of ingredients and under strange names that you may not recognize as problems at first. After you’ve taken a dairy allergy test and have determined your allergy, you’ll want to avoid all dairy products. This includes even the strangest places for dairy.
Take a dairy allergy test before eating:
This list contains a few of the strangest places to find dairy. While a dairy intolerance means you can still eat these kinds of products, a dairy allergy is quite different. When looking particularly at these options for your diet, check carefully, and do your research.
1. Salad dressing: While most salad dressings and dips should be okay at first glance, you’ll want to avoid ones that contain milk or sour cream. For example, blue cheese and ranch dressings. These contain dairy for their bases.
2. Soy cheese: It seems strange that soy cheese would have dairy in it since most people use it as an alternative to traditional cheese, but it is true. The reality is that most soy cheese is manufactured and refined in a factory that also manufactures milk products. If you have a severe allergy, cross-contamination may be an issue that can pop up.
3. Sherbet: This is a great alternative to ice cream, but you will want to keep an eye on the list of ingredients. Sometimes they can include egg whites or gelatin or even milk in some of them. For those with allergies, it will be something to check carefully.
4. Sausage: With sausages, the texture is determined by the additives used. For a lot of the harder sausages, milk protein can be used to give it a little extra strength and firmness. You’ll want to check the ingredients list or consider a butcher that understands your needs.
5. Chewing gum: Strangely enough, chewing gum can often cause you to struggle with a dairy allergy. Manufacturers often use milk protein ingredients that make the gum okay for those with an intolerance to chew, but not for those allergic.
It’s frustrating to find out that you can no longer have your favourite flavor of salad dressing after dairy allergy test results come back positive, but you don’t want to play around with something as potentially serious as a food allergy. It’s better to know now rather than later after you’ve had an allergic reaction, after all.
While you know to avoid certain products right away, when it comes to a dairy allergy, there are hidden ingredients that you will want to learn about, even if it’s upsetting to find out the results. These five foods are great examples of hidden ingredients and the benefits of close reading.
