Cow’s Milk Allergy versus Lactose Intolerance

An accurate diagnosis of adverse reactions to cow’s milk is critical to ensure an effective dietary management strategy and/or to avoid the unnecessary elimination of cow’s milk from the diet. Strict avoidance of cow’s milk, milk products, and some food ingredients derived from cow’s milk (e.g., casein, whey protein concentrate), with careful attention to the nutritional adequacy of the diet, may be indicated if a diagnosis of cow’s milk protein allergy is made. Fortunately, milk protein allergy in infants and young children tends to be a transient condition. As a result of the new U.S. Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act, the presence of cow’s milk proteins (e.g., casein) can now be readily identified in food products.