Difference Between Milk allergy and Lactose Intolerance
Milk Allergy
Milk allergy is caused by a reaction to proteins in milk. The allergy is common in young children but often vanishes as they grow. It is estimated that 0.5 to 2.5 percent of the children (depending on age) and 0.1 to 0.2 percent of the adult population is allergic to milk proteins.
For milk allergies, all forms of milk and dairy products have to be completely excluded from your diet. This applies to cow’s milk and sheep’s and goat’s milk and their products.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is due to a lack of the enzyme lactase needed to digest lactose (milk sugar) in the small intestine.
In lactose intolerance the amount of lactose is limited, which means that the intake of dairy products must be limited. High content of lactose in whey cheese, milk chocolate and some nougat can cause such allergies. Lactose is present in all milk, not only in cows’ milk but also goat and sheep milk.
The proportion of lactose intolerance varies between different population groups. In many countries it is estimated that 40-10 percent of the adult population is lactose intolerant.