Lactose is found in dairy foods (e.g. milk, cheese, cream, butter, and yogurt), eggs, veal, potatoes and more. It is often added to prepared foods as a nutritive sweetener, which includes bread and other baked goods, processed breakfast cereals, creamy and instant soups and breakfast drinks, soft drinks, lager / beer, margarine, processed and luncheon meats, salad dressings, candies, cakes, ice-cream, pancake mixes, biscuits, cookies and many more.[1]

Lactose is also hidden in some food products labeled non-dairy such as powdered coffee creamer and whipped toppings, as well as milk by-products, dry milk solids, non-fat dry milk powder, curds etc. Furthermore, this sugar can be found in whey-protein supplements and powdered meal-replacement supplements.

Lactose is also used as the base for more than 20% of prescription drugs such as antibiotics and about 6% of over-the-counter medicines. Many types of birth-control pills or oral contraceptives contain lactose, as do some tablets for stomach acid and flatulence (gas).

For a comprehensive list of foods that contain lactose, please click here