A non-immune food intolerance caused by difficulty digesting lactose, the natural sugar in milk, which is distinct from a milk allergy.
No. Lactose intolerance is a non-immune reaction from difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar in milk. A milk allergy is an immune response to milk protein and can be severe. They are different conditions, and a milk allergy must be managed with strict allergen controls.
It is caused by a shortage of lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose. Without enough lactase, undigested lactose leads to digestive symptoms such as bloating, wind, cramps and diarrhoea. Because the immune system is not involved, it is an intolerance rather than an allergy.
Often yes, because lactose intolerance is usually dose-related, so a person may tolerate small amounts of dairy but react to larger ones. This differs from a milk allergy, where even trace amounts of milk protein can trigger a reaction and must be avoided.
Milk is a declared allergen under the Food Standards Code and must be declared when present. Lactose intolerance concerns the milk sugar rather than the protein, but because milk itself is declared, its presence is already made clear on labelled food.
Give accurate information about which dishes contain dairy and offer suitable alternatives where possible. Confirm whether the person means intolerance or a milk allergy; if there is any doubt, treat it as a milk allergy and apply strict allergen controls.