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What Is The Difference Between A Milk Allergy And A Milk Intolerance?

Many people suspect that allergies and intolerances are the same thing. However, the biological processes behind them are, in fact, totally different.

Food allergies are an immediate, potentially life-threatening, reaction to foods, such as milk. Symptoms may come on very quickly, often within minutes of eating the food. Approximately 4% of the adult population suffer from food allergies, and reactions are usually for life. If you have food allergies, your body produces IgE antibodies. Food-specific IgG (food sensitivity) reactions, meanwhile, are usually delayed and are not life-threatening, but they can make life difficult. Food sensitivities are not necessarily lifelong. You can find out more on the differences between allergy and intolerance here. Our food sensitivity tests do not detect allergic reactions to milk, if you feel that you may have a milk allergy, please consult your doctor or medical professional.

In addition to milk allergy and milk sensitivity, there is also lactose intolerance.

What is the difference between a milk sensitivity and lactose intolerance?

The difference between lactose and milk sensitivity differs greatly. While lactose intolerance is caused by a reaction to the sugar in milk, it is NOT the same as a milk allergy or milk intolerance.

Lactose intolerance is a digestive issue which is caused by an enzyme (lactase) deficiency. People who suffer from lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest lactose, which is a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products. If you have a milk protein intolerance (defined by yorktest as a food-specific IgG reaction), your body reacts negatively to the dairy protein. This means that you should look to remove all animal milks, such as cow, sheep or goat from your diet as the proteins are similar unless they are separately tested.

Lactose intolerance can produce similar symptoms to a milk allergy and milk intolerance; the reaction of lactose intolerance can be delayed, similar to an IgG reaction. However, lactose intolerance is for life, similar to an allergy.

Can you outgrow a dairy intolerance?

Yes, it is possible to outgrow a milk sensitivity, if this is an intolerance to the milk protein (IgG). However, please note that if you are diagnosed as lactose intolerant by your doctor, you cannot outgrow this type of intolerance, but it can sometimes be helped by taking digestive enzymes.

How long does it take for dairy intolerance to show?

A food intolerance usually involves a delayed biological reaction. It is thought that a milk-specific IgG reaction can take between 2 to 72 hours to show.

How do you test for a milk sensitivity?

Our Food Sensitivity Test can assess the level of anti-milk antibodies in the blood, such as cow’s milk, sheep’s milk and goat’s milk. You may find you react to cow’s milk but tolerate other animal milks.  Therefore, it’s always worthwhile to consider an IgG food sensitivity test first before jumping into an elimination diet by yourself.

Please note that yorktest’s programs do not measure the levels of lactase, and therefore do not diagnose lactose intolerance. If the food intolerance test results indicate that you may have a milk intolerance, it does not mean that you have lactose intolerance, although you may wish to consult your doctor for further tests, as you may have both.