So that people with lactose intolerance do not reach for the wrong products on the supermarket shelf, many manufacturers hide a note on the packaging. But sometimes these are misleading.
In retail, the range of foods labeled «lactose-free» is constantly being expanded. The advice is aimed at people in whom the breakdown of milk sugar (lactose) in the intestine is disturbed.
What labeling is required?
You must therefore do without it, except for small amounts. So far, there have only been legal requirements for the designation «lactose-free» for milk and cheese and for products made from them such as yoghurt and sour milk, explains the Bavarian consumer advice center.
Also interesting: How healthy are the (vegan) milk alternatives?
According to this, a lactose content of less than 0.1 grams per 100 grams is required for labeling as lactose-free. There are also foods that contain almost no lactose, either naturally or because of how they are produced. In the case of such products, however, the reference to being lactose-free should not be misleading, according to consumer advocates. Often the statement «naturally lactose-free» is found on it to make it clear that it is not a special case.