Hidden allergy risks in non-dairy milks

Do you have a child with an allergy? Do you suffer from an allergy? This might be one of the most important articles for you to read.

And it's all because the word "milk" doesn't mean what it used to any more.

Milk doesn't mean 'milk' any more

These days when we say “milk”, we don’t necessarily mean cows’ milk.

The non-dairy milk market has literally exploded in recent years. What started with soy milk many years ago has grown to include almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, rice milk, cashew milk, macadamia milk, even hemp and pea milk! That's a lot of different milks!

Many of these plant-based milks offer a great alternative to those who wish to avoid dairy products for ethical, health, environmental or other reasons. Then there are other choices like goats’ milk and other animal milks. Even in cow’s milk there are choices of lactose-free or different milk proteins like A2.

All this means greater variety for everyone to choose exactly the type of milk they want for their individual needs.

Which is good on one level, but with cows milk you always know what you are getting - milk from a cow. However when it comes from something else, that's when things can get complex for allergy sufferers.

Packaging laws protect you from risk with non-dairy milks

Commercially produced plant-based or other animal milks must comply with relevant packaging laws that dictate all ingredients in the milk have to be listed on the pack. These include listing any potential allergen risks from cross-contamination from other products made in the same production facility or from actual ingredients.

So, if you have a nut allergy for example, you can be pretty safe buying commercially-produced rice milks, coconut milks and oat milks for example, (so long as you check the pack carefully).

Where is the risk coming from?

The risk comes from a growing trend in some cafes to produce their own plant-based milks on the premises. Now while this can be a great push back against commercially produced milks, the problem is that some cafes may not disclose exactly what is in their plant-based milks.

We know of at least one case where someone with a nut allergy to cashews, ordered a coffee with oat milk from a local café. They had a strong anaphylactic reaction, had to use their EpiPen, and ended up going to hospital in an ambulance.

When he asked the café later about the incident, they said they make their own oat milk and to make it extra creamy they add cashews. As the person had not disclosed their allergy prior, the issue had not been raised.

The risk of cross-contamination in cafes

So, it’s important always to advise anyone of your allergy and don’t assume something called Oat Milk doesn’t have nuts in it. And please be aware of course of the risk of cross-contamination from jugs and milk-frothers at cafes.

And if you run a café, please disclose any potentially risky ingredients in your milks, for everyone’s sake.

Of course, having more people First Aid trained everywhere will mean risks like these can be better handled in this increasingly complex and diverse world.

This is just one of the many issues we include in our first aid training courses to ensure they are as diverse as possible and educate you on all issues to do with first aid, including allergys.

If allergies are an issue in your life, for you or your children, you may like to enrol in one of our courses. Or if you work in a school, child care centre, sports environment or even volunteer somewhere, you might like to enrol in our Allergy, Asthma and Anaphylaxis course. It covers all these issues in great detail.

Book here at https://www.resultsfirstaid.com/courses/asthmaandanaphylaxis