Search entire U.S. food database:

  Enter any parts of food name then hit Return to search.

Or Choose a Food Category to Browse Dairy and Egg Products Spices and Herbs Baby Foods Fats and Oils Poultry Products Soups, Sauces and Gravies Sausages and Luncheon Meats Breakfast Cereals Fruits and Fruit Juices Pork Products Vegetables and Vegetable Products Nut and Seed Products Beef Products Beverages Finfish and Shellfish Products Legumes and Legume Products Lamb, Veal and Game Products Baked Products Sweets Cereal Grains and Pasta Fast Foods Meals, Entrees and Sidedishes Snacks Ethnic Foods Restaurant Foods    Browse Lactose Resources or Nutrition Software.

Usage Note

This is the world's largest searchable, sortable LACTOSE content of foods nutrient database.

• Lactose values are in grams and calculated per 100g of food weight.
• This lactose database contains lactose content of 1,232 common foods.
• Click on column header to sort foods by name or by lactose content.

Lactose

Lactose is the sugar found in milk and foods made with milk.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance is the inability or insufficient ability to digest lactose. After eating foods with lactose in them, you may feel sick to your stomach. You may also have gas, diarrhea or swelling in your stomach.

Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the small intestine. Lactase breaks down lactose into two simpler forms of sugar called glucose and galactose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.

Lactose intolerance is not serious. Eating less food with lactose, or using pills or drops to help you digest lactose usually helps. You may need to take a calcium supplement if you don't get enough of it from your diet, since milk and foods made with milk are the most common source of calcium for most people.

How to Manage Lactose Intolerance

information from the National Institutes of Health

Although the body's ability to produce lactase cannot be changed, the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be managed with dietary changes. Most people with lactose intolerance can tolerate some amount of lactose in their diet. Gradually introducing small amounts of milk or milk products may help some people adapt to them with fewer symptoms. Often, people can better tolerate milk or milk products by taking them with meals.

The amount of change needed in the diet depends on how much lactose a person can consume without symptoms. For example, one person may have severe symptoms after drinking a small glass of milk, while another can drink a large glass without symptoms. Others can easily consume yogurt and hard cheeses such as cheddar and Swiss but not milk or other milk products.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommend that people with lactose intolerance choose milk products with lower levels of lactose than regular milk, such as yogurt and hard cheese.

Lactose-free and lactose-reduced milk and milk products, available at most supermarkets, are identical to regular milk except that the lactase enzyme has been added. Lactose-free milk remains fresh for about the same length of time or longer than regular milk if it is ultra-pasteurized. Lactose-free milk may have a slightly sweeter taste than regular milk. Soy milk and other products may be recommended by a health professional.

People who still experience symptoms after dietary changes can take over-the-counter lactase enzyme drops or tablets. Taking the tablets or a few drops of the liquid enzyme when consuming milk or milk products may make these foods more tolerable for people with lactose intolerance.

Lactose Food Sources

List of top 100 foods high in lactose content. Lactose contents are in grams and measured per 100 grams of food weight.

Foods Highest in Lactose

Lactose

Snacks, tortilla chips, nacho cheese

2.15

Cheese, pasteurized process, American, without added vitamin D

2.15

Cheese, pasteurized process, American, fortified with vitamin D

2.15

Snacks, corn-based, extruded, puffs or twists, cheese-flavor, unenriched

2.12

McDONALD'S, Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait

2.11

Pie, pumpkin, commercially prepared

2.00

McDONALD'S, Hotcakes and Sausage

2.00

Puddings, vanilla, ready-to-eat

1.80

BURGER KING, CROISSAN'WICH with Egg and Cheese

1.71

Puddings, chocolate, ready-to-eat

1.70

Babyfood, dessert, custard pudding, vanilla, junior

1.70

Chocolate, dark, 45- 59% cacao solids

1.65

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, LIPIL, with iron, powder, with ARA and DHA

56.00

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, low iron, powder, not reconstituted

56.00

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, LIPIL, low iron, powder, with ARA and DHA

56.00

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, with iron, powder

56.00

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, with iron, powder, not reconstituted (formerly ROSS)

55.53

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, ADVANCE, with iron, powder, not reconstituted (formerly ROSS)

55.53

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, low iron, powder, not reconstituted (formerly ROSS)

54.70

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, PROSOBEE LIPIL, with iron, powder, not reconstituted, with ARA

53.00

and DHA

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, PM 60/40, powder not reconstituted (formerly ROSS)

52.38

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, NEOSURE, powder, with ARA and DHA (formerly ROSS)

52.02

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, LIPIL, with iron, liquid concentrate, with ARA and DHA

14.00

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, low iron, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted (formerly ROSS)

13.76

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, with iron, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted (formerly ROSS)

13.76

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, ADVANCE, with iron, liquid concentrate, not reconstituted

13.52

(formerly ROSS)

Child formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, PEDIASURE, ready-to-feed (formerly ROSS)

10.50

Our Sugar-Related Nutrient Databases

Individual sugars: Fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose.
Multiple sugars: Fructose, glucose and sucrose.
UK Nutrient Databank: Glucose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, lactose and total sugars in foods commonly available in the UK.

Foods Highest in Lactose

Lactose

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, SPECIAL CARE, ADVANCE 24, with iron, ready-to-feed, with ARA

8.30

and DHA (formerly ROSS)

Candies, KIT KAT Wafer Bar

8.21

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC NATURAL CARE, ADVANCE, ready-to-feed, with ARA and DHA

8.20

(formerly ROSS)

Eggnog

7.84

Crackers, cheese, sandwich-type with cheese filling

7.74

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, LIPIL, low iron, ready to feed, with ARA and DHA

7.18

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, with iron, ready-to-feed

7.18

Infant formula, MEAD JOHNSON, ENFAMIL, low iron, ready-to-feed

7.18

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC NEOSURE, ready-to-feed, with ARA and DHA (formerly ROSS)

6.90

Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce mix, boxed, uncooked

6.90

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, with iron, ready-to-feed (formerly ROSS)

6.90

Infant formula, ABBOTT NUTRITION, SIMILAC, ADVANCE, with iron, ready-to-feed (formerly ROSS)

6.90

Cheese product, pasteurized process, American, vitamin D fortified

6.43

McDONALD'S, McFLURRY with M&M'S CANDIES

6.23

Light Ice Cream, soft serve, blended with milk chocolate candies

6.23

McDONALD'S, Hot Fudge Sundae

5.86

Cheese, cream, low fat

5.82

McDONALD'S, McFLURRY with OREO cookies

5.62

Light Ice Cream, soft serve, blended with cookie pieces

5.62

Fast foods, vanilla, light, soft-serve ice cream, with cone

5.59

McDONALD'S, Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone

5.59

McDONALD'S, Hot Caramel Sundae

5.46

WENDY'S, Frosty Dairy Dessert

5.44

Cheese food, pasteurized process, American, without added vitamin D

5.41

Cheese food, pasteurized process, American, vitamin D fortified

5.41

McDONALD'S, Vanilla TRIPLE THICK Shake

5.33

McDONALD'S, Chocolate TRIPLE THICK Shake

5.32

McDONALD'S, Strawberry TRIPLE THICK Shake

5.30

Milk, lowfat, fluid, 1% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

5.20

Milk, fluid, 1% fat, without added vitamin A and vitamin D

5.20

Foods High in Lactose

Lactose

Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)

5.09

Milk, nonfat, fluid, without added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)

5.09

Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, without added vitamin A and vitamin D

5.05

Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D

5.05

Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, without added vitamin A and vitamin D

5.01

Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

5.01

Dulce de Leche

4.92

Cheese, cream, fat free

4.84

McDONALD'S, Strawberry Sundae

4.72

Babyfood, cereal, barley, prepared with whole milk

4.68

Babyfood, cereal, rice, prepared with whole milk

4.67

Babyfood, cereal, oatmeal, with bananas, prepared with whole milk

4.67

Babyfood, cereal, rice, with bananas, prepared with whole milk

4.67

Milk, chocolate beverage, hot cocoa, homemade

4.63

Egg custards, dry mix, prepared with whole milk

4.63

Egg custards, dry mix, prepared with 2% milk

4.59

Babyfood, cereal, mixed, prepared with whole milk

4.50

Ice creams, strawberry

4.43

BURGER KING, Vanilla Shake

4.26

Milk, chocolate, fluid, commercial, reduced fat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D

3.83

Milk, chocolate, fluid, commercial, reduced fat, with added calcium

3.83

Dessert topping, powdered, 1.5 ounce prepared with 1/2 cup milk

3.75

Restaurant, Latino, arroz con leche (rice pudding)

3.62

Cream, sour, cultured

3.50

Macaroni and cheese dinner with dry sauce mix, boxed, prepared with 2% milk and 60% vegetable oil spread

3.43

Meal supplement drink, NESTLE, SUPLIGEN, canned, peanut flavor

3.41

McDONALD'S, Hotcakes (plain)

3.34

Cheese, cream

3.21

Cheese, neufchatel

3.19

McDONALD'S, Low Fat Caramel Sauce

3.01

APPLEBEE'S, KRAFT, Macaroni & Cheese, from kid's menu

2.99

Foods High in Lactose

Lactose

Cheese, cottage, lowfat, 2% milkfat

2.90

Restaurant, family style, macaroni & cheese, from kids' menu

2.87

T.G.I. FRIDAY'S, Mac & Cheese, from kid's menu

2.74

Cheese, cottage, creamed, large or small curd

2.67

McDONALD'S, Hotcakes (with 2 pats margarine & syrup)

2.38

HOT POCKETS Ham 'N Cheese Stuffed Sandwich, frozen

2.37

Puddings, tapioca, ready-to-eat

2.36

Cheese, fresh, queso fresco

2.32

Cookies, sugar wafers with creme filling, regular

2.31

Snacks, corn-based, extruded, puffs or twists, cheese-flavor

2.23

McDONALD'S, Fruit 'n Yogurt Parfait (without granola)

2.22

Candies, TOOTSIE ROLL, chocolate-flavor roll

2.18

Go to Home Page