Sunday Surprise - #2

So, once again, it's rather late, but it's still Sunday!  Today's been a surprise in and of itself around here.  We've spent the bulk of the day in a very unexpected way and we're all exhausted.  I think I will keep things very short and sweet this week.  (Hard to believe I can actually keep an entry short, but here goes. . .)

One might be surprised to know that the term "non-dairy" does not necessarily mean that the item does not contain any dairy components.  Unfortunately, the term "non-dairy" was long ago hijacked by the food industry to describe items which did not contain lactose, a milk sugar.  For many of us, milk proteins such as casein and whey are the more problematic components of dairy, not lactose.  

Most non-dairy creamers, cheese products, yogurts, etc., that I have seen are not fully free of dairy/milk components. They often contain milk protein(s) such as casein and/or whey. 

I imagine that some people who decide to do a trial of a dairy-free diet (for themselves and/or their child) may not realize that non-dairy does not necessarily equate to dairy-free or milk-free or casein-free.  When they do not notice a change for the better, they may erroneously conclude that dairy was not the culprit behind the symptoms they were hoping to resolve by going dairy-free.  

I also know a lot of well-meaning and very considerate parents who have wanted to offer my children a dairy-free alternative at birthday parties or other gatherings, but have ended up offering a "non-dairy" item that is not free of milk protein.  

So, if you are trying to eliminate dairy or are kindly trying to accommodate a friend's casein/milk-free diet - beware the misleading term "non-dairy."   It would not be a surprise to find casein, whey, or other milk proteins in a product labeled non-dairy.