Is There Cheese Without Casein or Lactose?

Casein is a type of protein found in all dairy milk products. This high-quality protein has a substantial amount of amino acids and is easily digestible by the human body. Casein contains several bioactive peptides that can boost your immune system and help regulate gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems, according to a study in Foods.

Lactose is a disaccharide, or a complex sugar, found in most milk products. While there aren’t any dairy cheeses that ‌don’t‌ contain casein, some dairy cheeses are naturally lactose-free.

If you’re lactose intolerant but don’t want to give up cheese entirely, you can choose from a number of lactose- or casein-free alternatives.

Who Eats Lactose-Free Cheese?

A person with lactose intolerance doesn’t make enough lactase, an enzyme needed to digest lactose. Those with lactose intolerance may have digestive problems such as diarrhea, bloating, and gas. As such, it’s advised that people who are lactose intolerant consume foods that have little or no lactose, such as lactose- or dairy-free cheese.

Who Eats Casein-Free Cheese?

If you experience mouth swelling, hives, rashes, or similar symptoms, you might have a milk allergy on your hands. Food Allergy Research & Education reports that about 2.5 percent of children under age 3 are allergic to dairy milk.

Although the allergy most commonly occurs in children under age 5, some youngsters never outgrow it and experience issues into adulthood. People who have a milk allergy should swap any dairy-based cheese for a nondairy cheese that is also casein-free.

Low-Lactose Options

Steve Carper‌,‌ the author of ‌Milk Is Not for Every Body: Living With Lactose Intolerance‌, says there are a few specific kinds of cheese that have about 2 or 3 percent lactose or less, including:

• Swiss
• Blue
• Gouda
• Provolone
• Brie
• Cheddar
• Camembert
• Muenster
• Parmesan
• Havarti
• Limburger
• Feta

The Case for Casein-Free

All dairy cheese has some amount of casein, but plenty of casein-free cheeses exist in the form of nut- and soy-based alternatives. If you’re avoiding casein, it’s recommended that you try these vegan cheese options. For those with other food allergies, be aware that some selections do contain soy, tree nuts, or coconut.

Cheese From Nuts

Casein-free cheese created from nuts is quickly becoming one of the best options on the market for those with casein allergies and lactose intolerances, or for those eating a plant-based diet. Most types of this dairy-free cheese are made from cashews, which are high in fat, aiding in creating a creamy texture.