Which cheeses are lactose-free? Everything you need to know

Have you ever felt discomfort after eating cheese? You might be lactose intolerant. But do not worry: if you are a great cheese lover, you do not have to give up this incredible flavour!

At Quesos Cabesota, we want to explain lactose intolerance and tell you which cheeses can help make digestion easier.

What is lactose intolerance, and how does it differ from an allergy?

Lactose intolerance means a person cannot digest the sugar, lactose, found in milk. Consuming it may cause symptoms such as diarrhoea or abdominal bloating. This is due to an insufficient amount of an enzyme called lactase, produced in the small intestine. The lower the lactase level, the greater the likelihood of lactose intolerance and its symptoms.

Do not worry: at Cabesota, we have lactose-free cheese so you can enjoy cheese without concern.

To avoid confusion, however, we need to distinguish lactose intolerance from an allergy. A milk allergy is an allergy to the proteins in milk. People with this allergy experience digestive, respiratory or skin reactions, with the intensity varying from case to case.

Which cheeses contain no lactose?

You may have thought that someone with lactose intolerance cannot eat any cheese. That is far from the case. Below, we describe the lactose-free cheeses available on the market.

Cheeses

Although our Cabesota cheese does not hold a Designation of Origin certificate, we make it with the finest local ingredients. If you have lactose intolerance, we recommend trying Cabesota mature cheese and Reserva cheese, because the more mature the cheese, the easier it is to digest.

Mozzarella

Mozzarella is one of the most widely consumed cheeses in the world, as a principal ingredient in pizza. It is made from buffalo milk, which makes it easy to digest. At the supermarket, check the label carefully: it should state that the cheese uses buffalo milk rather than cow’s milk, which is less suitable for people with lactose intolerance.

Cheddar

Original Cheddar, from England, contains virtually no lactose. It is made from cow’s milk, but has a long maturation period, ranging from several months to several years.

Gruyère

Gruyère comes from Switzerland and is a lactose-free product. A label stating “Protected Designation of Origin” or “PDO” guarantees that it is lactose-free, and a “0 g” indication will appear.

Idiazábal

This cheese is made with raw milk from sheep in the Basque Country and Navarra. It matures for a long time, more than 90 days, and has an intense flavour.

Parmigiano or Parmesan

Parmigiano, or Parmesan, is an Italian cheese containing very little lactose: specifically, 1 milligram per 100 grams. It is one of the most frequently counterfeited cheeses on the market, so check that its label states “Parmigiano-Reggiano Designation of Origin”.

Camembert

This French cheese has a minimum maturation of two months, making it ideal for lactose intolerance. It is creamy and perfect with bread or for baking.

Goat’s cheese

Cheeses made from goat’s milk are lighter and therefore easier to digest. A wide range is available, from creamy to mature cheeses.

How can you tell whether a cheese contains lactose?

During cheesemaking, most lactose remains in the whey, with very little left in the curd. Sometimes, glycolysis is used to turn remaining sugar into lactic acid, a compound that aids digestion. The longer the glycolysis process, the less lactose the cheese contains.

How can you check? Read each product’s nutritional information. If a cheese contains less than 0.5 g of sugar per 100 g, it contains very little lactose. Choosing cheeses such as those listed above can also help, as can avoiding fresh cheeses, which exceed 2 grams of sugar per 100 grams.

What does Naturally lactose-free mean?

When buying cheese, you may see “Naturally lactose-free” on the packaging. This is a new category in which cheese lovers with lactose intolerance can eat fresh, semi-mature and mature cheeses without worrying about discomfort, as they help digestion.

Conclusion

If you have lactose intolerance, you can still enjoy one of the world’s most widely consumed foods: cheese. Pay special attention to the nutritional information, checking the sugar content and whether the cheese has Protected Designation of Origin status.