Casein

[elfkin]

Well, my son is having symptoms of more food allergies and such. He has been gluten-free for over a year (strict gluten-free). I am wondering about casein. To eliminate casein, do you just remove dairy? Does everything that says dairy on the ingredient list have casein? Can casein be in something if it doesn't say dairy on the ingredient list? I would like to do a dietary challenge, but I am unsure how to remove all casein from the diet. What is casein in and how do I find it? Does it contaminate things like gluten does?

[dlp252]

Casein is a protein that is in all dairy products, including goat milk, although there is some thinking that the protein in goat milk is different enough so as not to cause problems...right now I'm avoiding it all. Here is a list that I carry with me of ingredients to avoid [note: I had this combined with an ingredient list for gluten-free stuff so some of this may have been from that, but if your son is avoiding gluten, it would still be something to look for]:

ammonium caseinate

artificial butter flavor

butter

butter fat

butter oil

butter solids/fat

buttermilk

calcium caseinate

casein

caseinate

cheese

condensed milk

cottage cheese

cream

cream curds

custard

delactosed whey

demineralized whey

dry milk

dry milk solids

evaporated milk

flavoring (this may contain milk (or wheat) products, so make sure it is dairy free)

ghee

goat's milk

half-and-half

hydrolysates

hydrolyzed casein

hydrolyzed milk protein

iron caseinate

lactalbumin

lactalbumin phosphate

lactate

lactic acid

lactoferrin

lactoglobulin

lactose

lactulose

low-fat milk

magnesium caseinate

malted milk

margarine (this may contain milk products so make sure it is dairy free)

milk

milk derivative

milk fat

milk powder

milk protein

milk solids

natural flavoring

nonfat milk

nougat

opta

potassium caseinate

powdered milk

protein (this ingredient could be milk protein so check to be sure)

rennet casein

Simplesse

skimmed milk

sodium caseinate

sour cream

sour cream solids

sour milk solids

whey

whey powder

whey protein concentrate

whey protein hydrolysate

whole milk

yogurt

zinc caseinate

[kabowman]

Casein is the milk protein - have you just tried to eliminate the lactose first? That is not uncommon and if that is not enough, then eliminate ALL dairy. Try the lactaid pills and if those help his symptoms, it is probably just lactose and not a casein problem. Much easier to deal with.

If he can handle soy, he can still have margarine - just look for any milk products. I think I used to use Fleishmans Light. There are others on the board that are more current with which margarines don't have dairy...I gave all that up over a year ago so my memory is going.

[Carriefaith]

I am casein free. Here is a list of some foods that may have casein other than the obvious:

margerine (whey)

boost (whey)

potato chips

candy

wine

gluten free baked goods

rice crackers

medication

restaurant food

flavored nuts

popcorn (almost always had butter, look for all natural popcorn with no butter added).