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Dairy-Free vs. Lactose-Free vs. A2: What the Labels Mean

Label decoder

Dairy-Free vs. Lactose-Free vs. A2: What the Labels Mean

The dairy aisle speaks its own language. Here's what "lactose-free," "A2," "nondairy" and "dairy-free" really mean, and what they don't.

Allergy note: lactose-free milk and A2 milk are still milk. Milk is one of the nine major food allergens under U.S. law. [1] If you have a milk allergy, follow your allergist's advice and read labels for milk. Holy Cow! is not for milk allergy. See lactose intolerance vs. milk allergy.

Label decoder

Label Has lactose? Contains milk protein? What it means
Lactose-free Very little (0.01–0.1 g per 100 g for lactose-free milk) [3] Yes. It's still milk. Milk with the lactose broken down or removed. There's no single universal cut-off for the term. [3]
A2 Yes, the same amount as ordinary cow's milk [4] Yes. It's still milk, and the brand advises people with milk allergy not to drink it. [4] Milk from cows that produce only the A2 type of beta-casein protein. [4]
Nondairy Check the ingredients It can be. A "nondairy" food may contain caseinate, which must be identified as a milk derivative. [2] A labeling term, not a guarantee of milk-free.
Dairy-free / plant-based Usually none, but check the label Check the allergen statement for milk [1] Read the ingredient list and the "Contains" statement.

How to read any dairy label

  1. Check the "Contains" statement for milk, which is a major allergen. [1]
  2. Scan the ingredients for words that signal lactose: milk, lactose, whey, curds, milk by-products, dry milk solids and nonfat dry milk powder. [5]
  3. Don't stop at "nondairy." Look for caseinate labeled "a milk derivative." [2]
  4. Use the numbers. See How Much Lactose Is In That? for grams per serving.

Curious about the A2 story? It's in our history of lactose intolerance.

What the research found

65% lower combined daily symptom scores with the studied strain versus placebo over two weeks.*

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 21 lactose maldigesters (Ramakrishnan et al., 2025). [7] The study tested the strain, not the finished Holy Cow! product.

One capsule a day to support lactose digestion*

Holy Cow! is a once-daily probiotic + prebiotic. Take once daily in the morning, ideally on an empty stomach, with water. Keep your regular lactase routine for the first 21 days. We recommend continued daily use for best results.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Food allergies. fda.gov
  2. 21 CFR 101.4(d), Food labeling: designation of ingredients ("nondairy" foods containing caseinate). ecfr.gov
  3. Facioni MS, Raspini B, Pivari F, Dogliotti E, Cena H. Nutritional management of lactose intolerance: the importance of diet and food labelling. J Transl Med. 2020;18:260. PMC7318541
  4. The a2 Milk Company. Frequently asked questions. a2milk.com
  5. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Eating, diet, & nutrition for lactose intolerance. niddk.nih.gov
  6. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). Milk & dairy allergy. acaai.org
  7. Ramakrishnan M, et al. Gut Microbes Reports. 2025. doi:10.1080/29933935.2025.2508199. PMC12940102

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Lactose intolerance is not the same as a milk allergy; if you have a milk allergy, talk to your doctor. Lactaid® is a registered trademark of its owner. Holy Cow! is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Lactaid or its owner.