Behind the Label: Lactose

An inside look at this ingredient and why it’s important for children’s growth and development.

By Dr. Annie Salsberg, ND

Lactose is essential

Lactose is a milk sugar naturally occurring in all milks (including breast milk), that provides fuel and energy to all cells in the body, and is critical for optimal growth and development. It may also contribute to the absorption of calcium, help regulate gut microbiota and support immune function.  

Why is lactose the first ingredient in KABRITA Goat Milk Formula? 

Lactose is the main carbohydrate source in breast milk, where it contributes 40-45% of total calories. And breast milk contains more than one and a half times the amount o lactose found naturally in goat’s milk! We add the ingredient ‘lactose’ to KABRITA Goat Milk Formula to more closely mimic the natural nutritional composition of breast milk.

What is the source of lactose in KABRITA Goat Milk Formula? 

Our goat milk powder and goat whey protein naturally contain goat milk lactose. However, we add more lactose to mirror the composition of breast milk. As there is currently a very limited supply of goat’s milk lactose available worldwide, the goat milk formula industry standard is to use lactose from cow’s milk. The ingredient ‘lactose’ used in our formula is removed and filtered from the whey of cow’s milk and then dried. There is no added cow’s milk in KABRITA Goat Milk Formula!

It is important to keep in mind that lactose is molecularly identical regardless of whether it is sourced from goat’s milk, cow’s milk or breast milk.

Lactose Intolerance and your little one

Lactose often gets a bad rap, and many people self-diagnose their children with lactose intolerance when they experience digestive discomfort after drinking cow’s milk. While lactose intolerance may be a common problem in older children and adults, it is uncommon before 2 or 3 years of age. It may be the protein in cow’s milk (not the milk sugar lactose) that is the culprit for little ones.

As KABRITA Goat Milk Formula contains lactose, it is not suitable for children with a diagnosed lactose intolerance. KABRITA Goat Milk Formula may be suitable for children with cow milk sensitivity*.

*not suitable for children with a confirmed cow milk protein allergy (CMPA).

Behind the label is an ongoing series looking at the ingredients we choose to include in KABRITA products, in order to help parents make nutritional decisions for their family with confidence and joy.

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