Lactose.help Blog
Tips, recipes, and insights for lactose-free living
lactose.help on BX1: when lactose intolerance takes the spotlight on "Il y a du Neuf"
lactose.help was featured on BX1's "Il y a du Neuf" to deliver a clear message: lactose intolerance doesn't mean giving up dairy. Through our book and app, we're making daily life easier for those who need to adapt how they consume dairy products.
European Dairy Tour - Stage 10: Brussels (Belgium) 🇧🇪
Brussels, Belgium: back home to conclude this European dairy tour! Belgium is well served with lactose-free products (Dilea, Ballade, store brands) for milk, cream and butter. However, Dilea lactose-free cheeses are unnecessary: traditional Belgian cheeses (Chimay, Passendale, Maredsous, Oud Brugge, Père Joseph...) are naturally rated A or B. Choose artisanal, it's better, cheaper and compatible with an intolerance!
European Dairy Tour - Global Summary 🇪🇺
European Dairy Tour: summary of 5,500 km by train across 9 countries in 12 days! Great news for the lactose intolerant: the majority of European artisanal cheeses are naturally low in lactose (rated A or B). The exceptions to avoid: ricotta, sérac, mascarpone, burrata, processed cheeses and fresh cheeses. Lactose-free products available everywhere except France and England. Find the complete list of cheeses by country and classification to travel with peace of mind.
European Dairy Tour - Stage 9: London (United Kingdom) 🇬🇧
London, United Kingdom: good news for the lactose intolerant, most British cheeses are rated A or B! As for lactose-free products, the choice remains limited, just like in France.
European Dairy Tour - Stage 8: Paris (France) 🇫🇷
Paris, France: a stage dedicated to cheese shops, the preferred place for advice for lactose-intolerant people. The concept of a cheese shop is very French, and Paris is full of them. Cheesemongers know the subject but are sometimes too restrictive. Favour artisanal products (milk, rennet, ferments, salt) and check the nutritional composition. A lactose-intolerant person can digest at least 1 g of lactose per meal, meaning 200 g of a cheese rated B.
European Dairy Tour - Stage 7: Barcelona (Spain) 🇪🇸
Barcelona, Spain: an easy stop for lactose-intolerant travellers with a wide range of lactose-free products in supermarkets (milk, cream, butter, whipped cream, yoghurt). For cheeses, go for "viejo", "añejo" or "curado" (aged, rated A or B) and avoid "fresco" (fresh, rated D or E). Warning: goat's or sheep's milk doesn't guarantee a low-lactose cheese, it all depends on the ageing process!
European Dairy Tour - Stop 6: Avignon 🇫🇷
Avignon, France: a surprising stop due to the lack of lactose-free products in supermarkets, despite 15% of French people being lactose intolerant and symptomatic. Only Naturalia offers the essentials (milk, butter, cream), but good news: 76% of French PDO/PGI cheeses are rated A or B, meaning they're compatible with lactose intolerance. Roquefort, Camembert de Normandie, Cantal, Mont d'Or... France's cheese heritage remains accessible to those who know how to choose wisely.
European Dairy Tour - Stop 5: Collombey 🇨🇭
Discover Switzerland through the eyes of a lactose-intolerant traveller: an immersive visit to a Valais dairy farm producing award-winning Raclette AOP, plus a comprehensive guide to Swiss cheeses that are naturally low in lactose. From train adventures to ski touring and fondue dinners, learn why Switzerland is paradise for cheese lovers with lactose intolerance.
European Dairy Tour - Stop 4: Florence 🇮🇹
Florence, Italy: a rich discovery for lactose-intolerant travellers. Impressive "senza lattosio" sections at Lidl, Esselunga, and Conad, but beware: unlike alpine countries, Italy offers cheeses ranging from A to E, so vigilance is key. Parmigiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, and Provolone are safe (A), mozzarella di bufala is B, but avoid ricotta, stracchino, and fiocchi di latte (E).
European Dairy Tour - Stop 3: Graz 🇦🇹
Travelling to Austria with lactose intolerance? Discover local cheeses, lactose-free ranges at Spar and Billa, and practical tips for eating safely when lactose intolerant.
European Dairy Tour - Stop 2: Prague 🇨🇿
A lactose-intolerant traveler explores Prague's dairy scene, finding it more challenging than Munich due to fewer allergen menus and untrained restaurant staff. However, Czech supermarkets reveal a treasure trove of Central European dairy products. The key discovery: unlike Western Europe where products tend to be either very safe or completely off-limits, Central European dairy often falls into intermediate risk categories, requiring more careful scanning but offering more variety for the adventurous lactose-intolerant traveler.
European Dairy Tour - Stop 1: Munich 🇩🇪
During the European dairy tour, I first stop in Munich. The dairy product offerings for those with lactose intolerance reveal a favorable situation: many cheeses rated A (Gruyère, Emmentaler, Gouda), lactose-free ranges (MinusL, LAC), a wide vegan selection, and excellent allergen labeling in Rewe and Edeka supermarkets, making the trip comfortable for this community.