Modified Milk Ingredients
I recently received an email asking about what "modified milk ingredients" might mean when part of a food ingredients list.
It's not easy to stump me, but that succeeded. Fortunately a quick trip through Google gave me the info that it is a term specific to Canada and their Food and Drug Regulations (FDR).
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
"Modified milk ingredients are defined in item 7.1, subsection B.01.010 (3) of the FDR, as "any of the following in liquid, concentrated, dry, frozen or reconstituted form, namely, calcium reduced skim milk (obtained by the ion-exchange process), casein, caseinates, cultured milk products, milk serum proteins, ultrafiltered milk, whey, whey butter, whey cream and any other component of milk the chemical state of which has been altered from that in which it is found in milk".
That's about as all encompassing as you can get, so it anyone's guess what individual fraction of milk might be modified in a specific food. There's nothing like it down here in the States so I have no guidance as to what it usually might mean.
None of the proteins listed - casein, caseinate, milk serum proteins - would normally contain lactose, but the other forms would.
I'd treat any food with modified milk ingredients as a dairy product. Either use lactase pills or avoid.
Canada – it really is a separate country!
2 comments:
I have had a problem with ulcerative proctitus/colitis and through years of investigation have traced my reactions in part to eating products with modified milk products in them.
Modified milk products can be found in cookies, fish with batter, cereal bars, chips and so on.
I suspect the food industry is catching on to this because the Real Canadian Superstore in BC has a cheddar cheese that specifically states it does 'not' contain modified milk products in it, which I find to be an interesting statement for something that is still not being clearly identified as a problem food ingredient.
Keep in mind when I first told my MD there was an association between my digestive problems and some dairy products, he scoffed at the suggestion. That was 20 some years ago, look at what has happened since. Even in Europe none-dairy substitutes are finding space on the shelves.
So interesting to finally find someone with the same issue as me.
I experience no side effects with milk, only with products containing modified milk ingredients. You are right... They are everywhere and can make your life miserable. Bloating, stinky gas and constipation are my main issues.
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