Judy Seybold, MS, RDN, LD, CLC
Chief Nutrition Officer

Avoiding Lactose in Packaged Bread

Trying to avoid the ingredient lactose in food products? Almost 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, and it appears to have a genetic component. Specific populations show high levels of intolerance, including 95 percent of Asians, and 50-80 percent of African Americans, Ashkenazi Jews, Native Americans, and Latinos. An intolerance happens when your body cannot digest and break down the sugar in milk, called lactose.

Looking for food that's free from lactose? Sifter can help!
Start here →

Did you know, in addition to milk, lactose can also be found cereals, breads, crackers and more! Come sift with me to find packaged breads without lactose. When sifting for bread, try to always make sure it’s whole grain and moderate in sodium.

1. Click the Bread & Bakery aisle on the Browse Products page. Further select Packaged Bread. There are more than 700 products. Let’s continue sifting.
2. From the Lifestyle Diets menu, select Sodium - Reducing Diet and Whole Grain.
3. From the Health Diets menu, select Lactose Sensitivity. We're down to about 35 options to choose from.

I’ve listed some of my favorites. Now it’s your turn!

updated February 2022

Additional Resources:
Lactose Intolerance