--- title: "Milk Allergen Labelling and Introduction Rules: European Union" description: "Milk, including lactose, is item 7 of the EU's 14 allergens, with two narrow exemptions: whey used for alcoholic distillates and lactitol." url: "https://baby-allergy-tracker.com/guides/milk/european-union/" --- [Allergen guides](/guides/) / [European Union](/guides/#european-union) / Milk Allergen guide · European Union # Milk in the European Union: label rules and introduction guidance Sources checked September 2026. Every claim below links to the official source it comes from. **Educational note:** This guide summarises official labelling rules and published guidance. It is not medical advice. Always ask your paediatrician about your baby's specific health needs before introducing new foods or interpreting symptoms. [Read our full disclaimer](/disclaimer/). **Direct Answer:** Milk, including lactose, is item 7 of the EU's 14 allergens, with two narrow exemptions: whey used for alcoholic distillates and lactitol. EFSA's 2019 summary says foods for infants should follow national recommendations, giving avoiding unmodified cow's milk as an example. ## Is milk on the EU's list of 14 allergens? Annex II lists 'milk and products thereof (including lactose)' as item 7. The inclusion of lactose is unusual: it means a lactose-containing ingredient triggers the allergen rule even though lactose is a sugar, not a milk protein. Two exemptions apply, whey used for making alcoholic distillates and lactitol. Every other milk ingredient, from butter and cream to milk powder and whey, must be emphasised in the ingredient list. The regulation does not spell out which animals' milk counts, so labels normally name the source, such as goat's milk. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers lists 14 substances or products in Annex II. Article 21 requires each one to be emphasised in the list of ingredients through a typeset that clearly distinguishes it, for example by font, style or background colour. Where a food has no ingredient list, the label uses the word 'contains' followed by the allergen's name. - [EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex II (consolidated text)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02011R1169-20180101) ## What EFSA guidance says about introducing milk EFSA's 2019 opinion did not name milk among its example allergenic foods, but its plain-language summary is specific about one milk point: foods given to infants should comply with national feeding recommendations, for example to avoid salt, sugar or unmodified cow's milk. In other words, cow's milk as a main drink is a matter for national guidance, while milk as an ingredient falls under the general conclusion that allergenic foods can be introduced with other complementary foods. If your baby has reacted to formula, your paediatrician is the person to ask about milk products. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed about 300 scientific publications for its 2019 opinion on when complementary foods can be introduced. EFSA's opinion is scientific advice to EU risk managers; recommendations to the public are issued by the health authorities of each Member State, so the plan your paediatrician follows may come from a national guideline. - [EFSA: Appropriate age range for introduction of complementary feeding into an infant's diet (2019)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/5780) - [EFSA: Age to start complementary feeding of infants (plain-language summary)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/Complementary_Feeding_PLS_PDF.pdf) ## Logging milk in the app Set your region to the European Union and the app's allergen schedule follows the 14 Annex II allergens. In the schedule, milk appears as **Milk**. Each allergen entry moves from not started to introduced, cleared or reaction, and the 14-day window keeps new foods spaced out so a delayed reaction is easier to match to a food. Note whether it was yoghurt, cheese or milk cooked into food, so the record shows the form as well as the date. If you see a symptom, log it with its severity; the paediatrician report gathers the dates into one PDF for your next appointment. It is a record for you and your doctor, not a diagnosis. Track milk from first taste to cleared Log every offering and any reaction against your baby's own timeline, then share one clear report with your paediatrician. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) [Google Play version coming soon](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) Coming soon — clicktap to get notified Free to download. Premium from US$2.99/month or US$24.99/year; prices vary by country. ![](/assets/images/app-store-qr.png) Scan with your iPhone camera to get the app. [Or open the App Store link →](https://apps.apple.com/app/id1445346223?pt=117722137&ct=Blog&mt=8) The app is iPhone only for now. [Tell me when it comes to Android](mailto:support@baby-allergy-tracker.com?subject=Notify%20me%20when%20the%20Android%20version%20launches) ## Milk in other countries - [Milk in the United States](/guides/milk/united-states/) - [Milk in the United Kingdom](/guides/milk/united-kingdom/) - [Milk in Australia and New Zealand](/guides/milk/australia-new-zealand/) - [Milk in Canada](/guides/milk/canada/) ## Other allergens in the European Union - [Peanut in the European Union](/guides/peanut/european-union/) - [Tree nuts in the European Union](/guides/tree-nuts/european-union/) - [Egg in the European Union](/guides/egg/european-union/) - [Wheat in the European Union](/guides/wheat/european-union/) - [Soy in the European Union](/guides/soy/european-union/) - [Fish in the European Union](/guides/fish/european-union/) - [Shellfish in the European Union](/guides/shellfish/european-union/) - [Sesame in the European Union](/guides/sesame/european-union/) The full [EU allergen list](/blog/eu-14-allergens-food-labelling-list/): all 14 allergens, and why it's longer than the US's. See every region's full list side by side on [Allergen Lists by Region](/allergen-lists/).