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Introduction

Some children’s symptoms may be caused or made worse by foods containing cow’s milk, soya, wheat and egg. This diet sheet will help you to avoid all these foods.

All milk, milk products, soya, wheat and egg and manufactured foods containing these ingredients must be excluded from the diet.

Milk Substitutes

When milk is excluded from the diet, a substitute is needed to provide the nutrition that your child needs for healthy growth and development. Many milk substitutes are fortified with vitamins and minerals and may be nutritionally adequate.

There are also other substitute milks available in health food shops and supermarkets which are not nutritionally adequate and should not be given to your child unless agreed with your dietitian.

Under One Year Old

You may continue to breast feed your baby. You may be advised to follow a milk free diet yourself if you are breast feeding your child.  

If your baby is drinking infant formula, it will need to be changed to a hypoallergenic formula. These are available on prescription from your GP.

Over One Year Old

Soya Milk

This should be avoided.

The following milks are suitable substitutes; many brands are available. Alpro Oat growing up milk is one of the closest to cow’s milk in terms of nutrient profile. Check labels to ensure they are fortified with calcium.

  • Oat Milk 
  • Coconut milk
  • Nut milks e.g. Almond milk, Hazelnut milk, Cashew milk
  • Pea milk 
  • Hemp milk

Other Milks

Goats, Sheep and Buffalo Milk 

These milks should be excluded as their protein is similar to that of cow’s milk and may cause similar reactions.

Lacto free Milk 

This milk should be avoided

A2 milk

This milk should be avoided

Over Four and a Half Years Old

Rice Milk 

This should not be given until over the age of four and a half years old

Labelling

By law, any manufactured food containing egg, milk, wheat or soya or derivatives must be highlighted on the ingredients list in bold, underlined or italics

Manufactured Foods 

When you buy any tinned, packet or other processed foods, the list of ingredients should always be checked. Milk, soya, wheat and egg are present in foods in many ways.  

Milk, soya, wheat and egg derivatives are listed below and any foods containing these ingredients should be avoided:

Milk

Whey powder

Casein

Milk solids

Buttermilk

Caseinates

Butter

Milk powder

Non-fat milk solids

Margarine

Shortening

Skimmed milk powder

Cream

Artificial cream

Hydrolysed whey protein

Lactose

Cheese

Whey syrup sweeteners

Yoghurt

Cheese powder

Hydrolysed whey sugar

  

Monosodium glutamate with lactose

Soya

Soya margarine

Soya derived additives (E471, E472)

Soya bean

Lecithin (E322) *

Soya bean curd (tofu)

Soya milk

Soya flour

Hydrolysed vegetable protein

  

Egg

 

Egg lecithin

Egg white

Whole egg

Egg albumen

Egg yolk

Dried egg

Meringue

Pasteurized egg

  

Wheat

* Most lecithin comes from soya beans but if this is not stated on food packaging, the food should be avoided.

Breadcrumbs

Wheat bran

Pasta

Wheat gluten

Wheat binder

Couscous

Wheat starch

Wheat germ

Semolina

Bulgur wheat

Wheat germ oil

Rusk

Wheat thickener

Bran

 

Wheat flour and bread, cakes and biscuits made with wheat flour

Loose, Unwrapped and Unpackaged Foods

Any foods sold loose, or unwrapped or unpackaged foods may be at risk of cross contamination. Information about the ingredients should be available at the point of purchase. You may need to ask staff for further information.

May Contain Labels

Some food labels say, for example, ‘may contain milk’, ‘may contain soya’, ‘may contain egg’ or ‘may contain wheat’. This means that although milk, soya, egg and wheat are not deliberately added to the food the manufacturers cannot guarantee that the product does not contain small amounts of them. If you have a milk, soya, egg or wheat allergy these food products should be avoided.

Foods Allowed

Milk

Milk substitute:

  • Choose the carton that contains added calcium and vitamins. UHT and fresh versions may be available 

Milk Products

  • Non-dairy cream, cheese, yoghurts, custard

Eggs

  • Egg substitute - see page 16

Fats and Oils

  • Dairy free margarine
  • Kosher margarine e.g. Tomor
  • Vegetable (not soya) or Olive oil

Breakfast Cereals (using milk substitute)

  • Cornflakes and Rice Krispies, porridge oats, Oatibix, Natures Path, Doves Farm Orgran ’free from’ cereals. Other cereals only if known to be milk and soya, wheat and egg free

Flours, Grains and Pasta

  • Rye, rice, barley, oats, sago, quinoa, cornflour, tapioca
  • Rice and corn pasta

Foods to Avoid

Milk

  • Cow’s milk – full fat, semi skimmed, skimmed, sterilised, UHT,
  • Milkshakes.  Soya milk
  • Sheep, goat and buffalo milk
  • Dried milk, Coffee Mate and other coffee creamers
  • Evaporated and condensed milk

Milk Products

  • Fromage frais, yoghurt, soya yoghurts and desserts, yoghurt drinks, mousse, ice-cream, soya ice-cream, soya custard
  • Cream - double, single, whipping, clotted and artificial cream
  • Cheese, soya cheese, cheese spread, cottage cheese, curd cheese, cream cheese, vegetarian cheese

Eggs

  • All eggs, white, yolk and dried egg - boiled, poached and fried
  • Scotch egg, scrambled and omelettes, egg custard, glazes on pastry dishes

Fats and Oils

  • Soya margarine and oil
  • Butter, Ghee and any other margarine or low fat spread unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Breakfast Cereals

  • Cornflakes multigrain, Cheerios, Coco Pops, Weetos and other chocolate-flavored cereals
  • Special K, muesli and other cereal unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Foods Allowed

Flours, Grains and Pasta

  • Special milk, soya, wheat and egg free breads
  • Rice cakes, oat cakes, corn cakes, Ryvita (check ingredients)

Meats, Poultry and Alternatives

  • All fresh or frozen meat and poultry
  • Gravy, sauces and stews made without milk, soya, wheat or egg
  • Processed and pre-packaged meat only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Fish and Fish Products

  • All fresh or frozen fish or shellfish and canned fish in brine or oil
  • Sauces and stews made with milk substitute and milk free margarine
  • Processed and pre-packaged fish only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Vegetables

  • All fresh, frozen and dried vegetables and potato
  • Canned vegetables in brine
  • Mashed potato with milk substitute and milk free margarine
  • Oven chips only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free
  • Plain potato crisps not low-fat crisps
  • Lentils, beans and pulses

Biscuits and Cakes

  • Home-made biscuits and cakes made with milk, soya, wheat and egg free ingredients
  • Supermarket ‘free from’ range (check the labels)

Beverages

  • Milk substitute
  • Tea, coffee, cocoa without milk or using milk substitute
  • Milkshake powder or syrups only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free
  • Mineral waters, fizzy drinks, squash, fruit juices

Foods to Avoid

Breads

  • All other breads, croissants, paratha, pitta, naan, chapatti, fruit loaf
  • Ryvita Breaks and Minis, crispbread and crackers unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free
  • Egg wash/glaze is commonly brushed onto the surface of rolls, buns or baps

Meats and Poultry

  • Any meats or poultry coated in breadcrumbs, batter or pastry
  • Any meat or poultry ‘made up’ in a sauce
  • Sausages and beefburgers unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Fish and Fish products

  • Canned fish in sauce, ‘made up’ fish dishes or fish in batter or breadcrumbs e.g. fish fingers unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Vegetables

  • Mashed potato with ordinary milk and butter
  • Canned vegetables in sauce
  • Potato salad, coleslaw
  • Potato waffles, croquette potatoes, flavoured potato crisps
  • Vegetables in batter or breadcrumbs unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Biscuits and Cakes

  • All other biscuits and cakes unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Beverages

  • Milk, milkshakes, malted drinks
  • Drinking chocolate and other chocolate drinks

Foods Allowed

Fruit and Nuts

  • Fresh, frozen, dried fruit, canned fruit in juice or syrup
  • Plain, roasted or salted nuts (whole nuts should not be given to children under 5 due to the risk of choking)

Puddings and Desserts

  • Jelly, fruit – fresh or canned in juice or syrup
  • Milk puddings made with milk substitute using wheat free cereals e.g. rice, sago, tapioca; Pies, crumbles and sponges made with milk, soya, wheat and egg free ingredients
  • Custard—readymade or powder (check label)
  • Shops own free from desserts if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free
  • Sorbets and ice lollies only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Soups and Sauces

  • Home-made soups without milk, cream, pasta, wheat flour or egg
  • Sauces made with milk substitute
  • Home-made gravy, Marmite, Bovril, Vegemite
  • Ketchup, salsa, tomato-based sauces only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Sugar and Confectionery

  • Sugar, glucose
  • Boiled sweets, lollies, pastilles and fruit gums only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Preserves and Spreads

  • Honey (not for under 1 year old), marmalade, syrup, jam and treacle
  • Peanut butter only if known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Miscellaneous

  • Wheat free baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar, yeast
  • Herbs, spices, salt, pepper, vinegar, essences, colourings, gelatine

Foods to Avoid

Fruit and Nuts

  • Fruit pie fillings unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free
  • Coated or dry roasted nuts unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Puddings and Desserts

  • Yoghurts, fromage frais, mousse and ice cream, Swedish glace iced
  • desserts
  • Instant desserts, blancmange
  • Instant custard, semolina,
  • Pies, crumbles and sponges unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Soups and Sauces

  • Canned and packet soups
  • White, parsley, butter and cheese sauces
  • Gravy mixes, stock cubes and browning unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Sugar and Confectionery

  • Artificial sweeteners that contain lactose e.g. Canderel, Sweet n Low
  • Fudge, milk chocolate, toffee, Turkish Delight, fondant creams, liquorice, marshmallows and all other sweets and chocolates unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Preserves and Spreads

  • Lemon curd, chocolate spread, mincemeat
  • Sandwich spread, mayonnaise, salad cream, paste unless known to be milk, soya, wheat and egg free

Miscellaneous

  • Medicines and tablets containing lactose, soya, egg or wheat filler
  • Blended spices
  • Monosodium glutamate containing lactose, soya, egg or wheat filler

Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast

  • Milk, soya, wheat and egg free cereal with milk substitute
  • Milk, soya, wheat and egg free bread toasted with milk free margarine and jam
  • Fruit 
  • Fruit juice or water

Mid-morning/Mid afternoon

  • Milk substitute, squash or water
  • Plain crisps, popcorn, milk, soya, wheat and egg free cake or biscuit, fruit

Snack Meal

  • Sandwich with suitable bread and margarine
  • Meat, fish, poultry or vegetarian filling
  • Salad or vegetable sticks
  • Fresh fruit

Main Meal

  • Meat, fish, poultry or vegetarian alternative
  • Potato, rice, quinoa or wheat free pasta 
  • Vegetables or salad
  • Fresh fruit, canned fruit, jelly or pudding made without milk, soya, wheat or egg or using milk, soya, wheat and egg free substitutes

Before Bed

  • Milk substitute or cocoa made with milk substitute
  • Milk, soya, wheat and egg free bread toasted with milk free margarine and jam
  • Milk, soya, wheat and egg free cereal with milk substitute

Baby Foods

Many commercial baby foods contain milk or milk products, soya, egg or wheat. Remember to check the label. You may wish to contact the company to receive an up-to-date product list.  

School Dinners

It should be possible to arrange milk, soya, wheat and egg free meals at school or nursery. Your dietitian will be able to provide information about the diet to make it easier for the school. Alternatively, your child can take a milk, soya, wheat and egg free packed lunch.

Eating Out

If you are eating out with your child, ask about ingredients before you go. If you are not sure do not give it to your child to eat.

Calcium Supplements

If your child refused to drink a suitable milk substitute or take enough with breakfast cereals and puddings, it may be necessary to start a calcium supplement. Your dietitian will recommend a suitable calcium supplement that is available on prescription or buy over the counter.

Other Sources of Calcium

  • Rice or Oat milk with added calcium
  • Oranges    
  • Baked beans    
  • Broccoli
  • Canned sardines with bones

Ask you Dietitian for a list of other food sources of calcium.

Tablets and Medicines

Some medicines may contain milk, lactose, soya, egg or wheat as a filler, so check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are suitable.

Recipe for Milk Jelly

  1. Dissolve a packet of jelly in 250ml of hot water then allow to cool until semi set/at room temperature.
  2. Whisk in 250mls of milk or cream substitute 
  3. Put into fridge to set - serve with fresh or tinned fruit.

Baking Without Wheat

Recipes made with flour other than wheat flour are often very crumbly. Xanthan gum can be added to wheat free recipes, particularly bread to help make a better product.  

Try adding ½ teaspoon per 180g of special flour for cakes and 1 teaspoon per 180g of special flour for bread. This is available in supermarket ‘free from’ aisles and health food shops 

Some Tips on Baking

Egg Substitutes

Recipes can be easily adapted using egg replacers or other ingredients such as apple sauce, chia seeds or bananas:

Allergy UK has some delicious egg free recipes on its website

Egg free mayonnaise and other egg free products are now widely available in supermarkets, health food shops and online.

Supermarket Nutritional Services
 
They may be able to provide you with lists of their own brand foods which are milk, soya, wheat and egg free.

Useful sources of information:
 
Allergy Uk www.allergyuk.org
NHS choices www.nhs.uk
British Dietetic Association www.bda.org.uk
 
For recipes and ideas:
www.alpro.com
www.oatly.com
www.kokodairyfree.com

Supermarket websites can be very helpful and have lists of products which are milk and soya free
 

 

Contact us

If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.

About this information

Service:
Dietetics

Reference:
DT/117

Approval date:
1 June 2026

Review date:
1 June 2029

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Important note 

This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.