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We thank Perfect Day for their sponsorship of this blog post to help us share information about milk allergy and animal-free milk proteins. This is a sponsored post and is not an endorsement of any company or its products. The funding we received for this sponsorship helps support our free food allergy programs.


Perfect Day set out to create dairy products that are like cow’s milk but are better for our climate. Perfect Day’s product is just like whey, a protein found in milk. But it’s made without an actual cow.

Even though it doesn’t come from cow’s milk, people with a milk allergy can still have an allergic reaction to animal-free whey protein and should avoid it just as they would avoid cow’s milk.





Milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies, especially in children. About 1.9% of U.S. children are allergic to milk. Families that manage food allergies know milk and ingredients made from milk can be found in a lot of foods. It’s in many prepared foods and recipes. Restaurants use butter to grease pans or add extra flavor. People with a milk allergy have to be careful about reading labels and dining out. If you or your child has a milk allergy, remember to look for animal-free milk ingredients too.

How Animal-Free Dairy Will Appear on Food Labels

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires food companies to label their products clearly if they contain milk. Perfect Day’s animal-free milk protein is considered a milk product under FALCPA. This means if a food product contains animal-free milk protein, “milk” must be noted clearly on the ingredient label.

A picture of two ice cream containers that have ice cream made with Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins. The labels point out that milk allergens are labeled on the front and back of the cartons.

This is an example of a product made with Perfect Day animal-free milk proteins. The labels on both the front and back note that it contains milk. Click to see a larger image.


To protect people with a milk allergy, Perfect Day has asked food companies who use their products (like ice cream companies) to note the milk allergen on the front of the label. They want to help people with a milk allergy easily recognize foods made with their product.

If you or your child has a milk allergy, read labels and watch out for the terms “animal-free dairy” or “non-animal whey protein.”

5 Things to Know About Animal-Free Dairy Products If You Have a Milk Allergy

  1. People with a milk allergy can have allergic reactions to animal-free milk proteins and products made with them and should avoid these products.

  2. Watch food labels for the terms “animal-free dairy” or “non-animal whey protein” or dairy products that say “animal-free.”

  3. Products that are made with animal-free milk protein must clearly label for milk allergens under U.S. food label laws.

  4. Know that a food labeled as “vegan” may contain animal-free milk protein.

  5. Restaurants may serve vegan or plant-based foods that contain animal-free milk protein.


“We want to give as many cues to people as possible to let people with milk allergy know it contains milk protein,” says Nicki Briggs, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Perfect Day. “We will always prioritize consumer safety with allergen warnings.”

Perfect Day’s animal-free milk protein is now included in a number of food products. Some foods labeled as vegan may no longer be milk free if they contain animal-free milk protein. Some restaurants, colleges, hotels, and other places that serve food may serve foods that may be labeled as vegan but are made with animal-free milk protein. Keep this in mind when shopping for vegan items or eating out. See a full list of products that use Perfect Day animal-free milk protein.

A picture of foods that contains Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins

These products are some examples of foods made with Perfect Day’s animal-free milk proteins.

The Science Behind Perfect Day’s Animal-Free Milk

Perfect Day’s milk product is made using a method that’s been around for a few decades. It’s called precision fermentation. It’s the same process that is used to make insulin, vitamins, probiotics, and many cheeses.

Using biotechnology, Perfect Day gives microflora (tiny microorganisms) instructions that tell it how to make milk protein. The microflora convert sugar into milk proteins during the fermentation process. These milk proteins are just like those that come from a cow, but without the actual cow. Finally, everything but the pure milk protein is filtered out.

The first protein Perfect Day has made available to food companies is a whey protein that is nutritious, animal-free, cholesterol free, and lactose free. (Great news for people who are lactose intolerant, but not safe for people with milk allergy!)

A chart that describes how Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins are made

Perfect Day uses a process called precision fermentation to create animal-free milk proteins. Click to see a larger image.

Better for the Planet

Animal agriculture (especially cattle) contributes to our growing climate crisis. Cows produce methane which has a warming potential 28 times that of carbon dioxide.1,2

Climate change leads to more air pollution, extreme weather, and hotter temperatures. All of these things can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms and even increase asthma rates.

Perfect Day’s climate-friendly solution may revolutionize how food is made. Perfect Day’s technology offers dairy products that are kinder to our planet. But it’s important for people with a milk allergy to know animal-free dairy products are not safe for people with a milk allergy. People with a milk allergy should avoid animal-free dairy products just like any other product that contains milk.

Do you or your child have a milk allergy? Download “A Guide to Managing Milk Allergy.”

Download, print, and share

A Guide to Managing Milk Allergy



Medical Review: November 2021 by Todd Green, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI

You don’t have to manage your child’s food allergies alone. KFA provides educational information, food allergy news, a collection of more than 1,500 Safe Eats® recipes and new allergy-friendly foods alerts. We also have a free online community where you can talk with other parents and caregivers managing food allergies in a safe, encouraging environment.


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References

1. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Understanding Global Warming Potentials. EPA. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissio...l-warming-potentials.
2. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Overview of Greenhouse Gases: Methane Emissions. EPA. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissio...nhouse-gases#methane.

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Images (3)
  • A chart that describes how Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins are made: A chart that describes how Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins are made
  • A picture of foods that contains Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins: A picture of foods that contains Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins
  • A picture of two ice cream containers that have ice cream made with Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins. The labels point out that milk allergens are labeled on the front and back of the cartons.: A picture of two ice cream containers that have ice cream made with Perfect Day animal-free dairy proteins. The labels point out that milk allergens are labeled on the front and back of the cartons.

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Comments (4)

Newest · Oldest · Popular

While I appreciate the post and the proactivity - I’m so disheartened and frustrated that this will further complicate life living with multiple food allergies - am I the only one? Being able to use the vegan label on foods is very helpful and reassuring for someone living with egg and milk allergies (on top of reading all labels).

M

I really appreciate that this company is trying to educate our community. Can you also please educate all chefs and restaurants and anyone who makes food for others?

It’s very concerning that when I tell the chef my son has a cow’s milk allergy, he may respond that there’s no cow’s milk in anything. He may not understand this scientific process of creating a milk protein that’s not from a cow!

We are ultra careful and hardly eat out, but this is making it 100x harder for those with a milk allergy. This is very scary and I really wish we didn’t have to mess with food so much.

HealthyMama

Our family just wants to thank you for this notification. This is SO
important to know for individuals and families with severe milk allergy.
Thank you, thank you!

The Taormina family

M
Last edited by Compton
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