Mark Feblowitz wrote:

> One convenient notation that helps a lot is the labeling
> of kosher foods, since, under the Jewish laws
> of "kashrut," it's essential to eat milk and meat
> separately and therefore to know which is which. Look
> for the word "Pareve" on the food wrappers. That's an
> indication that the foods have been prepared dairy-free,
> according to the laws of kashrut. If you see a
> letter "D", that indicates that the food contains dairy
> ingredients; if it contains the letters "DE", that
> indicates the food's been made on dairy equipment.

A "hechsher" symbol without any indication is parve (neither milk nor
meat) unless obviously meat (which is OK too).

> Not every food is labeled in this way. Then you have to
> read the labels more carefully.

Try visiting a Jewish neighbourhood...

> Look for ingredients such as milk, milk fat, non-fat
> milk solids, whey, cream, cheese, curds, yogurt, casein,
> caseinate, lactose, lactalbumin, lactoglobulin,

Avoid anything containing the letter combination "lact" except sodium
stearoyl-2-lactylate, which is not derived from milk (McDonald's buns
contain it).

> margarine (unless all margarine ingredients are shown
> and are non-dairy),

There are certain brands of diary-free margarine

> calcium (unless declared milk-free),

If the type of calcium is indicated, avoid calcium-lactate, other types
(carbonate, citrate, phosphate, etc.) are not derived from milk.

> caramel coloring and flavoring,

Could be diary-free (*).

> high protein flour,

On the other hand "enriched" flour is OK.

> lactate, lactic acid (some), hydrolyzed milk protein,

> natural flavoring.

Also, could be diary-free (*).

(*) When in doubt, look for a phone number of the manufacturer, call and
ask.  If you mention that even a trace amount of a diary-related
substance can cause a life-threatening reaction, they will give you an
honest answer.

> Keep in mind that many pills - medications and vitamins -
> are buffered in lactose.

Also homeopathic remedies.

> Do your best to find
> replacements. Ask us - many of us know about substitutes.



Best wishes,
Alex.