I have recently been diagnosed with a fairly severe dairy allergy. I stopped all cow’s milk including cheese, chocolate, ice cream etc.
I tried goat milk products and had limited success - I still had mucus build-up in my ears. Not as much, but still some problems.
Now I have to go overseas for my work to an area in Asia where Water Buffalo milk is the primary source of milk, cheese and such.
My question is should I avoid this source of “dairy”?
Are the allergens similar?
I probably can get some soy products, although it will be a hassle.
Do water buffalo milk products contain the same allergens as cow and goat milk that make me react?
Would appreciate any info before I go there.
Thanks in advance.
Where are you headed? Why do you need to consume dairy products?
Have you tried platypus milk - I understand that it’s quite expensive.
ShibbOleth,
India; back roads there of.
I do not NEED to consume dairy. It is just that I have been there often before and it was before I had my dairy problem. Now I cannot consume a lot of the things I ate before and now need to get more info.
Never saw any platypi where I am headed - so not sure about their milk.
ShibbOleth,
Sorry for the add-on post. The last time I was there (a few years ago) I always understood that the “dairy” was from cows. Now I cannot tolerate those products and need to be more discriminating.
Thus my question to the folks of SDMB.
Buffalo-milk mozzarella cheese (mozzarella di bufala) might be available where you are. If it is, you might try it.
I’m thinking you’re going to need to discuss this with an allergy specialist. The people that I’ve known who have milk allergies were only sensitive to cow milk and could drink goat milk. If you have a problem with goat milk as well, then you must have a much broader allergy than usual. So I wouldn’t guess on whether or not you’re allergic to milk from other animals.
Dewey Finn,
Thank you. I will be happy to try any cheese, milk etc. if they do not contain allergens which make me inoperable.
Again, my question. Are these same allergens present in Water Buffalo milk?
No idea, but if you were willing to try goat milk products without fear of death, you might similarly try mozzarella di bufala, perhaps under controlled conditions, so you can be treated if needed.
Dewey,
Have tried the goat products and did not die. Am also willing to try the buffalo stuff. It is just that I will be in out-back India where treatment might be limited so I was just asking about possible allergens in buffalo milk vs cows/goats milk so I can be forewarned and forearmed.
Chances are I have tasted buffalo products before in India. This time I will be “behind God’s back” in an out of the way place and am just hedging my bets with my allergies.
Very likely you are right - and I am in no danger.
My point was that you don’t need to wait until you get to India to try buffalo milk cheese, as mozzarella di bufala is commonly available here in the US.
You are not allergic to milk. You are allergic to one or more specific dairy proteins. There are many, and sort out into two families, casein and whey. You can be allergic to either or both or to individual proteins inside the families.
No two animal milks have exactly the same set of proteins. Some people with cow’s milk protein allergies can have goat milk because the particular protein they’re allergic to isn’t part of goat milk’s set.
I don’t know the exact breakdown of buffalo milk and it wouldn’t be any good to say so because I don’t know what exact protein you’re allergic to.
It should be possible to do formal testing of various dairy proteins to let you know what your problem is. You’re fortunate in that you are not anaphylactic so that an accidental taste won’t send you to a hospital.
I’m allergic to anything that comes from a cow, pretty much anything made with beef or milk. I mostly just cough a little or have slight irritation in my throat or ears. Once in awhile though, my ears, throat, and chest feel like they’re on fire. I have needles in the event my throat swells to the point I can no longer breathe.