Milk- and Soy-Free Diet for the Breastfeeding Mother

If you were told that your baby has milk sensitivity, milk intolerance or milk soy protein intolerance (MSPI), you will need to make some changes to your diet to continue breastfeeding. Milk and soy proteins must be eliminated from your diet. Be aware that it may take up to two weeks for the proteins already in your system to be eliminated.

Because milk and soy are considered top food allergens, if a product contains either milk or soy, it will be clearly labeled on the ingredient list. Before you buy any food product, always read the entire food label to make sure it does not contain an ingredient that you wish to avoid.

Highly refined soy oil and soy lecithin are considered safe, as the processing has separated and eliminated the protein component. The food label will state "contains soy," even if the soy present is soy oil or soy lecithin. Be sure to check the ingredient list closely to determine the source of the soy.

Food label terms that indicate milk is present:

• Milk, milk solids or proteins (including hydrolyzed proteins)
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Cream
• Nonfat dry milk
• Casein/caseinate
• Whey, whey protein, whey powder
• Milk chocolate
• Butter, butter solids, butter fat, buttermilk
• Lactalbumin

Food label terms that indicate soy is present:

• Soy, soy protein, soy protein isolate
• Soy milk
• Soy yogurt
• Soy flour
• Vegetable protein, broth, gum or starch
• Soybeans
• Soy caseinate
• Soy sauce
• Tofu, textured vegetable protein, tempeh
• Miso, hoisin, tamari