Is there lactose in cheddar?

Cheese lovers, breathe out. Hard, aged cheeses like cheddar are among the lowest-lactose dairy foods there are — the opposite of what many people assume when they’re first diagnosed.

The reason is in how cheese is made. When milk is turned into cheese, most of the lactose drains away with the whey. Then, as the cheese ages, bacteria consume much of what little remains. The result: a mature cheddar can contain almost negligible lactose.

:::note Mate to mate: the sharper and more aged the cheddar, the less lactose it tends to have. If you’re sensitive, reach for a good vintage over a mild, young block. :::

How much lactose is in cheddar?

Aged cheddar typically contains very little lactose per serve — often low enough that even sensitive people tolerate a normal portion comfortably. Younger, milder cheddars hold slightly more, but still far less than milk.

When to take a little care

Processed cheese slices and cheese spreads are a different story — they often have added milk solids that bump the lactose back up. Stick to real block cheddar, and check labels on anything “processed.”