Lactose Intolerance

Lactose Content in Common Foods

Here's a handy guide to the lactose content in common foods. You can download this document in PDF format.

Need to know the lactose content in other foods? Use the USDA Nutritional Database to look up the nutritional content of any food.

Food Amount Lactose (grams)
Milk 8 oz. (1 cup) 9-14
Yogurt, whole-milk 8 oz. (1 cup) 10-12
Yogurt, low-fat 8 oz. (1 cup) 5-19
Buttermilk 8 oz. (1 cup) 9-12
Milk, acidophilus skim 8 oz. (1 cup) 11
Ice milk 6 oz. (3/4 cup) 8
Ice cream 6 oz. (3/4 cup) 3-8
American cheese 1 1/2 oz. 0-6
Ricotta cheese 4 oz. (1/2 cup) 0-6
Velveeta cheese 1.5 oz. 4
Cottage cheese 4 oz. (1/2 cup) 0-4
Orange sherbet 6 oz. (3/4 cup) 1-2
Half and half 2 Tbsp. 1
Sour cream 2 Tbsp. 1
Hard cheese (most) 1.5 oz. 1
Cream cheese 1.5 oz. 0-1
Butter or margarine 1 Tbsp. 0