Is Goat Milk a Solution for Cow Milk Allergies?

Around one in fifty babies in Australia and New Zealand suffers from cow’s milk allergies, and this article looks at what they are, what alternatives are available and what the experts think about it all.

What are cow’s milk allergies?

Cow’s milk allergies are food allergies experienced by 2% of infants who ingest cow’s milk. Symptoms of cow’s milk allergies can include hives, eczema, swelling of the face, vomiting, diarrhoea and wheezing.

The allergies are not to the cow’s milk itself, but to certain proteins present in cow’s milk which trigger allergic reactions. Cow’s milk allergies are treated by eliminating cow’s milk from the baby’s diet and substituting it with an alternative formula.

Why is goat’s milk different?

Goat’s milk has been suggested as an alternative to cow’s milk for babies who experience cow’s milk allergies. The reasoning is that as goat’s milk is another form of mammalian milk, infants can get the protein they need in goat’s milk formula without being exposed to cow’s milk.

What do experts think?

There are two schools of thought on the question of using goat’s milk as an alternative to cow’s milk. Some believe that the incidence of allergic reactions is lower in goat’s milk than in cow’s milk. They argue that goat’s milk also contains less lactose than cow’s milk and is much easier for a baby to digest.

Medical opinion, however, tends to disagree, saying that as goat’s milk contains similar proteins to those found in cow’s milk, it causes the same allergic reactions as cow’s milk-based formulas.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) went so far as to say that it could find no convincing scientific evidence to support the theory that goat’s milk produced less allergic reactions in infants than cow’s milk.

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently went further, stating that goat’s milk formula is not a suitable alternative for infants with cow’s milk allergies.

Are there other alternatives?

If your child suffers from cow’s milk allergies, the first thing to remember is that most children grow out of this condition by the age of four. The other good news is that there are several perfectly adequate alternatives to cow’s milk formula on the market. Doctors will usually recommend one of the following:

1. Soy protein formula – This can be tolerated by between 50% and 80% of cow’s milk allergy sufferers.
2. Extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF) – This is specially treated cow’s milk formula, where the proteins that cause allergies are broken down with enzymes
3. Amino acid-based formula – This can be tolerated by nearly all infants with cow’s milk allergies.

Whatever your opinion of goat’s milk vs cow’s milk-based formulas, it should be emphasised that it is important to consult your doctor before changing or eliminating cow’s milk from your infant’s formula. You should also consult your doctor if any of the symptoms of cow’s milk allergies become apparent in your baby.

Have your baby experienced any allergies?

Important Notice

Thanks for reading our blog. We hope you found this information interesting.

• The World Health Organisation recommends that breastfeeding is best for your baby.

• Having a balanced diet when breastfeeding is also important. Baby formulas should only be used after you’ve sought advice from a doctor or health practitioner.

• A decision not to breastfeed can be difficult to reverse and introducing partial bottle feeding will reduce the supply of breast milk. It is also wise to consider the cost of infant formula.

• If you use infant formula, all preparation and feeding instructions must be followed as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This is important for your baby’s health.

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