Hard cheeses are naturally lactose-free, as the lactose is broken down during the cheese-making process. This means that dairies can now label varieties such as Svecia and hushållsost as ”lactose-free.”
Because hard cheeses contain no detectable lactose by nature, the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) has ruled that companies do not need to conduct testing to verify lactose levels before using the ”lactose-free” label.
- We hope that people with lactose intolerance—or those serving cheese to someone who is—feel confident choosing hard cheeses and find it easier to identify lactose-free options in the dairy aisle, says Sofia Ardell, Head of the Labelling and Export Unit at the Swedish Food Agency.
The food industry has long requested permission to use lactose-free labelling on hard cheeses to help consumers make informed decisions. In response, the Swedish Food Agency has revised its interpretation of the legislation to allow such labelling. Several other EU countries already permit this practice, and the agency hopes to encourage a more harmonized approach across the EU.
To use the lactose-free label, producers must notify the Swedish Food Agency before launching the product on the market.
Read the full press release from Livsmedelverket HERE