Are You Allergic To Milk? Watch Out For Chocolate This Valentine's Day

Candies and flowers are probably number one on your gift list for this Valentine's Day. However, if you have a milk allergy, just be careful. According to new research from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), even dark chocolate may contain hidden milk ingredients.

"This can be a problem, since even one small bite of a product containing milk can cause a dangerous reaction in some individuals," said Binaifer Bedford, from the federal government's Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, who is on loan to FDA. "First of all, milk-allergic consumers should be aware that a high proportion of the dark chocolates we tested contained milk, even when the label failed to list milk as an ingredient."

Health officials found that while dark chocolates labeled as "dairy free or allergen-free" were least likely to contain milk, close to two of the 17 tested products did contain milk.

Finding milk in chocolate bars was an even bigger problem, with researchers noting that many labels did not clearly specify if milk was in the product or not. In fact, 55 of 93 bars had confusing label statements.

"Six out of the eleven chocolate products labeled ‘traces of milk' contained milk at detectable levels high enough to potentially cause severe reactions in some individuals," FDA added.

A little milk doesn't mean much to most, but for those allergic to this drink, it could result in a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can range from wheezing, vomiting and hives to digestive problems that could be potentially life-threatening.

If you or someone you love deals with a severe milk allergy, the best bet might be to skip chocolate altogether.

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