A1 protein free explained

Lactose free milk and A1 protein free milk cater to different dietary needs and sensitivities.

Lactose free milk is specifically designed to help individuals who can't completely digest lactose, a carbohydrate (sugar) found in regular cow's milk. By adding lactase enzyme to cow's milk, the lactose is broken down to a level that most lactose intolerant people can drink without experiencing symptoms, whilst still retaining the same goodness and nutritional benefit of dairy milk.

Removing the lactose doesn't change the type of proteins in the milk though, so most lactose free milk still contains both A1 and A2-type beta-casein proteins. This means that people who have a sensitivity to A1 protein may still experience gastrointestinal symptoms from drinking lactose free milk.

Hence, we introduced the a2 Milk® Lactose Free range, that is naturally A1 protein free and also lactose free.

What makes a2 Milk® different from ordinary fresh cow's milk is the absence of the A1 protein. Most ordinary cow's milk brands today contain a combination of two main types of beta-casein protein, namely A1 and A2-type. a2 Milk® is special because it is an exception to this. It is the A1 protein that some people seek to avoid by switching from ordinary cow's milk to a2 Milk®. The a2 Milk Company uses comprehensive herd selection to choose cows which naturally don't produce the A1 protein in their milk.

The single most important factor in producing our delicious a2 Milk® is to find the right dairy cows. Our farmers exclusively select cows that naturally produce milk containing only A2-type protein and no A1 protein.
This is done by using a simple genetic test performed on a tissue sample taken from the cows and involves the analysis of DNA to identify cows that naturally produce milk with only A2-type beta-casein protein and no A1 protein.

Yes, a2 Milk® is naturally occurring cow's milk; it's not a result of a technological process or genetic engineering. We simply select cows that naturally produce milk with only A2-type protein and no A1 protein.

a2 Milk® is enjoyed by many across the nation. The welfare of our animals has been a cornerstone of the a2 Milk® success story. Our commitment to high living standards for all animals involved in and impacted by the supply of a2 Milk® is underpinned by a respect for animal welfare, and belief in the positive impact that animal welfare standards can have on milk production and milk quality. Our vision is for a best-in-class animal welfare management system that exceeds Australian dairy industry standards. To help achieve this vision, we engage an independent expert organisation for auditing and certification of the animal welfare management practices on all our farms supplying A1 protein free milk across the nation. More information about our partner, Validus, can be found here.

a2 Milk® does not contain any permeate or any additives, which is why it tastes so refreshing, as real milk should taste.

Yes, a2 Milk® contains roughly the same amounts of calcium and other important minerals as other unfortified milks.

Cow's milk allergy is a serious condition and is different from cow's milk intolerance. If you or your child is known to suffer from a cow's milk allergy, you should consult your doctor or paediatrician before consuming ANY milk variety, including a2 Milk®. All milk contains a variety of biologically active factors known to affect the immune system. a2 Milk® contains all of the proteins that you would find in ordinary cow's milk except for the A1 beta-casein protein. Therefore, those people with allergies to the proteins in ordinary cow's milk will not be able to drink a2 Milk®. However, a2 Milk® may help to reduce digestive discomfort in some people who have difficulty digesting ordinary cow's milk as opposed to having a milk allergy. There is a growing body of evidence that supports the unique benefits of milk containing only A2-type beta-casein protein like a2 Milk®.*

*a2 Milk® is naturally A1 protein free, so it may be easier on digestion than ordinary milk for some milk-intolerant individuals, when consumed as part of a healthy varied diet.

Absolutely not! a2 Milk® is obtained naturally from cows specially selected for their genetic makeup.

Absolutely. All of our fresh a2 Milk® is produced from local cows and supports local Aussie farmers.

Proteins are large biological molecules made up of long chains of amino acids.

Beta-casein is a type of protein that makes up one third of the protein in milk. It is a milk protein that is a source of essential amino acids, as well as peptides.

Homogenised milk has been treated to disperse the cream layer containing the milk fat throughout the milk. Homogenised milk generally has a longer shelf life than un-homogenised milk.

Pasteurisation is a method of heating milk for a short time to kill off bacteria which would cause the milk to spoil.

a2 Milk® is widely available in supermarkets in Australia.

You can find the nutritional information for each of our products here.  The nutritional information can also be found on the back label of every a2 Milk® bottle or carton.

You can learn more about our science and testing here at a2Research.org.

People with lactose intolerance often avoid cow's milk and other dairy products, however research has shown that lactose intolerant individuals can usually tolerate up to 12-15g of lactose per day, which is equivalent to 250ml cow's milk. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends that this amount of cow's milk may be well tolerated by lactose intolerant individuals when consumed with other foods and spread over the day. Each person with lactose intolerance will have their own level of tolerance. For those wishing to consume a larger daily volume of cow's milk, this should be guided by tolerance, or a lactase enzyme supplement may be taken to assist with a larger volume to be tolerated.

For those who prefer to avoid lactose altogether, there is a2 Milk® Lactose Free, available in both Full Cream and Light options.

None of the farms that supply our delicious a2 Milk® use the Bovaer or Rumin8 supplement.