Buffalo milk: Is it a safe alternative for cow’s milk-allergic consumers?

There are a variety of sources providing contradicting answers to this question, with some of these sources advocating that buffalo milk is a perfectly safe replacement for cow’s milk.

Because of the overwhelming amount of information available to consumers on the internet, the signal-to-noise ratio is low; this makes it difficult to glean the truth from the fiction. It is therefore extremely important to have reliable scientific backing when attempting to determine the safety of a food product.

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies in infants and young children. Although cow’s milk is the most widespread type of milk, accounting for about 83% of global production, the use of milk from other animal species has increased in recent years. Buffalo milk accounts for roughly 13% of global production of milk and dairy products.

Buffalo milk contains approximately twice as much fat as cow’s milk and has slightly higher protein levels, resulting in higher energy content. The amount of lactose in the two kinds of milk is similar.

Research comparing the principal proteins in bovine, caprine, buffalo, equine and camel milk found that β-lactoglobulin was the major whey protein in all except camel milk. Similarly, research into the cross-reactivity between milk proteins from different animal species noted in particular that cross-reactivity is apparent for a-casein and b-lactoglobulin in buffalo milk. This indicates that cross-reactivity occurs between cow’s milk proteins and those of other mammalian species, such as buffalo, for both caseins and b-lactoglobulin.

This means that CMA sufferers are unlikely to tolerate buffalo milk. It is also not a suitable choice for lactose-intolerant individuals, due to the amount of lactose present. When researching these topics, be sure to consult reliable sources, to ensure there is no misinterpretation of the information available.

Important note on buffalo milk products:
Buffalo milk products, such as buffalo mozzarella, may be adulterated with cow’s milk. A few years ago, FACTS performed a study investigating the authenticity of buffalo mozzarella from both supermarkets and restaurants. The study found that 5 of the 16 samples tested were in fact cow’s milk mozzarella, but were fraudulently labelled as being made from buffalo milk and were sold at premium prices.

In addition to accommodating species- and allergen-testing requirements, FACTS can also assist with regulatory compliance and consultation regarding labelling, food safety and control. Contact us to find out more.