If you’ve ever wondered whether or not eggs are dairy, you’re not the only one. We’ll break it down for you.
The United States Department of Agriculture defines dairy as “all fluid milk products and foods made from milk.”
This will, of course, include products like yogurt, ice cream, butter, cheese, and milk. Eggs do not fit into this category, but belong in the animal products category along with fish, meat, and poultry.
The cheese and milk Americans consume comes from cows, goats, and sheep. These are all mammals that lactate (produce milk) from their mammary glands in the same way that humans do. Eggs, however, come from chickens and ducks, which are classed as birds.
The fact that lots of people think eggs are dairy is because grocery stores place products such as cheese, eggs, and milk close to each other, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that they all belong in the same category: dairy.
Interestingly, vegetarians avoid meat products, but consume both eggs and dairy. On the other hand, vegans eat no animal products whatsoever, including dairy and eggs.
So if you’re lactose intolerant, you should be able to eat eggs with no problem because they’re not dairy.
