Certain cheese (mainly hard cheese) is theoretically zero lactose due to fermentation using it up, but I find that even most hard cheeses give me a reaction.

I have a history of psychosomatic reactions to food, though. For example I couldn’t eat beef, chicken, or pork for years after several food poisoning incidents in quick succession. Even though I knew the reaction was all in my head, the physical effects still happened. Super frustrating.

However I have had 2 incidents where I had GI symptoms occur after eating something containing dairy where I didn’t know until I looked at the ingredients list, so I know it’s not 100% in my head.

To my fellow LI sufferers I encourage you to experiment with hard cheeses, as there’s plenty of people who have documented their success with those! :)

(Just do it on a day where you have a bathroom always available, lol.)