What are whole dairy products?
Whole dairy ingredients encompass minimally processed products derived from milk, including fluid milk, cream, butter, yogurt, cheese, and sour cream. These ingredients retain much of their original composition and have been staples of human diets for thousands of years across cultures that practice dairying. Whole dairy ingredients appear extensively in both home cooking and commercial food manufacturing, contributing flavor, texture, nutrition, and functional properties to a wide range of food products.
103,990 products in our database contain whole dairy products. 50,699 of them (49%) are Level 4, the most processed of our four levels.
Which foods contain whole dairy products?
Whole dairy ingredients are used in baked goods, sauces, soups, frozen desserts, beverages, confections, cheese products, yogurt products, cream-based dishes, pizza, pasta dishes, and across virtually every category of prepared and packaged foods.
The Original Caesar Dressing
Chocolate Hazelnut
Glutino, Gluten Free Crackers, Cheddar
Family Recipe Italian Dressing
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Margarita & Lime White Corn Tortilla Chips
Spicy Ranch
Italian Reduced Fat Dressing
House Italian Made with Peramesan Cheese
Organic Ice Cream Bars
Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Cups, Peanut Butter Cup
Crackers, Real Cheddar Cheese
Crackers, Cheddar Cheese
Ripe Strawberry Premium Ice Cream Wrapped in Sweet, Pillowy Dough Mochi Ice Cream, Ripe Strawberry
Garlic Bread Loaf, Garlic
Kellogg's Eggo Pancakes Blueberry 3.03oz
Original Recipe Tapioca Pudding
Smoothie Drinks
Shamrock Farms, Lowfat Butter Milk
Butter Caramels
Cheese Alternative, Mozzarella Style
Premium Chocolate Classic Ice Cream, Chocolate
Mozzarella Style Shreds Aged Cashewcheese, Mozzarella Style Shreds
Vanilla Monk Crunch Lightly Glazed Roasted Almond Snacks
Smoothie, Strawberry Explosion
Hot Fudge Toffee, Topping
Vanilla Probiotic Formula Blended Whole Milk Yogurt, Vanilla
Jalapeno String Light Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese with Jalapeno and Red Bell Peppers, Mozzarella Jalapeno
Coconut Drinkable Lowfat Yogurt, Coconut
Chocolate Premium Ice Cream Bars, Chocolate
Coconut Blended Whole Milk Yogurt, Coconut
Crystal Farms, Colby Cheese
Organic Valley, Sour Cream
Farmer Style Fresh Cheese
Chunks of Hard Cheese with Loroco
Montchevre, Natural Fresh Goat Cheese
Classic Fresh Goat Cheese
Vermont Creamery, French - Style Cultured Cream, Vanilla
Snofrisk, Fresh Spreadable Cream Cheese
Odyssey, Traditional, Greek Style Feta Cheese, Chunk-In Brine
Organic Reduced Fat 2% Cottage Cheese
Organic European-Style Nonfat Yogurt
Boar's Head, Swiss Cheese
Colonna, Imported Parmesan Grated Cheese
Vanilla Ice Cream with Real Vanilla Bean
Deluxe Pasta & Sauce on Shells
Kraft
Aroy-D, Original Coconut Milk
Grace, Pure Creamed Coconut
![Fresh Grass[tilde]fed Heavy Cream](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.openfoodfacts.org%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2F085%2F733%2F000%2F0329%2Ffront_en.5.400.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Fresh Grass[tilde]fed Heavy Cream
Chobani, Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt
Alfresco Butter
Organic Pastures, Raw Cream
Straus Family Creamery, Organic Half & Half
Organic Whipping Cream
Organic Cream Top Whole Milk
Smith Brothers Farms, Half & Half
Organic Whipping Cream, Cream Top
Butter 99.9% Milkfat, Unsalted
Cream Top Whole Milk
Creamline Milk
Nonfat Dry Milk Powder
Also known as
Whole Dairy Products can appear in ingredient lists under several names. If you see any of the following, this is the ingredient family you are looking at:
Function
Whole dairy ingredients serve multiple functions in food products. Milk and cream provide liquid bases and richness in sauces, soups, and beverages. Butter contributes flavor, tenderness, and flaky texture in baked goods. Cheese adds savory flavor (umami), protein content, and melting properties. Yogurt provides tang from lactic acid fermentation and serves as a base for dressings and marinades. Cream cheese and sour cream contribute body and acidity. The complex composition of whole dairy — containing proteins, fats, sugars (lactose), and minerals — makes these ingredients uniquely versatile.
Sources
Whole dairy ingredients are produced from animal milk (predominantly cow, but also goat, sheep, and buffalo) through various processing methods. Fluid milk is pasteurized and homogenized. Cream is separated from milk by centrifugation. Butter is churned from cream. Cheese is produced through coagulation of milk proteins using rennet or acid, followed by draining, pressing, and aging. Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with specific bacterial cultures (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus). These processes range from simple thermal treatments to months-long aging.
Health considerations
Dairy products contain varying levels of saturated fat, protein, calcium, and other nutrients depending on the specific product and fat content. Saturated fat content must be declared on the Nutrition Facts label. Milk is a major allergen under FALCPA and must be declared on food labels. Lactose intolerance affects a significant percentage of the global population, particularly in certain ethnic groups.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Regulatory
The FDA maintains standards of identity for numerous dairy products including milk, cream, butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, specifying required compositions, permitted ingredients, and processing methods. In the NOVA food classification system, whole dairy products in their traditional forms are categorized as minimally processed or processed foods, not ultra-processed. Milk is a major allergen under FALCPA requiring declaration. Grade A dairy products must comply with the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). Organic dairy must meet USDA National Organic Program standards.