Not a fad, but a real problem: what do Hungarians think about lactose intolerance?

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 09. 29. 07:52

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Lactose intolerance has been known for a long time, yet there are still many misunderstandings surrounding it: many people consider it just a trendy diet, while in fact it is a very serious condition. A comprehensive focus group study has now shown that although information and choices have expanded significantly in the past thirty years, there is still much to be done in social education and sensitization.

The study involved gastroenterologists, dietitians, catering experts, representatives of civil organizations and people living a lactose-free lifestyle. They unanimously indicated that the misconception that a lactose-free diet is just a “fad” still exists in public thinking. According to a third of the respondents, sensitization should start in kindergarten, and more than half believe that awareness of the problem should be raised during the school years.

The survey was conducted on the occasion of Magic Milk’s 30th anniversary, commissioned by Naszálytej Zrt. The brand has been a pioneer of the lactose-free lifestyle in Hungary since the beginning, as they were the first to produce lactose-free dairy products in our country in 1995. Today, it is still committed to helping consumers with authentic information, education and a wide selection.

“Our company has been working with an unchanged sense of mission and commitment to improving the lives of lactose-sensitive people for thirty years now”

– emphasized Katalin Péter, sales and marketing manager of Naszálytej Zrt.

That is why we decided that the anniversary for us is not only about celebration, but also about learning and teaching: we wanted to get a fresh picture of what those affected are experiencing and what professionals think about everyday difficulties”.

The sales and marketing manager added:

“Many people think that lactose intolerance is a kind of fad diet, but on the other hand, those who spoke in the research clearly indicated that those members of society who are not affected by it still have a lot to learn about this problem: neither they themselves nor their close or distant relatives are lactose intolerant. And we would like to actively contribute to this.”

The focus group research Naszálytej Zrt.’s intention to help is only appreciated even more when we consider that another study – jointly conducted with the National Association of Hungarian Dietitians – also clearly shows that lactose intolerance is not a digestive problem that occurs in isolation from everything else, but in many cases occurs together with other diseases – e.g. metabolic disorders, other digestive system problems. Accordingly, dietitians typically recommend a lactose-free lifestyle in cases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel diseases.