Historical Note

With an estimated one third to the population having some form of lactose intolerance, LactAid, Inc., came up with a product that would allow for this part of the population to still continue drinking and eating milk products. In the 1950s, they looked into the addition of enzymes to milk as a way to modify the lactose. In 1974, The SugarLo Company (progenitor of Lactaid, Inc.), obtained an exclusive license for the K. marxianus Var. lactis lactase enzyme.

The product was first offered to the public in a single-dose pack to break down 70% of the enzyme. The powder dose pack was phased out in 1981 in favor of the sterile liquid form, a product that cost the consumer about 5 cents a glass at the time. Later, the company introduce the milk already treated, in chocolate, nonfat, 1%, 2%, or calcium-fortified. From there, more products were brought to the consumer- cottage cheese, American Cheese, lactase capsules, and Dairy-Ease chewable tablets.

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