Before I got sick with all the stomach stuff - I did have lactose intolerance -but found myself able to tolerate some products with no problem... milk, cream in any forms like soups, ice cream, cooked into products, etc.. totally out... creamy salad dressings, etc too... but, I could and did eat harder cheeses which have less lactose with no problem... could eat half a pizza with no bad affects at all... (yum).... also, if I really HAD to have ice cream, which was about once a year, I just got the cheap lactose pills at Traders Joes and they really helped... also was able to drink the lactose free milk sold at the grocery store with cereal with no problems either... it was trial and error and worth it!