We are visiting folks in Switzerland next month. We found out about 2 months ago that our 3-yr-old has a sensitivity to milk protein so we have switched him to almond milk here in the US. I understand that rice milk is easily available in Switzerland but my contacts in Switzerland were not sure about almond milk. Has anyone seen it? The brand we get in the US is Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. We are landing in Zurich and then going to Bern -- so those would be the major 2 cities I'd be able to shop for it. Thanks in advance!
Hello
Yeah Reform Haus in Zurich have it.
Health food strores will have it. Here's a link to the Reformhaus chain , so you can see where they have branches in Switzerland.
Soja milk could also be an option, available easily.
In Bern you could visit the shop Vatterland . They have a huge (for Switzerland) selection of non dairy milks which includes almond milk. I doubt you'll find the same brands as in the US though.
I 2nd that. Both of my kids are allergic to dairy, and they consume Swiss-bought and German-bough soy milk just fine.
Never heard of almond milk, might have to try that. They didn't care for rice milk.
Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the help!
Hello, I just moved here from the U.S. and have an allergy to dairy protein as well. Does anyone know the swiss words to watch for on labels indicating dairy or dairy proteins? Such as milk, butter, casein, whey, etc...
Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!
I just wanted to bump this post up for RoseNY...I am also interested in any answers as I would need to look at food labels during our trip for our son. RoseNY - maybe you can post your question in the Daily Life forum - it may get more attention there....just a suggestion!
Perhaps I will start a food allergy thread.
I know of a food store in Zurich that sells rice milk. I have not seen almond milk.
FYI, food is expensive here because the U.S. dollar has lost so much value (it used to be $.60 to 1 CHF, but now it is approx. $1.00 to 1 CHF) I pay 4.5 CHF for a box of rice milk.
Also, be careful because there are many sandwiches sold here and they all have butter on them! I haven't seen one without butter yet. And, as you probably know, all croissants are made with butter too.
Whey = Molke
Dairy = Milchprodukte, Milchbestandteile
Lactose = Milchzucker
Milk proteins = Milcheiweiss
Butter = Butter
My kids are allergic to all things dairy, so I got good at reading labels.
Rice milk and other non-dairy products are sometimes available at Coop or Migros at $$$ prices.
Soy milk and sheep/goat milk cheeses are available at Aldi Germany (40 min. from Zurich) at lower prices.
What would the rise and fall of the US-dollar have to do with food prices in Switzerland? Or do you just mean they are high when comparing them to food prices in the U.S. (which they are indeed)?
I haven't had luck finding rice milk at Coop or Migros, but I will keep my eye out, thank you.
And yes, the prices are high when comparing them to the food prices in the U.S. But not at the fault of the Swiss. The CHF has maintained its value, whereas the U.S. dollar has decreased in value. Thus, at one point, when the U.S. dollar was stronger ($.60-$.70 to 1 CHF), 4.5 CHF for rice milk would have translated into approximately $2.70 U.S. dollars, which is a fair price. However, because of the approximate 1:1 ratio, 4.5 CHF is now $4.50, which is expensive for those coming from the U.S.
Great! Thank you.
Yes, thanks for the translations!
$4.50 for a box of rice milk - wow! That is indeed expensive from an American perspective. It's usually $2-something here (or less if I can find it on sale). Thanks for the fair warning.
Yes, I'm aware of butter on breads and other foods - actually, my husband happens to be a vegan (by choice - no health reason or anything) and so I am an expert now is knowing what foods have anything dairy in them - MOST things do! Our trip should be interesting. I know I will feel badly when my host family is having raclette and my son won't be able to have any. (I don't suppose they sell soy cheese somewhere in Bern do they)?
What's wrong with goat or sheep cheese? Why does it have to be soy?
(I know, I keep repeating myself)
^^ Because I do not know how my son would do with goat or other cheeses based on animal milk. We have only been using soy cheese with him and I don't want to "experiment" when we are on vacation.
Makes sense. Then stick to soy products, also available at every "Reformhaus" in Switzerland, albeit more expensive than at regular stores.
Like I said, both of my kids (now 5 and 3) are allergic to all dairy products, but sheep or goat cheese work just fine.
Hi there,
I'm vegan and was pleased at the selection of vegi-cheeses available here in Switzerland. There are Pural Scheezes available at the Egli Reformhäus in Zurich main station, possibly some others also. The website www.larada.org does an online delivery service of vegan products throughout Switzerland. For the "cheeses" click on the Hartkäse-Alternativen link There's also spreadable cheese in the Streichkäse-Alternativen area. Maybe you can have these delivered to your host family's house?
If you need any help with looking for more things on the website don't hesitate to ask!
Do Migros stores generally carry soy products?