If you’re lactose intolerant or a strict vegan, you likely already avoid food products with lactose in them. This is a fairly simple way to cut lactose out of your diet, but did you know that there are quite a few other products that contain hidden lactose in their ingredient lists? Here are three surprising sources of lactose.

1. Medications. It may seem hard to believe, but your prescription medication or that over-the-counter pain reliever may contain lactose. The most common culprits are birth control pills, quick-dissolve Vitamin D tablets, and digestion remedies, but there are often others on the list as well. Because many brands use the sugar as a filler or base, it’s a common ingredient in many medications that come in pill form.
2. Grain mixes. Pre-packaged items like waffles, cookies, potato chips, and granola bars may contain lactose in the same what that medications do. The lactose sugar is used as a filler that helps the rest of the ingredients to stick together, and even if you purchase a boxed mix that you bake yourself, it’s often difficult to avoid the lactose.
3. Processed meats. It may seem strange that meat products would contain lactose, but it’s often found in processed types like hot dogs, sausages, and lunchmeat-style cold cuts. To avoid the lactose, purchase kosher or an openly lactose-free brand instead.

8 Surprising Sources of Lactose [Best Health]
Lactose Intolerance [NIDDK]
Learn to Detect “Hidden” Lactose [Cornell Women’s Health]
Hidden Sources of Lactose [Lactose Ninja]
What is “Hidden” Lactose? [Lactaid]

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