FAQ
Are Soignon products suitable for vegetarians?
All our cheeses are made using microbial coagulants, with the exception of the Ripened goat log 150g, which is made with animal rennet.
Products made with microbial coagulants are suitable for a vegetarian diet (except those which contain meat, such as our ‘Goats’ Cheese and Speck Apéritif Mini-Logs’, for example).
For more information, see our article: “I’m on a diet - are dairy products out of the question?”
Are your cheeses made from raw milk or pasteurized milk?
All our cheeses are made from pasteurized milk.
What is a lactic ferment?
Lactic ferments are bacteria whose role is to help to transform milk in order to make cheese or yogurt. These ferments produce lactic acid, hence their name.
Are there any allergens in your products?
All allergens contained in our products are listed in bold in the ingredients list.
The main allergen in our products is milk, but other allergens such as wheat may also be included in the ingredient listing of our products.
What is rennet? What is coagulant?
Rennet, or coagulant, is an ingredient required for making cheese as it allows the milk to change from a liquid to a solid state.
For your information, microbial coagulants are suitable for a vegetarian diet.
Are Soignon products a source of protein?
All our Soignon cheeses are made from milk, which is itself made up of proteins.
To find out more about the protein content of our products, please consult the nutritional information table found on the description pages for each of our products.
Do your products contain gluten?
Please note that milk does not contain gluten which are proteins found in cereal grains. Most of our products are gluten-free.
If a product contains gluten, the term “gluten” or the ingredient itself such as wheat is listed on the packaging in bold in the list of ingredients of the product in question.
This is the case, where some of our items such as baked breaded goat cheeses, contain wheat flour in the breadcrumbs.
What is the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?
A food allergy is an abnormal response of the immune system to the proteins contained in a given food.
The severity of the allergic reaction in some people and the difficulty of removing certain foods from one’s diet makes food allergies a public health issue.
Lactose intolerance is generally a reaction to the consumption of nutrients other than proteins, for example sugars (lactose, fructose, etc.).
In the case of lactose intolerance, the reaction is related to the lack of an the lactase enzyme which breaks down sugar or lactose contained in all dairy products. This mainly results in digestive issues. People with milder cases of lactose intolerance can often tolerate small quantities of lactose and, consequently, dairy products.
Gluten intolerance (also known as celiac disease) is the exception to this, as it is a serious disease linked to the ingestion of wheat proteins that requires sufferers to completely remove gluten from their diet for life.
Are goat milk products suitable for people with high cholesterol?
YES, people with high cholesterol can still consume a reasonable amount of dairy products, i.e. 2 portions per day, be that cow or goat milk products.
It is worth bearing in mind that excessive levels of cholesterol in the blood (hypercholesterolemia) can be a major cardiovascular risk factor. Although cheeses contain saturated fatty acids can be responsible for high cholesterol anything in moderation can be perfectly fine in one's diet.
On the contrary, if consumed in moderation saturated fatty acids in cheese have been shown to have a positive effect on blood cholesterol. (Source: Lecerf JM, Legrand P, 2015. Feeney EL et al., 2018).
It is worth noting that foods rich in fiber help reduce the levels of cholesterol. With this in mind, try to combine your goat cheese with wholegrain breads or breads with nuts!
For more information, see our article: "I’m on a diet - are dairy products out of the question?"
Are goat milk products suitable for children?
YES, but only from a certain age.
Yogurts and white cheese made from cow or goat milk can be offered to children occasionally from age 6 months +.
Between 8 months and 1 year, you can start to gradually give them a small amount of cheese. All dairy products labelled “suitable for young children” are better suited to their specific needs and better for them. After 18-months, goat milk products should be a normal part of a children diet for it is easier on their digestion tract moreso than cow milk. This new dairy source will open them up to a wide range of flavors and to reach the recommended servings of 3 dairy products per day.
Different types of dairy products you give to children helps to strike a good balance of calcium, salt and fat in their diet.
Are goat milk products suitable for people on a diet?
YES, it is perfectly possible to consume dairy products including goat milk products while you are on a diet. You simply need to choose the right cheese and consume them in moderate quantities.
As such, you can eat 2 portions per day, as long as you opt for cheeses that are low in fat and salt and high in calcium, as well as limiting your intake of fatty and sugary dairy desserts.
Contrary to popular belief, in moderation consuming dairy products can actually have a neutral or even positive effect against weight gain or type 2 diabetes (Source: Collective expertise report, ANSES [November 2016]).
For more information, see our article: “I’m on a diet - are dairy products out of the question?”
I’m allergic to cow milk proteins, can I still eat Soignon products?
Our products are made with 100% goats’ milk, except for our 180g Mi-Chèvre cheese and our 180g Duo log, which are both made with an equal blend of cow and goat milk. Please note that although in some cases goat milk is easier to tolerate by some people who are allergic to cow milk, others may be allergic to BOTH cow AND goat milk (cases of cross-allergies to cow milk and goat milk have been reported for many years). What’s more, there have been reports of sudden onset of allergies to goat milk. If you are in doubt or to avoid any unexpected reactions, please consult your doctor to help guide you with your specific needs leading to a healthy consumption of dairy products.
For more information, see our articles: “Lactose intolerance: there’s a right dose for everyone!” or “Can I continue eating dairy products if I’m lactose intolerant?”.
If you have difficulty digesting dairy products, can you consume goat milk products?
Nutritional experts believe that goat milk is gentler on the digestive system than cow milk. It makes sense. There are lower levels of lactose, smaller fat gobules and the fat has a healthier fatty acid composition... An additional benefit isa higher level of protein.
Lactose intolerance people are unable to digest the natural sugars in milk.
In most cases, lactose intolerance is related to the absorption of a large quantity of lactose in liquid form (e.g.: a glass of milk). Some people have symptoms after eating cheese or yogurt even though they contain a great deal less milk, or milk in a predigested form. No medical study has proven that goat milk products are easier to digest than cow milk but people often report feeling that goat milk products are gentler on their digestive system.
For more information, see our articles: “Lactose intolerance: there’s a right dose for everyone!” or “Can I continue eating dairy products if I’m lactose intolerant?”.