Lactose is a fancy word for the naturally occurring sugar found in milk.

Milk contains between 2–8% lactose. Less sweet than other sugars, milk sugar is used in the fabrication of baby formula and candy.

Those with the common problem of lactose intolerance have trouble digesting lactose due to a lack of lactase, an enzyme in the digestive system that helps break down the lactose in food, and generally avoid dairy products to avoid stomach discomfort. Lactose intolerance is genetic and found throughout the world, but varies by geographic region with some cultures having a lower tolerance than others.