Milk alternatives in Italy
 

Going to Italy later this summer with my kids (1, 4, 7, 10) and need to know whether I can get lactose free milk and rice milk at supermarkets. If anyone knows brands or terms I should use when asking for it. Will be in Venice for 3 days at beginning and then going to Florence. In Florence, someone will do some grocery shopping for us and I want to be able to tell them as best possible so that there might be some at house upon arrival. Then can try to find for myself but looking for a little help with terms, brands, etc. Thanks for the help!

These items are indeed available in many supermarkets.

Low lactose milk: latte ad alta digeribilita' (not 100% lactose-free)

Lactose-free milk: latte SENZA lattosio

Soymilk: latte di soia

Rice milk: latte di riso

Goat's milk: latte di capra

You can also get "latte ad alta digeribilita'" in SOME cafe/bars (you must always ASK). I've yet to find the other types of milk available in cafe/bars (but it's certainly possible).

There are a number of solutions.

There is milk which has a very low lactose content:

Zymil by Parmalat less than 0.5% lactose
Accadi by Granarolo less than 0.5% lactose
Mila SL less than 0.1% lactose

The first two can be found in most supermarkets in north and central Italy. The third is more likely to be found in the north east of Italy.

Without lactose you should look for soya milk - latte di soia. A further alternative could be goat's milk which may be digestible by those who are lactose intolerant - see latte di capra.

I also think that you can find rice based milk but I will have to check. I think that Riso Scotti (one of the biggest rice growers in Italy) also produces such a product.