HYLA

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HYLA is a trademark of the Finnish dairy company Valio. HYLA stands for hydrolysed lactose. These products have less than 1% lactose, so many people with lactose intolerance can enjoy them without stomach discomfort. During production, the lactose is split into glucose and galactose using the lactase enzyme. Because glucose and galactose are sweeter than lactose (glucose about 2 times as sweet, galactose about 6 times), HYLA milk tastes sweeter and raises blood sugar more quickly than regular milk. Valio started researching hydrolysed lactose in the 1970s. The first HYLA product, milk powder, appeared in 1978, followed by milk and other products. In the late 1990s, Valio developed technology for almost lactose-free products with less than 0.01% lactose. The first lactose-free product, light milk drink, was launched in 2001.