To go with a snack on the go, a coconut plant-based drink may be suitable if its ingredients and allergen information meet your needs when avoiding dairy. Culinary coconut milk is better suited to recipes, while a small carton of coconut water is easier to carry but serves a different purpose. If you want a snack that provides protein, check the nutritional content of the whole snack.
If you’re looking for an option without dairy ingredients, don’t rely on the words ‘lactose-free’ alone. A Lactel coconut-flavoured product listed by Carrefour contains lactose-free milk. Check the allergens highlighted on the packaging, too.
A coconut drink can go with your snack, but it won’t necessarily be its main source of protein. The unsweetened Alpro drink, and the Auchan and Bjorg drinks listed by Auchan, contain 0.1 g, less than 0.5 g and 0.6 g of protein per 100 ml respectively.
A small, sealed pack may be more convenient than a 1 L carton for a single outing. The Auchan and Bjorg coconut drinks listed by Auchan need to be refrigerated after opening; Carrefour’s 330 ml carton of coconut water is a different type of drink.
For a drink to have with a snack, look at coconut plant-based drinks; for recipes, consider culinary coconut milk. If portability is your priority, a small carton of coconut water is another option, but don’t confuse it with a coconut plant-based drink.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy-free ingredients | Read the ingredients and highlighted allergen information. ‘Lactose-free’ does not mean ‘dairy-free’: Carrefour lists lactose-free milk in a Lactel coconut-flavoured product. | I want to avoid dairy ingredients without relying solely on a coconut flavour or a ‘lactose-free’ claim; around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the volume and storage instructions after opening. Auchan says its 1 L coconut and Bjorg drinks need to be refrigerated once opened. | Without a cool bag, I’d rather open a portion that’s the right size when I’m ready to drink it than carry a large, opened carton; around 27% of consumers would share this priority. |
| Sugars and fat | Compare the nutritional information per 100 ml and distinguish between ‘no added sugars’ and ‘sugar-free’. Also check whether the product is intended for drinking or cooking. | I’m choosing between a drink to have alongside food and an ingredient for a recipe, so their nutritional values matter to me; around 20% of consumers would put this profile first. |
| Protein in your snack | Check the ‘protein’ value per 100 ml, then look at the other foods you plan to include in your snack. Don’t assume that ‘plant-based’ means high in protein. | If I’m counting on my snack to include a source of protein, I don’t want to assume the coconut drink alone is enough; this would be the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Lactose-free milk is still a dairy product: Carrefour’s Lactel coconut-flavoured product lists lactose-free milk among its ingredients.
Check the ingredients and highlighted allergens rather than relying on the words ‘lactose-free’ alone.
The nutritional values of these categories can differ considerably. Joybuy’s Vietcoco coconut milk listing gives 184 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 ml; Auchan gives 14 kcal per 100 ml for the unsweetened Alpro coconut drink.
First decide whether you need an ingredient for a recipe or a drink to go with your snack, then compare the nutritional information per 100 ml for the products you’re considering.
According to Auchan, its coconut drink should be stored between 0 °C and +6 °C and used within five days of opening; Bjorg’s listing says to refrigerate it and use it within four days.
If you’re heading out without a way to keep it chilled, take a sealed pack and open it when you’re ready to drink it. Follow the storage instructions after opening.
With a large carton, you’ll need space in the fridge for what’s left and will have to use it within the stated time.
The unsweetened Alpro coconut drink, and the Auchan and Bjorg drinks listed by Auchan, contain between 0.1 g and 0.6 g of protein per 100 ml, depending on the product.
If protein content matters for your snack, check this value and choose separate foods to have with your drink.
The 1 L unsweetened coconut plant-based drink listed by Auchan is a different product from culinary coconut milk.
Carrefour lists a 1 L organic coconut plant-based drink labelled ‘no added sugars’.
Auchan lists a 1 L coconut plant-based drink made with coconut and rice.
Auchan lists Bjorg’s 1 L carton of unsweetened organic coconut plant-based drink.
These products cover three distinct uses: a small pack of coconut water to drink, coconut milk for cooking and 1 L cartons of coconut plant-based drinks. Choose the right category first, then compare pack sizes and labels.
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A handy small pack of coconut water to drink on the go. The bottle contains 330 ml; coconut water is not a substitute for a coconut plant-based drink in a recipe. Check the storage instructions on the packaging after opening.
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For recipes that call for coconut milk, rather than as a drink to have alongside your snack. The pack contains 200 ml; check the nutritional information and storage instructions if you plan to keep any after opening.
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For making several recipes with separate packs, rather than taking a single drink out with you. The pack contains six 250 ml cartons. Check the allergen information if relevant to you, and follow the storage instructions after opening.
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A coconut plant-based drink to use in a drink or smoothie. The carton contains 1 L, so plan how you’ll store it if you won’t use it all at once. Check the ingredients and allergens if you avoid milk or soya.
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A matcha-flavoured coconut plant-based drink, rather than culinary coconut milk. The carton contains 1 L, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re taking it out for one outing. Check the ingredients, particularly if you avoid soya, and follow the instructions after opening.
No. Carrefour lists a Lactel coconut-flavoured milk whose ingredients start with lactose-free milk. To avoid dairy, read the ingredients and highlighted allergen information, rather than relying on the words ‘lactose-free’ alone.
Only if you can follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. Auchan’s listings for its own-brand and Bjorg coconut drinks say to refrigerate them after opening. If you can’t keep your drink chilled, a small, unopened pack is more suitable for having on an outing.
No. Choose culinary coconut milk for recipes that call for it, and a coconut plant-based drink if you want something to have with your snack. Compare the values per 100 ml, too: Joybuy’s Vietcoco coconut milk listing gives 184 kcal and 18 g of fat, while Auchan gives 14 kcal for its unsweetened Alpro coconut drink.
Don’t assume so: protein content varies by product, and Auchan’s listings for the unsweetened Alpro, Auchan and Bjorg coconut drinks give between 0.1 g and 0.6 g of protein per 100 ml. If this matters for your snack, check the drink’s label and the labels of the foods you’ll have with it.