If you want to pour coconut drink over cereal or into coffee, start with plant-based drinks made to be consumed as they are. For a creamier porridge or smoothie, look instead at coconut milk intended for cooking. Pack size, fat content and storage instructions after opening vary from product to product. If you need to avoid a particular ingredient, neither ‘plant-based’ nor ‘lactose-free’ is a substitute for checking the ingredients list and allergen information on the product you buy.
You may be looking to avoid lactose, gluten or a particular allergen. Check the ingredients for each product individually: a coconut drink may contain soya, for example. For pre-packed foods, the Department for Business and Trade says that allergenic ingredients must be listed and emphasised.
You want to pour the product straight into a bowl of cereal or a coffee, or drink it on its own. Check that it is a coconut plant-based drink, rather than a cooking product intended to be added in small quantities to a recipe.
You add a little coconut milk for a creamier texture. In this case, the amount you use, the carton size and the storage instructions after opening are just as important as the ingredients list.
First, identify any ingredient you need to avoid, then choose between a drink and coconut milk for cooking, depending on what you have for breakfast. Next, compare the ingredients and pack sizes of products intended for the same use.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary requirements | Identify the ingredient you need to avoid; check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the pack you buy. | If I need to exclude a particular ingredient, a general claim such as ‘plant-based’ isn’t enough to make a decision. This would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Breakfast use | Look for ‘coconut plant-based drink’ for drinking as it is, or ‘coconut milk’ and ‘cooking preparation’ for cooking. | If I want to quickly fill my bowl or add coconut to my coffee, I look for a product made to be consumed as a drink. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise this direct use. |
| Ingredients | Compare the ingredients and nutritional information, particularly sugars and fats, on the same per 100 g or per 100 ml basis. | If I want to know exactly what’s in my carton, I look at the recipe rather than just how it’s presented on the shelf. Ingredients would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size and storage | Choose a pack size that suits the amount you use and check the storage instructions for each product after opening. | When I only add a little coconut milk to my porridge, I want to be able to finish the carton within the stated time. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this. |
Their uses and recipes differ. Carrefour lists 0.8 g of fat per 100 g for its Alpro coconut drink, while the product information for Carrefour Bio and Auchan cooking preparations lists 17 g per 100 ml for each. These figures are given on different bases, so they shouldn’t be compared directly.
For a bowl of cereal or a coffee, check that it’s a plant-based drink. For a creamier smoothie or porridge, choose the right amount of coconut milk for cooking for your recipe.
Recipes can vary between products: the Joybuy product information for Alpro Barista coconut drink lists soya. A ‘lactose-free’ claim doesn’t tell you whether another ingredient is present either.
Make a note of the ingredient you need to avoid before you shop, and check the label of every product you buy, even if you switch to a different variant or pack size.
If you only use a small amount each morning, an opened carton may still be unfinished after the stated storage period. Product information for Kara and Auchan gives a storage time of three and five days after opening respectively, following the storage instructions for each product.
Compare the pack size with how much you’ll use during the week, then follow the storage instructions printed on the carton.
These examples show why the product description and recipe matter more than the brand name alone: a drink, a concentrated milk and cooking portions aren’t intended for the same use.
Carrefour describes its 1 L coconut plant-based drink as suitable for drinking or using in recipes, including with cereal or in coffee.
The 330 ml carton of organic coconut milk is described as a cooking ingredient, rather than a drink to pour straight into a bowl.
The UHT Coco cuisine product comes in a pack of three 20 cl cartons for sweet or savoury dishes.
The 20 cl carton of organic coconut milk listed by Auchan is a small pack for cooking.
No. A ‘lactose-free’ claim doesn’t tell you about any other ingredients you may need to avoid. The Department for Business and Trade explains that allergenic ingredients in pre-packed foods must be listed and emphasised, so check the label on the product you buy. For example, the Alpro Barista coconut drink listed on Joybuy contains soya.
A coconut plant-based drink made to be consumed as it is is suitable for this. If you’re considering coconut milk for cooking instead, check its ingredients and how much you want to add: it’s a different type of product.
Compare the values on the same basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml, rather than just looking at the figures per portion. The DGCCRF says that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml. Pay particular attention to fat, sugars and salt, depending on what matters for your purchase.
Follow the time limit and storage instructions on the carton you buy, as these vary by product. Product information says to use Kara organic coconut milk within three days of opening and Auchan Coco cuisine within five days when kept in the fridge.