Who is this choice for?

Parents preparing a family recipe

You’re looking for a coconut ingredient to cook with, not a drink to replace your child’s milk. The distinction between a drink and a cooking ingredient matters, as the proportion of coconut can vary considerably.

Vegan households or those avoiding dairy

You’ll need to check the ingredients, allergens and proof of vegan certification for the specific product you buy. Labels such as ‘plant-based’, ‘lactose-free’ or ‘organic’ don’t, on their own, answer all three questions.

Parents of a child under one

Before comparing coconut products, bear in mind the guidance from Anses: standard plant-based drinks are not a substitute for breast milk or infant formula.

What should you check before buying?

For a recipe as part of baby-led weaning, first check what the product is intended for, then look at its ingredients and format. A coconut drink provides a more liquid base, while a cooking ingredient is better suited to recipes that call for more coconut.

Criterion What to check Who it matters to
Role in the diet If your child is under one, don’t use coconut drink as a replacement for breast milk or infant formula, in line with the guidance from Anses. If my child is under one, I want to choose a recipe ingredient without confusing it with their milk feeds. Around 36% of consumers would put this distinction at the top of their list of concerns.
Vegan certification and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact product’s packaging. If vegan certification is required, check the evidence for that specific product. If my household avoids dairy, I need to check what the product contains rather than rely on the word ‘plant-based’. Proof of vegan certification and allergen checks would be a priority for around 29% of consumers.
Coconut content Compare the proportion of coconut and the fat content per 100 g or per 100 mL, taking the unit shown on the label into account. To get the consistency I want in my recipe, I need to tell the difference between a drink and a cooking ingredient before changing the quantities. Around 21% of consumers would make this choice based on composition first.
Format Check the pack size and storage instructions after opening, based on how you plan to use it. If I only cook with coconut occasionally, I prefer a pack size that lets me use the contents in line with the storage instructions. Pack size would be the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Mistaking coconut drink for infant formula

    For children under one, Anses distinguishes standard drinks, including plant-based ones, from foods intended to provide an infant’s milk feeds.

    If you use coconut in a recipe, treat it as an ingredient, not as a substitute for breast milk or suitable infant formula.

  • Assuming ‘plant-based’ or ‘organic’ means vegan-certified

    On their own, these labels don’t prove that a product meets a vegan certification requirement. Nor do they replace checking the allergen information.

    Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, as well as the certification mark or documentation if this is important to you.

  • Swapping coconut drink and culinary coconut milk in equal amounts

    Carrefour’s product information lists 14.1% coconut milk in Alpro’s unsweetened coconut drink, compared with 51% coconut in Bjorg’s organic cooking ingredient. Swapping one for the other could therefore change the recipe.

    Compare the ingredients and nutritional values using their respective units before adjusting the quantities.

Brands to know when comparing formats

Alpro

Coconut-based plant drinks to consider when a recipe calls for a liquid base rather than culinary coconut milk.

  • According to Carrefour’s product information, Alpro’s unsweetened coconut drink contains 14.1% coconut milk and 1.2 g of fat per 100 g.
  • If vegan certification is essential, check the evidence for the product you’ve chosen: the ‘100% plant-based’ label on another Alpro drink is not a substitute.

Bjorg

The brand offers coconut products in different categories. Let your recipe guide your choice between a drink and a cooking ingredient.

  • According to Carrefour’s product information, Bjorg’s organic cooking ingredient contains 51% coconut and 15 g of fat per 100 mL.
  • Its organic status doesn’t prove that this cooking ingredient is vegan-certified. Check the exact product if this is an essential requirement.

Carrefour Bio

Carrefour’s range includes an organic plant-based coconut drink with no added sugars in a 1 L format, as well as culinary coconut milks.

  • These two categories give you a good starting point: compare them according to what your recipe calls for.
  • For the product you choose, check the ingredients, allergens and any required proof of vegan certification.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can coconut drink replace infant formula during weaning?

No, not for a child under one: according to Anses, standard plant-based drinks are not a substitute for breast milk or first- and follow-on infant formula. Infant formula specially made with plant-based proteins is a different category from a standard coconut drink.

Does the ‘plant-based’ label guarantee vegan certification and that the product is dairy-free?

No. Check the ingredients and allergens separately and, if required, look for proof of vegan certification for the exact product. The European Commission classifies information about suitability for vegetarian or vegan diets as voluntary food information. A label on the front of the pack is no substitute for these checks.

How do you check allergens in a prepacked coconut product?

Read the ingredients list and look for allergens highlighted in it, as set out in the labelling rules explained by the DGCCRF. If you have a diagnosed food allergy, Assurance Maladie advises avoiding the food in question. The words ‘coconut milk’ aren’t enough to tell you what the product contains.

When should you choose coconut drink rather than culinary coconut milk?

Choose the category that gives your recipe the consistency it needs. Don’t assume the two products can be swapped in equal amounts. For comparison between these specific products, Carrefour’s product information lists 14.1% coconut milk and 1.2 g of fat per 100 g for Alpro’s unsweetened drink, compared with 51% coconut and 15 g of fat per 100 mL for Bjorg’s organic cooking ingredient. The units shown are different.