Older people who cook with coconut milk
In a soup, curry or sauce, coconut milk is a cooking ingredient, not a main source of protein. Manger Bouger reminds us that nutritional needs don’t decrease for people aged over 75.
Who are these options for?
Older people keeping an eye on saturated fat
If you use coconut milk in a recipe, compare the fat and saturated fat content on the same basis, then take into account how much you pour in.
Older people looking for a fortified coconut drink
If you want a drink with added calcium or vitamins, check that the product you choose is fortified and look at its protein content too. Not all coconut drinks have these features.
What should you look for?
Culinary coconut milk
Consider it: when you’re making a soup, sauce or dessert with coconut milk.
Keep in mind: its role in the recipe doesn’t replace that of the other ingredients in the meal.
Reduced-fat cooking version
Consider it: if you’re looking to reduce fat compared with the product it’s being compared with.
Keep in mind: ‘reduced-fat’ doesn’t necessarily mean low in saturated fat.
Fortified coconut drink
Consider it: as a drink, if the label confirms it has the fortification you’re looking for.
Keep in mind: added calcium or vitamins don’t tell you how much protein it contains.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Role of protein | Distinguish between a cooking ingredient and a drink. Check the protein content per 100 ml and for the amount consumed. | If I’m preparing a meal for an older person, I want to know what coconut milk actually adds. Around 50% of consumers in question put the overall make-up of the meal first. |
| Fat | Compare fat and saturated fat content on the same basis, then consider how much the recipe calls for. | When making a coconut milk sauce, I’d rather consider how much I pour in than rely on the word ‘reduced-fat’. This is a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Use and texture | Check the product name, ingredients and pack size to choose between culinary coconut milk and a coconut drink. | When I’m cooking, I’m looking for an ingredient that suits my recipe, not a drink to pour into a glass. Texture and use are the main priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming a fortified coconut drink is a main source of protein
The Alpro Coco Sans Sucres drink featured by Auchan contains 0.1 g of protein per 100 ml, despite having added calcium and vitamins. Anses highlights the role protein plays in tissue renewal.
Check the ‘protein’ line and consider the make-up of the meal as a whole. Don’t assume a product contains protein just because its name includes the word ‘milk’.
-
Assuming ‘reduced-fat’ means low in saturated fat
The Kara Light product featured by Auchan contains 12 g of saturated fat per 100 ml.
Read the nutrition information per 100 ml and relate it to the amount used in your recipe.
-
Choosing a large pack without planning how to use it after opening
If a recipe only calls for a small amount of coconut milk, make sure you can store and use the rest according to the pack instructions. The DGCCRF reminds consumers to follow storage instructions for opened products.
Choose a pack size that suits your recipe and follow the storage instructions on the product.
A pack larger than you need may leave you with some to use within the stated storage period.
Brands to know
Alpro
A coconut drink option, distinct from culinary coconut milk.
- The Alpro Coco Sans Sucres drink featured by Auchan contains added calcium and vitamins, and provides 120 mg of calcium per 100 ml.
- This product also contains 0.1 g of protein per 100 ml. Check the label of the drink you choose rather than assuming the whole range has the same nutritional profile.
Kara
A reduced-fat culinary coconut milk for cooking.
- Auchan states that Kara Light has 30% less fat than the product used as the comparison for this claim.
- Even so, this product contains 13 g of fat, including 12 g of saturated fat, per 100 ml.
Carrefour Sensation et Carrefour Bio
Two Carrefour culinary coconut milk products to compare based on their composition and the recipe you have in mind.
- Carrefour states that Sensation contains 85% coconut extract and Carrefour Bio contains 76%.
- Sensation contains 18 g of fat per 100 g, while Carrefour Bio contains 17 g per 100 ml, so the figures are given on different bases.
Bio Village et Tables du Monde (E.Leclerc)
Two culinary coconut milk products featured by E.Leclerc.
- E.Leclerc states that Bio Village contains 47% coconut extract and Tables du Monde contains 63%.
- Bio Village contains 18 g of fat, including 16 g of saturated fat, per 100 ml. Compare each product based on how much your recipe calls for.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use culinary coconut milk and coconut drinks interchangeably?
No. Their uses and compositions are different. Carrefour’s Carrefour Sensation coconut milk is a cooking ingredient containing 18 g of fat per 100 g. The Alpro Coco Sans Sucres drink featured by Auchan contains 120 mg of calcium and 0.1 g of protein per 100 ml.
Does a fortified coconut drink provide enough protein?
Fortification doesn’t mean a drink is high in protein. The Alpro Coco Sans Sucres drink featured by Auchan contains 0.1 g per 100 ml. To work out how a product fits into a meal, check its nutritional information rather than relying on its category.
How should you store coconut milk after opening?
Follow the storage instructions and use-by period after opening shown on the pack of the product you bought. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that the date on an unopened pack doesn’t replace these instructions once the product has been opened.
What should you check on the label before buying?
Start with the product name, ingredients, nutrition information and net quantity to distinguish culinary coconut milk from a coconut drink. The DGCCRF also lists the date as information that must appear on the labels of pre-packed foods.