To add creaminess to a dish and give it an occasional energy boost, choose culinary coconut milk and check its nutritional values; it is not a replacement for the other foods in the meal. A coconut plant-based drink has a different purpose, such as at breakfast: check its own label to see whether calcium has been added. If you prefer a light culinary version, compare its fat and energy content rather than relying on the word “light” alone.
When portions get smaller, the texture and energy content of a recipe may be important when choosing culinary coconut milk. If a reduced appetite continues or is accompanied by weight loss, changing what you eat is no substitute for medical advice, as Assurance Maladie explains in its guidance on malnutrition.
For a drink or breakfast, it’s important to distinguish a plant-based drink from coconut milk intended for cooking. Carrefour’s product information for Alpro Unsweetened Drink lists calcium, as well as vitamins B12 and D2; check for these additions on each individual product.
If you want to keep using coconut milk for cooking while comparing a light version with a standard one, check the fat and energy figures in their respective units. Carrefour’s product information for Kara Light and Carrefour Sensation gives values on different bases: per 100 mL and per 100 g.
First decide whether you want to cook with coconut or drink it. To compare products for the same purpose, check the nutritional values and ingredients for each product, without treating a fortified drink as equivalent to culinary coconut milk.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in a dish | Compare the energy per 100 g or 100 mL, and distinguish culinary coconut milk from a plant-based drink. Consider the other foods in the meal separately. | When my appetite is low, I want to make a small portion creamier and increase its energy content. Around 40% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Drink with added calcium | Check the product name, ingredients list and nutritional information for the product you’re considering. | For breakfast, I want a coconut drink and need to know whether it contains added calcium. This would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Fat content for cooking | Check the fat and energy figures per 100 g or 100 mL; make sure the units match before comparing two products. | I cook with coconut milk but want to consider a light version without assuming it is low in fat. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this comparison. |
The two products may not serve the same purpose in a recipe. According to Carrefour’s product information, Carrefour Sensation culinary coconut milk contains 185 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 14 kcal per 100 g for Alpro Unsweetened Drink.
Start by checking the product name and intended use, then compare nutritional values using the same units.
A stated reduction is relative to another product. Carrefour’s product information for Kara Light still lists 13 g of fat per 100 mL.
Check the fat and energy figures on the packaging before choosing this version for cooking.
Adding an ingredient to a recipe won’t establish the cause of weight loss. Assurance Maladie says a medical examination is needed to assess malnutrition.
If an older person is losing weight or eating very little over an extended period, seek medical advice rather than relying on a change of ingredient.
Carrefour’s product information for Alpro Unsweetened Drink lists calcium and vitamins B12 and D2. This doesn’t apply to all coconut drinks or culinary coconut milks.
If these additions matter to you, look for them in the ingredients list and nutritional information for the specific product.
The product reviewed is culinary coconut milk in a 400 mL can.
The products reviewed include Light culinary coconut milk in a 200 mL carton and organic coconut milk.
The product reviewed is an Unsweetened coconut plant-based drink, which is different from culinary coconut milk.
The product reviewed is culinary coconut milk in a 200 mL carton.
These products include coconut milks for cooking, options labelled Light and a coconut matcha drink. First choose according to how you plan to use it, then check the nutritional information and ingredients for the product you select.
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This 200 mL carton is a handy size for a recipe using coconut milk. The product name includes 17%; check the label for nutritional values and ingredients.
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This multipack may suit you if you cook with coconut milk regularly. It contains 12 × 1 L cartons, so consider how much storage space you’ll need and check the storage instructions after opening.
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For drinking, this 1 L product combines coconut and matcha. If you’re looking for added calcium, check whether it’s included and how much is in this particular product, rather than assuming it’s the same as in another Alpro drink.
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If you want to compare culinary coconut milks labelled Light, this product comes in a 400 mL pack. Check the fat and energy figures on the label before comparing it with another coconut milk.
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For another Light culinary option to compare, this product comes in a 400 mL can and is labelled 9%. Check the label to see what this figure refers to, as well as the stated fat and energy content.
Not if you want to maintain the same energy content in the recipe. Carrefour’s product information lists 185 kcal per 100 g for Carrefour Sensation culinary coconut milk, compared with 14 kcal per 100 g for Alpro Unsweetened Drink. Check the values for your own products before making a substitution.
No. It can be used in a recipe, but it can’t assess weight loss or treat malnutrition. Assurance Maladie says a medical examination is needed to assess the situation. Seek medical advice if the person is losing weight or eating very little over an extended period.
Start with the product name and ingredients list, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g or 100 mL. The DGCCRF notes that this is among the information to check on pre-packed food. For a fortified drink, specifically check the chosen product to see whether calcium has been added.