Who is this option for?

Families making a coconut-based recipe

A small pack of coconut milk for cooking may suit a lunchbox recipe. Before you choose, compare the amount you need for the recipe with the ingredients list.

Families looking for a coconut drink

If the product is meant to be drunk with the meal, distinguish coconut drinks from cooking products sold as coconut milk.

Families following a medically prescribed diet

If a secondary school pupil has a medically confirmed allergy or intolerance, check the label on the exact product and follow any arrangements set out in their individualised care plan (PAI).

What should you check?

First decide whether the coconut product is for cooking or drinking, then check storage requirements and the pupil’s specific needs. If you’re looking for a “filtered” product, be clear about what you mean by that and check the description of the product you choose: a UHT label alone doesn’t guarantee that it is filtered.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Allergens and medical diet Read the ingredients and allergen information for the product you’re buying; follow the PAI and medical advice where applicable. For a pupil who follows a medically prescribed diet, I want to avoid products that conflict with the agreed guidance. Around 42% of consumers would make this compatibility their priority.
Storage and pack size Check the instructions for before and after opening, as well as transport conditions; choose a pack size suited to how you’ll use it. When I prepare lunch in the morning, I need packaging that suits the journey and the amount I’ll use. Storage and pack size would be priorities for around 33% of consumers.
Use and ingredients Distinguish cooking products from drinks; compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 mL. If I’m using coconut in a recipe, I want a product suited to cooking rather than a drink to serve as it is. Around 25% of consumers would put use and ingredients first.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Mistaking coconut milk for cooking for a coconut drink

    Carrefour lists Kara coconut milk as a cooking ingredient, while its Alpro listing is for a coconut drink. These names refer to two different uses to consider when packing lunch.

    Decide whether you’ll add the product to a recipe or drink it with the meal, then check its product description and ingredients.

  • Assuming “plant-based” means it’s suitable for someone with an allergy

    The plant-based origin of the ingredients listed for some products doesn’t mean they’re suitable for every pupil on a medically prescribed diet. The ingredients and packaging information matter for each individual product.

    Check the label every time you buy it and follow medical advice and any arrangements set out in the PAI.

  • Assuming all coconut products are shelf-stable

    Carrefour describes Kara coconut milk as UHT-sterilised, but labels the Alpro coconut drink “Fresh for 10 days or more”. So the word “coconut” alone doesn’t tell you how to store a product.

    Check the instructions for the product you’ve chosen separately for before opening, after opening and during transport.

Brands to know

Carrefour

Carrefour describes its 200 mL coconut milk as a plant-based cooking ingredient.

  • The product listing states that it contains 76% coconut extract and water.
  • For a lunchbox, check the storage instructions and allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy.

Alpro

Carrefour’s listings include an Alpro coconut drink, which is different from coconut milk for cooking.

  • Its product description makes it easy to identify when you’re looking for a drink.
  • The listing says “Fresh for 10 days or more”. Check the product instructions before considering transporting it without keeping it chilled.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is coconut milk for cooking the same as a coconut drink?

No. These terms refer to products intended for different uses. Carrefour lists Kara coconut milk as a cooking ingredient, while the Alpro product is described separately as a coconut drink. Choose according to whether you’re making a recipe or looking for a drink.

Can UHT coconut milk stay in a lunchbox all day?

The UHT label alone doesn’t tell you how to transport a product, especially after opening. Even though Carrefour describes Kara coconut milk as UHT-sterilised, follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.

Can a pupil with a milk allergy have coconut milk?

The name “coconut milk” alone doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for a pupil with a milk allergy. The ingredients listed for Kara, Real Thai and Carrefour products are plant-based, but you should check the packaging of the exact product and follow medical advice and any arrangements set out in the pupil’s PAI.

What arrangements can a secondary school make for a food allergy?

According to the French Ministry of National Education, an individualised care plan can be put in place to support a pupil with a food allergy. It can set out adjustments, including dietary arrangements, agreed with the family and the professionals involved.