Parents of a baby under one
It’s important to distinguish between milk bought for the household and milk for your baby. The French health insurance authority recommends continuing with infant formula until your baby is one.
Who is this option for?
Households that use milk every day
For drinks and cooking, you may want to split a six-litre supply into containers you can finish after opening.
Parents who care about origin and packaging
You may want to compare origin or production information and choose between cartons and bottles, without assuming that any particular product is suitable for feeding an infant.
What should you look for?
For a six-litre supply, the choice between 6 × 1 L and 4 × 1.5 L mainly depends on how much your household can get through once a container has been opened.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Who the milk is for | If your child is under one, distinguish household milk from infant formula; the French health insurance authority recommends continuing with the latter until that age. | With a baby at home, I want to avoid buying household milk instead of their infant formula; around 42% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Amount to finish after opening | Compare six 1 L containers with four 1.5 L ones, and check the recommended time after opening for the specific product. | When our consumption varies, I prefer to open one litre at a time so I don’t leave milk unfinished; around 33% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Origin and packaging | Compare the origin or production information for each product, as well as its type of container. | If origin or production methods matter to me when I shop, I want to distinguish between the information given for each milk; around 25% of consumers would prioritise these details. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing family milk with infant formula
A pack of semi-skimmed milk for the household is not the same purchase as milk for a baby. The French health insurance authority recommends continuing with infant formula until the baby is one.
Before choosing a pack size, decide who the milk is for.
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Buying six litres without checking how long it keeps after opening
The recommended time applies to each container once opened and varies by product: Auchan says its 6 × 1 L carton keeps for 48 hours, Auchan says the Lactel pack we checked keeps for three days, and Candia says GrandLait keeps for four days.
Choose a container size your household can finish within the time stated on the product.
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Confusing the pack size with the size of each container
Both six 1 L units and four 1.5 L units contain six litres in total, but they don’t require you to open the same amount at once.
Check the number of units and their size on the product page before ordering.
Brands and ranges to consider
Lactel
Auchan lists a pack of 6 × 1 L of Lactel UHT semi-skimmed milk.
- Six 1 L containers let you open the pack gradually.
- For this product, Auchan says to keep it chilled at no more than 6 °C and use within three days of opening.
Candia
Candia offers GrandLait semi-skimmed milk in packs of 6 × 1 L and 4 × 1.5 L.
- Both packs contain six litres, divided into different amounts per unit.
- Candia says to keep the milk chilled and use within four days of opening; check that you can finish your chosen container in that time.
Carrefour
Carrefour Classic’ semi-skimmed milk is available in a pack of six 1 L bottles.
- This format makes it easy to distinguish the total supply from the amount in each bottle.
- Check the storage instructions for the product you buy before opening a bottle.
Leclerc
The Marque Repère range includes Delisse semi-skimmed milk in 6 × 1 L cartons, listed by E.Leclerc.
- Each carton contains 1 L, for a total of six litres.
- Check the after-opening instructions for the product you choose rather than relying on guidance for another brand.
Auchan
Auchan offers UHT semi-skimmed milk in packs of 6 × 1 L, in cartons or bottles depending on the product.
- You can choose the type of container without changing the total volume of the pack.
- For the carton product detailed by Auchan, use within 48 hours of opening and keep refrigerated at no more than 6 °C.
Family-size semi-skimmed milk on Joybuy
This selection covers semi-skimmed milk in packs of six 1 L containers, for household use other than feeding an infant.
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C'EST QUI LE PATRON semi-skimmed milk 6 × 1 L
This pack suits households that want to open their supply of semi-skimmed milk one litre at a time, not for feeding an infant.
The pack contains six 1 L units. Check the product for the type of container and its storage instructions after opening.
Frequently asked questions
Can household semi-skimmed milk replace infant formula before a baby is one?
No, not as the main milk for a baby under one: the French health insurance authority recommends continuing with infant formula until that age. If you have a question about your child’s diet, speak to the healthcare professional who looks after them.
How long can you keep a container after opening?
Follow the time and temperature instructions for the product you buy: Auchan specifies three days at no more than 6 °C for the Lactel pack we checked, and 48 hours at no more than 6 °C for its 6 × 1 L carton; Candia says GrandLait keeps for four days when chilled. These time limits do not apply to all semi-skimmed milk.
Does six litres always mean six bottles?
No. A pack of 6 × 1 L contains six units, while the GrandLait semi-skimmed milk 4 × 1.5 L offered by Candia contains four units for the same total volume. Check the amount per unit if you want to limit how much you open at once.