Households preparing snacks at home
You’re looking for several bottles of skimmed milk to keep in stock, rather than an individual drink to pop in a bag. Carrefour France, for example, offers a six-bottle pack of 1 L UHT milk.
Who is this option for?
People looking for a lactose-free option
If lactose content is a key factor in your purchase, check the details on the specific product. Candia, for example, offers its lactose-free skimmed milk in 1 L bottles and packs of 6 × 1 L.
Shoppers who pay attention to ingredients
You may want to compare fat, protein or potential vitamin D content. To compare products on a like-for-like basis, check their nutritional values per 100 ml.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether the milk will mainly be used at home or taken out after opening. Then compare the pack size and ingredients of products suited to that use.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking up at home | Number and size of bottles; best-before date and storage instructions after opening. | I want to keep several bottles at home and be able to use each one once opened. Around 50% of consumers would put having a family supply at the top of their needs. |
| Transport and keeping chilled | A suitable food container and a way to keep the milk chilled if you take it out after opening. | If I take my snack out with me, I need to be able to carry the portion safely until I’m ready to drink it. Portability would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Lactose and ingredients | Lactose information, ingredients list and nutritional values per 100 ml. | I’m mainly looking for a specific lactose content or a particular composition, even if a family-size pack also appeals to me. Around 20% of consumers would make composition their main criterion. |
Mistakes to avoid
-
Confusing a family-size pack with a portable format
Six 1 L bottles make a handy supply, but an opened bottle won’t keep in a bag like an unopened UHT bottle.
For a snack on the go, pour a portion into a suitable food container and make sure it stays chilled.
-
Mistaking semi-skimmed milk for skimmed milk
The pack size or colour of the packaging won’t tell you which of these two types it is.
Check that it’s labelled “skimmed milk” and look at the “fat” line in the nutritional information.
-
Assuming “lactose-free” means “dairy-free”
Lactose-free skimmed milk is still a dairy product. This label does not mean it’s suitable for someone with a milk protein allergy.
If you have an allergy, read all the allergen information rather than relying on the “lactose-free” label alone.
-
Comparing nutritional values shown on different bases
A value per serving cannot be compared directly with one given per 100 ml. The DGCCRF states that nutritional declarations are given per 100 g or 100 ml.
For these milks, compare fat, sugars and protein on the same basis, then look at any other listed nutrients that matter to you.
Brands to know when comparing products
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour France offers this UHT skimmed milk in a pack of six 1 L bottles.
- Carrefour France’s product details state that it contains 0 g of fat per 100 ml and can be stored at room temperature before opening.
- Once opened, the bottle must be kept in the fridge. This pack is better suited to use at home than to carrying an opened bottle around.
Candia+
Candia offers lactose-free skimmed milk in 1 L bottles and packs of 6 × 1 L.
- Candia states that this product contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
- “Lactose-free” does not mean that the product is free from milk proteins.
Lactel
Lactel Vitamine D skimmed milk gives you an enriched option to compare with standard skimmed milk.
- Lactel states that this product contains 1.5 µg of vitamin D and 3.3 g of protein per 100 ml.
- Lactel’s product page shows a 1 L bottle. If you’re looking for a family-size pack, check the pack size available when you buy.
Joybuy products for stocking up at home
This pack of lactose-free skimmed milk is a good option to keep in stock for preparing snacks at home. If you’re taking a portion in your gym bag, also consider how to store the milk after opening.
Image unavailable
MATIN LÉGER lactose-free skimmed milk 6 × 1 L
This pack of six 1 L containers is ideal for keeping a supply at home. After opening, store the milk in the fridge as directed on the product. The “lactose-free” label doesn’t mean you can skip checking the allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 6 × 1 L pack suitable for a gym bag?
The pack is best suited to keeping a supply at home, rather than carrying an opened bottle around. To take milk with you, pour a portion into a suitable food container and keep it chilled after opening.
Does UHT milk need to be refrigerated before opening?
According to Lactel, an unopened bottle of UHT milk can be stored at room temperature until its best-before date. Once opened, follow the refrigeration instructions and use-by period shown on the product you’ve chosen.
What does “lactose-free” mean on skimmed milk?
The label refers to lactose; it doesn’t mean that the product is free from milk or its proteins. Candia states that its lactose-free skimmed milk contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml. If this distinction matters to you, check the allergen information on the packaging.
How can you compare the nutritional information of two milks?
Compare their values on the same basis, particularly per 100 ml, including fat, sugars and protein. The DGCCRF states that nutritional declarations for prepacked foods are given per 100 g or 100 ml, and that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted.