For a picnic with someone who has coeliac disease, first choose a product whose packaging says ‘gluten-free’. Then pick a format that suits what you plan to prepare or eat: coconut milk for a recipe, a coconut drink to sip, or a ready-to-eat plant-based dessert. If the dessert needs to be kept chilled, you’ll also need to transport it at the temperature stated on the packaging.
When choosing a coconut-based product, look for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the exact product rather than relying on its name or ingredient list alone. AFDIAG points out that naturally gluten-free ingredients may be exposed to contamination during transport or packaging.
If your recipe calls for coconut milk, don’t confuse it with a coconut plant drink: they have different ingredients and uses. Carrefour France’s product details for a cooking coconut milk and an Alpro drink illustrate the difference.
A ready-to-eat coconut dessert saves you having to prepare anything on the spot, provided you can keep it at the right temperature. Auchan France’s product details for the LA COOP dessert state that it should be kept between 2 and 6 °C.
For this picnic, check the labelling on the product intended for the person with coeliac disease before choosing between a cooking ingredient, a drink and a chilled dessert.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the packaging of the product you’re buying and, if shown, the Crossed Grain symbol. According to AFDIAG, the claim means the product contains less than 20 mg/kg of gluten. | When I’m preparing food for someone with coeliac disease, I want to check the exact product rather than assume that coconut alone rules out the risk; around 42% of consumers put this proof first. |
| Cooking ingredient or drink | Compare the product description, ingredients and fat content, taking account of the units shown on each pack. | If I’m making a recipe before setting off, I need an ingredient suited to that recipe, not simply a coconut drink to pour into a glass. Around 33% of consumers put this distinction first. |
| Keeping it chilled at the park | Read the storage instructions and take an insulated container if the product needs to be kept refrigerated. | To serve a chilled dessert at the park, I need to be able to transport it and keep it at the stated temperature; this is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The ingredients list or product name alone isn’t enough to establish whether a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease: AFDIAG also highlights the risk of contamination during transport or packaging.
Check for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the exact product and look for the Crossed Grain symbol if it’s shown.
These products aren’t intended for the same uses. Carrefour France’s product details for Carrefour Sensation coconut milk state that it contains 60% coconut extract and 18 g of fat per 100 mL; its details for the Alpro drink list water, coconut milk and rice, among other ingredients.
For a recipe, make sure you’re choosing the type of ingredient it calls for. If you’re choosing a drink for a picnic with someone who has coeliac disease, check its gluten-free labelling separately.
Auchan France’s product details for the LA COOP plant-based dessert state that it should be kept between 2 and 6 °C. The DGCCRF recommends using a cool box to transport chilled products on a picnic.
Plan how you’ll keep it chilled and follow the temperature instructions on the packaging until it’s time to eat.
The Carrefour Sensation product described by Carrefour France is a cooking coconut milk in a 250 mL carton.
The product described by Carrefour France is a coconut plant drink, which is different from cooking coconut milk.
Auchan France’s product details are for a ready-to-eat plant-based coconut dessert, not coconut milk for cooking.
These two products suit different needs: UHT coconut milk for cooking and a matcha coconut drink to take with you. If you’re preparing food for someone with coeliac disease, check for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the packaging of the product you receive before using it.
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Worth considering if your picnic recipe calls for cooking coconut milk. This 200 ml UHT carton contains 17% fat; check its gluten-free labelling and storage instructions on the packaging.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a matcha-flavoured coconut drink rather than a cooking ingredient. The carton contains 1 L; check the packaging for gluten-free labelling and any storage instructions relevant to your picnic.
No. As AFDIAG points out, it doesn’t rule out contamination during transport or packaging. Look for a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the exact product and the Crossed Grain symbol, if shown.
According to AFDIAG, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ must contain less than 20 mg/kg of gluten. For your picnic, check this claim on the packaging of the product you plan to take with you.
Not if you can’t keep it at the required storage temperature. The LA COOP dessert featured by Auchan France must be kept between 2 and 6 °C; the DGCCRF recommends using a cool box for chilled products taken on a picnic.
Start by checking the product description and ingredients to choose something that suits your recipe or the drink you have in mind. For example, Carrefour France states that its Carrefour Sensation coconut milk contains 60% coconut extract, while the Alpro drink’s product details list water, coconut milk and rice. You’ll still need to check the gluten-free labelling on the product you buy.