Households with someone who has coeliac disease
Check that the exact product reference is labelled ‘gluten-free’ or displays the crossed-grain symbol. The fact that there are no cereals in the ingredients list is not enough.
Who is this guide for?
People who cook with coconut
For a sauce, curry or dessert, look for cooking coconut milk in a quantity that suits your recipe, rather than a coconut drink.
People planning the weekly shop
Plan how much you need for several recipes and check which products are available in your local shop or online. If you chose a product for its labelling, don’t swap it for a different, unchecked option.
What should you check when shopping?
Start by checking the labelling on the product intended for someone with coeliac disease. Then distinguish cooking coconut milk from a coconut drink before working out how much you need.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the crossed-grain symbol on the exact product reference. Check the packaging you receive if you can’t see this information on the online listing. | When I’m cooking for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to confirm this on the product I buy. Around 50% of consumers would put this check first. |
| Cooking use | Read the product description: choose coconut milk or a cooking aid for a recipe that calls for it, rather than a coconut drink. | If my recipe calls for coconut milk, I don’t want to pick up a coconut drink by mistake. Choosing the right product type would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Quantity for the week | Compare the stated volume with the amounts needed for your recipes, and check which product reference is available in your local shop or online. | When I’m making several dishes during the week, I want to plan for enough coconut milk without choosing an unsuitable pack size. This would be the first criterion for around 20% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a recipe with no cereals is the same as a product labelled gluten-free
AFDIAG notes that a product may be exposed to gluten during transport or packaging. So a short ingredients list isn’t enough to confirm that a product meets the requirements for someone with coeliac disease.
Before adding it to your basket, check that the exact product reference is labelled ‘gluten-free’ or displays the crossed-grain symbol.
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Confusing cooking coconut milk with a coconut drink
A coconut drink and a cooking aid are marketed for different purposes. Choosing one instead of the other may not work for the recipe you have planned.
Read the product description, then check its gluten-free labelling separately if someone with coeliac disease will be consuming it.
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Choosing a pack size without checking your planned recipes
The 200 ml cooking products listed by E.Leclerc and the 1 L coconut drink listed by Carrefour are different in both quantity and use.
Make a note of how much you need for each recipe before choosing a pack size, and check the labelling on every product you select.
Brands and retailers to check
Carrefour / Carrefour Sensation
Carrefour describes its Carrefour Sensation coconut milk as a plant-based cooking aid.
- Carrefour’s product listing explains the rules that apply to the ‘gluten-free’ claim. Check this on the product you choose.
- This information doesn’t mean that the same claim applies to every coconut product sold by the retailer.
E.Leclerc / Eco+
E.Leclerc lists Eco+ cooking coconut milk in a 200 ml carton.
- The product listing gives details of the ingredients, including coconut extract and water.
- If you’re buying it for someone with coeliac disease, check the packaging of the product you buy for the ‘gluten-free’ claim or the crossed-grain symbol.
E.Leclerc / Bio Village
E.Leclerc’s listing for 200 ml Bio Village coconut milk states that it contains water and 47% organic coconut extract.
- The ingredients list and coconut content let you compare the stated composition with other cooking products.
- Being organic and having the stated ingredients doesn’t replace a ‘gluten-free’ claim on the exact product reference.
Auchan
Auchan lists, among other products, a plant-based coconut milk dessert described as gluten-free.
- The product description helps you identify what the product you’re viewing is intended for.
- A plant-based dessert isn’t cooking coconut milk, and its description doesn’t apply to other coconut products sold by the retailer.
Alpro
Carrefour lists Alpro coconut plant-based drink in a 1 L pack.
- This product is a coconut drink, which is different from a cooking aid.
- If it’s for someone with coeliac disease, check its own gluten-free labelling. Don’t automatically use it instead of coconut milk in a recipe.
Joybuy products for different uses
These two products are for different uses: Kara is a 200 ml cooking coconut milk, while Alpro coconut-matcha in a 1 L pack is a drink. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the packaging of the product you choose for the ‘gluten-free’ claim or the crossed-grain symbol.
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Kara Organic Coconut Milk UHT, 17% fat, 200 ml
Worth considering if your recipe calls for cooking coconut milk in a 200 ml pack. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the packaging of this product for the ‘gluten-free’ claim or the crossed-grain symbol before you buy.
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Alpro Matcha coconut, 1 L
Worth considering if you’re looking for a matcha coconut drink, rather than cooking coconut milk for a recipe. If someone with coeliac disease will be drinking it, check the gluten-free labelling on this product.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on coconut milk?
It’s a claim to look for on the exact product reference. According to AFDIAG, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ must contain less than 20 mg/kg of gluten. The crossed-grain symbol is an additional indicator linked to the checks described by the association. Always read the packaging of the product you buy.
Is coconut and water in the ingredients enough to choose a product for someone with coeliac disease?
No. This list alone doesn’t rule out exposure to gluten during transport or packaging. Look for the ‘gluten-free’ claim or the crossed-grain symbol on the exact product reference.
Can you use a coconut drink instead of coconut milk in a recipe?
Not automatically. Carrefour’s listings distinguish cooking aids from coconut drinks. If a recipe calls for coconut milk, check the description of the product you choose, then check its gluten-free labelling if needed.
What should you check before adding coconut milk to your weekly shop?
First, check that it’s suitable for cooking and, if you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, look for the ‘gluten-free’ claim or the crossed-grain symbol on the exact product reference. Then compare the volume with the quantities your recipes call for, and check the packaging you receive if you put your basket together using an online listing.