For a snack for an older person with coeliac disease, first check that the product you choose is labelled “gluten-free”. A list of ingredients with no cereals does not rule out the risk of contamination. Next, choose a coconut drink for a drinkable snack, a chilled dessert for something to eat with a spoon, or coconut milk for cooking with in a recipe. Compare the serving size, protein, sugars and saturated fat according to how you plan to use it.
If you have coeliac disease, you need to avoid gluten. Check for an explicit “gluten-free” label rather than relying on the ingredients list alone. AFDIAG explains that this label means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg, and presents the crossed grain logo as an additional guide.
A coconut drink saves you having to prepare a recipe, but its nutritional contribution depends on the product. For Alpro Coco Original, Alpro states that it contains 0.1 g of protein per 100 ml. Check the nutritional information if protein is an important factor in your choice of snack.
A chilled coconut dessert offers a different texture from a drink. Auchan’s product information for the LA COOP dessert states that it should be stored between 2 and 6 °C. It also lists 9.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g, which is worth considering alongside the portion you have in mind.
For this snack, “gluten-free” is the first thing to check. Once you’ve confirmed this on your chosen product, the format and nutritional information can help you compare the options.
Worth considering: for a drinkable snack, if the drink is explicitly labelled “gluten-free”.
Keep in mind: protein content varies by recipe. Alpro states that its Coco Original drink contains just 0.1 g per 100 ml.
Worth considering: for a spoonable texture, provided you can store it at the temperature stated on the packaging.
Keep in mind: Auchan states that the LA COOP dessert contains no added sugars, but it still has 9.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
Worth considering: as an ingredient in a snack recipe, rather than as a ready-to-drink beverage.
Keep in mind: Carrefour’s product information for Sensation coconut milk lists 18 g of fat per 100 ml. The amount you use matters when comparing products.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for “gluten-free” on the packaging of the product you choose. Also look for the crossed grain logo, if present. | For an older person with coeliac disease, I want an explicit statement rather than having to infer that a product is gluten-free from its ingredients. Around 36% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| What the snack contains | Compare protein, the stated calcium content and fat per 100 ml or 100 g, then consider the portion you plan to serve. | If the nutritional content of a snack guides my choice, the fact that it is coconut-based doesn’t tell me what a serving provides. This would be a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sugars | Distinguish “no added sugars” from the amount of sugars listed in the nutritional information. | I might look for a recipe with no added sugars without assuming it contains no sugars or saturated fat. Around 21% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Format and texture | Choose between a drink, a chilled dessert and a cooking ingredient. Check the storage instructions for the product you select. | When ease of eating determines my choice of snack, I prefer something to drink or eat with a spoon rather than an ingredient that needs preparing. Around 14% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
According to AFDIAG, a product made with ingredients that are naturally gluten-free can become contaminated during transport or packaging.
For a snack for someone with coeliac disease, look for the “gluten-free” label on the product you buy, and the crossed grain logo if available.
Carrefour’s product information for Sensation coconut milk and Alpro Coco Original lists 18 g and 0.8 g of fat per 100 ml respectively. These products have different uses and compositions.
Choose a drink to serve as it is. If you’re making a recipe with coconut milk for cooking, take the amount you add into account.
Auchan’s product information for the LA COOP dessert includes this claim, but also lists 9.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g.
Read the sugars claim alongside the nutritional information and the portion you have in mind. Don’t assume it tells you about the dessert’s other nutritional qualities.
Seeing a product or range at one point doesn’t guarantee that the same item will be available when you shop. Lidl France, for example, states that its gluten-free range is available for a limited time.
Check the availability and label of the product actually on offer before choosing a drink, dessert or coconut milk for this snack.
Alpro’s French website features ready-to-drink coconut beverages, including Coco Original and Barista Coco, and states that these products are gluten-free.
Auchan’s product information features a chilled coconut milk dessert, made with plant-based ingredients and intended to be eaten with a spoon, not a coconut drink.
The coconut milk product described by Carrefour is a cooking ingredient for recipes, rather than a ready-to-drink beverage.
These two products have different uses: a matcha and coconut drink, and a UHT coconut milk to add to a recipe. For an older person with coeliac disease, check that the item you receive is labelled “gluten-free” before serving it.
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Worth considering for a drinkable snack if you enjoy the taste of matcha. Check the packaging for a “gluten-free” label and the ingredients list, especially if you have a soya allergy.
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Worth considering as an ingredient in a small recipe, rather than as a ready-to-drink beverage. Bear in mind how much you use and check that the product you receive is labelled “gluten-free”.
No. The ingredients list alone doesn’t rule out contamination. Check that the product you buy is labelled “gluten-free”. AFDIAG reminds shoppers that an ingredient that is naturally gluten-free can become contaminated during transport or packaging.
The logo provides an additional guide for products that carry it. AFDIAG states that its scheme includes product testing and an audit of the manufacturing site. A “gluten-free” claim without the logo is not covered by the same scheme.
It depends on what the snack needs to provide and the portion you serve. Alpro states that Coco Original contains 0.1 g of protein per 100 ml. If the older person has specific dietary requirements, ask the healthcare professional looking after them for advice rather than relying on the product name alone.
Follow the storage temperature stated for the dessert you buy. For example, Auchan’s product information for the LA COOP plant-based dessert says to store it between 2 and 6 °C. Check the packaging of the product you choose.