Choose lactose-free milk if your priority is to reduce lactose, but don’t mistake this claim for a ‘gluten-free’ statement. If you’re preparing lunch for someone with coeliac disease, check the product you buy and the other foods in the meal. Then compare pack size, nutritional information and storage instructions after opening. Lactose-free milk still contains milk, so it isn’t a substitute for a product suitable for someone with a milk protein allergy.
If milk in your coffee or lunch doesn’t agree with you, you can compare products labelled lactose-free. The French national health insurance service distinguishes lactose intolerance, which affects how the body digests a sugar in milk, from a food allergy.
Your choice applies to the whole meal, not just the bottle of milk. AFDIAG stresses the importance of avoiding gluten and cross-contamination when preparing food at home; a ‘lactose-free’ label doesn’t meet this requirement.
If you use milk for drinks as well as cooking, compare the pack size with how much you’ll use after opening. The products featured by Candia, Auchan and E.Leclerc include 50 cl and 1 L bottles, as well as multipacks.
When choosing milk for lunch while working from home, first distinguish between wanting to reduce lactose and needing a gluten-free product. You can then compare pack sizes and nutritional values to choose between the options that meet your needs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose content | The lactose-free claim and the content stated for the product you’re considering. Candia, Auchan and E.Leclerc state that the products mentioned contain less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml. | If I find milk in my lunch or coffee hard to digest, reducing lactose is my first priority; around 36% of shoppers would put this need first. |
| Gluten-free requirement | Check that any gluten-free information applies to the product you’re buying, then check the ingredients of the other foods and the risk of contamination during preparation. | When preparing a meal for someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check every food without relying on a ‘lactose-free’ claim; around 29% of shoppers would put this need first. |
| What’s in the meal | Check the fat and protein content per 100 ml for the specific option, particularly if it’s skimmed or contains added milk protein. | When milk is served with a lunch that’s already been put together, I want to choose the right option by considering what else is in the meal; around 21% of shoppers would prioritise this. |
| Pack size and storage | The size of each bottle and the storage instructions after opening. For the product mentioned, Candia advises keeping it between +1 and +6 °C and using it within four days. | If I only use a little milk at each lunch, I’d rather avoid leaving a large amount open; this would be the main concern for around 14% of shoppers. |
Lactose is a sugar in milk; gluten is found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley. A ‘lactose-free’ claim on its own doesn’t tell you whether a product or the foods served with it contain gluten.
If you’re preparing lunch for someone with coeliac disease, check the information on the product you buy, then check the bread, cereals or sauces. AFDIAG also advises taking care to avoid contamination from crumbs and utensils.
Removing or breaking down lactose doesn’t remove milk proteins. The lactose-free milk products mentioned by Auchan and E.Leclerc contain milk.
If you have a known or suspected milk protein allergy, check the allergens and ask a medical professional for advice rather than treating lactose-free milk as a substitute.
A multipack of small bottles and a large bottle won’t leave the same amount of milk open after lunch. The right choice depends on how often you use milk.
Check the size of each bottle and follow the storage instructions for the product you buy once it’s been opened.
Skimmed milk and a drink with added milk proteins don’t have the same nutritional composition. The lactose-free claim doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about their nutritional information.
Compare the nutritional values and ingredient list for the specific option, taking into account the other foods in your lunch.
The Matin Léger range includes lactose-free milk for drinking and cooking, including a skimmed option.
Candia+ is available in different lactose-free milk formats, including a 1 L bottle.
Auchan offers lactose-free, semi-skimmed UHT milk in a multipack of 6 x 1 L bottles.
E.Leclerc offers lactose-free UHT milk in a multipack of 6 x 50 cl bottles.
This ready-to-drink, flavoured milk drink may appeal if you’re looking for a lactose-free portion to have with lunch. This milkshake isn’t plain milk that you can use interchangeably in the same recipes. If you need to avoid gluten strictly, check the information on the product you receive before choosing it.
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A lactose-free milkshake to consider if you’d like a ready-to-drink flavoured option with your lunch.
No. The two claims relate to different substances. If you’re preparing a meal for someone with coeliac disease, check the information that applies to the milk you buy, as well as the ingredients of the foods served with it; a ‘lactose-free’ claim isn’t enough to confirm that they’re gluten-free.
No. Lactose-free milk still contains milk. The French national health insurance service distinguishes intolerance to a sugar in milk from a food allergy. If you have a known or suspected allergy, check the allergens and ask a medical professional for advice on choosing a suitable product.
Choose a bottle size based on how much milk you’ll use after opening it. The brands and retailers featured here offer products in 50 cl and 1 L formats. For its Candia+ product, Candia advises using it within four days of opening and storing it between +1 and +6 °C.
Prepare gluten-free lunch without letting it come into contact with foods containing gluten, their crumbs or shared utensils. AFDIAG highlights the risk of cross-contamination at home; remember to check the ingredients of every part of the meal, too.