Households that regularly drink lactose-free milk
A pack of 6 × 1 L may suit frequent use. Check that you’ll finish each opened bottle within the time stated on its packaging.
Who are these sizes suited to?
People putting together a strictly gluten-free shop
Lactose content and gluten information are two separate things. If you need a ‘gluten-free’ label, check the label on the product you buy.
Shoppers comparing nutritional values
Skimmed varieties and protein-enriched products have different nutritional profiles. Compare the fat and protein content per 100 mL, as well as the ingredients list.
What should you check before buying?
When choosing a multipack, consider lactose content separately from gluten, then match the bottle size to how much you’ll use after opening.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose and milk content | Compare the lactose content and read the ingredients list, including the MILK allergen information. | I’m mainly looking for milk with a lactose content that suits my needs, without confusing it with a product that contains no milk proteins; around 36% of shoppers put this first. |
| Gluten-free information | Check the labelling on the pack you buy; don’t assume it is labelled ‘gluten-free’ just because it says ‘lactose-free’. | To put together a strictly gluten-free shop, I need to be able to check this information for every product I choose. This is the top priority for around 29% of shoppers. |
| Size and storage | Compare 1 L and 50 cL bottles according to how much you use each time you open one, then check the stated storage life. | If I often have a 1 L bottle left open, I choose a container that better suits how much I use; around 21% of shoppers base their choice first on size and storage. |
| Fat and protein | Check the nutritional values per 100 mL and read the ingredients of any enriched product. | When comparing a skimmed variety with an enriched one, the fat and protein content guide my choice. Around 14% of shoppers make this their main criterion. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means ‘gluten-free’
These labels refer to different things. One does not, on its own, mean that the product is also labelled ‘gluten-free’.
Check the label and ingredients of the milk you’re actually buying if this information is important for your shop.
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Choosing 6 L without thinking about opened bottles
How long milk keeps after opening depends on the product: Candia recommends using standard Candia+ within four days, while Auchan says to use its lactose-free milk within three days.
Before choosing 6 × 1 L, consider how much you use each time you open a bottle and compare it with the 50 cL sizes.
An opened bottle that is kept for longer than the stated time may need to be thrown away.
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Thinking lactose-free milk is dairy-free
The products featured are still made from milk: reducing the lactose does not remove milk proteins.
If you need to avoid these proteins, check the ingredients and the MILK allergen information rather than relying on the ‘lactose-free’ label alone.
Brands to consider by product
Lactel
The Matin Léger range includes lactose-free semi-skimmed and skimmed milk.
- Carrefour sells Matin Léger semi-skimmed in a pack of 6 × 1 L; Lactel also describes a skimmed variety.
- Don’t assume the features of the skimmed variety apply to the semi-skimmed multipack: check the variety shown on the packaging.
Candia
Standard Candia+ comes in 1 L, 6 × 1 L, 50 cL and 4 × 50 cL sizes; another Candia+ product is enriched with protein.
- The 50 cL bottles let you use a smaller amount each time you open one.
- Candia+ Protéines contains added milk proteins, so check the exact product and its ingredients.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour sells semi-skimmed lactose-free milk under this brand in a pack of 6 × 1 L.
- The pack contains six 1 L bottles of the same product.
- Check the label on the pack available in your store, especially if you’re looking for a ‘gluten-free’ label.
Delisse
The Delisse product featured by E.Leclerc is semi-skimmed UHT lactose-free milk in a pack of 6 × 1 L.
- The E.Leclerc product details state that this product contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 mL.
- Check availability with your E.Leclerc store to find out if you can buy it.
Auchan
Auchan sells its own-brand semi-skimmed UHT lactose-free milk in a pack of 6 × 1 L.
- Auchan’s product details state that it contains 1.2% fat and is enriched with vitamin D.
- After opening, Auchan says to keep the bottle in the fridge and use it within three days.
Lactose-free milk multipacks on Joybuy
This selection features skimmed milk in six 1 L bottles, which may be worth considering if this size suits how much you use. For a strictly gluten-free shop, check the pack’s labelling separately.
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Lactel Matin Léger, skimmed milk 6 × 1 L
This pack may suit you if you regularly use lactose-free milk and prefer to open one 1 L bottle at a time.
After opening, Lactel recommends keeping the bottle in the fridge and using it within three days. Check the pack for a ‘gluten-free’ label if you need one; this milk is not suitable if you need to avoid milk proteins.
Frequently asked questions
Is lactose-free milk automatically gluten-free?
No: ‘lactose-free’ tells you about lactose, not whether the product is labelled ‘gluten-free’. For a strictly gluten-free shop, check the label on the product you buy; European Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets out separate rules for using the ‘gluten-free’ label.
Is lactose-free milk suitable if I need to avoid milk proteins?
No, not the dairy products featured here: they contain milk, even when their lactose content is reduced. If you need to avoid milk proteins, check the ingredients and the MILK allergen information before choosing a different product category.
How long can you keep a bottle after opening?
Follow the guidance on the bottle you buy: Candia recommends keeping standard Candia+ refrigerated and using it within four days, compared with three days for the Auchan lactose-free milk and Lactel Matin Léger skimmed milk featured here.
When should you choose 50 cL bottles instead of 1 L?
The 50 cL size is worth considering if you rarely finish a 1 L bottle within the stated time after opening. Standard Candia+ is available in a 50 cL bottle and a pack of 4 × 50 cL; check the packaging and storage instructions for the product you choose.