For an Easter lunch where milk is served at the table, a multipack of 1 L bottles makes it easy to share. For packed lunches, 50 cL bottles are easier to hand out without opening a large container. Then check the lactose and fat content, the milk allergen information and the instructions for use after opening: lactose-free milk is still a dairy product.
If one of your guests finds lactose difficult to digest, check the amount stated for the product you choose. Candia states that Candia+ contains less than 0.1 g per 100 mL, and Lactel gives the same figure for Matin Léger Bio 1.2%. This check does not replace checking for the milk allergen.
If you’re sharing milk between several people, 50 cL bottles mean you won’t need to open a bottle for everyone to share. Lactel, DELISSE and Carrefour Classic' offer products in multipacks of 6 × 50 cL bottles.
If the milk will be shared or used in several recipes, compare the multipacks of 6 × 1 L bottles offered by brands including Candia, Lactel, Auchan and DELISSE. Also plan how you’ll use the bottles once they’ve been opened.
First decide whether you’ll serve the milk at the table or pack it into lunch bags. Then compare products in your chosen size: ‘lactose-free’ doesn’t tell you the fat content or how to store the milk.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose and allergen | The lactose content stated for the product and whether milk is listed in the ingredients. | If a guest finds lactose difficult to digest, I want to identify exactly which milk I’m serving them, without confusing it with an option suitable for someone with a milk protein allergy. Around 31% of consumers put this distinction first. |
| Takeaway portions | The number of bottles, the volume of each one and whether they’re sealed before transport. | When preparing several packed lunches, I prefer to give everyone a bottle that’s still sealed. This convenience matters most to around 31% of consumers. |
| Volume to share | The total volume: 6 × 50 cL is 3 L, compared with 6 L for 6 × 1 L. | If I’m serving milk at the table or plan to use some after the meal, I want an amount that suits the number of guests without having to open too many bottles. Around 19% of consumers prioritise this volume. |
| Fat content | Whether it’s whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed, and the nutritional values per 100 mL. | For serving or cooking, I want to choose the variety that suits my preference rather than relying on the ‘lactose-free’ label alone. Fat content is the top criterion for around 19% of consumers. |
The Lactel Matin Léger and Candia+ products described by the brands contain milk. Reducing the lactose content does not remove milk proteins.
If a guest has a milk protein allergy, don’t choose this milk as a substitute based solely on the ‘lactose-free’ label. Check the packaging and seek appropriate medical advice.
Instructions for use after opening vary by product: Auchan and Lactel advise using the products concerned within three days, while Candia gives four days for Candia+.
Open only as many bottles as you’ll need, then follow the temperature and time limits shown on each pack.
An opened bottle that isn’t used within the stated time may need to be thrown away.
Two multipacks of six bottles can contain different total volumes: 3 L in 6 × 50 cL or 6 L in 6 × 1 L.
Check both the volume of each bottle and how much you’ll need for lunch before choosing a multipack.
Once opened, the products concerned must be kept chilled. The French Ministry of Agriculture also highlights the consumer’s role in maintaining the cold chain.
For a packed lunch, choose a bottle that’s still sealed. If it’s already open, make sure you can transport it in line with the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
The Matin Léger range includes lactose-free products in multipacks of 6 × 1 L or 6 × 50 cL, depending on the product.
Candia offers lactose-free Candia+ in 1 L, 6 × 1 L, 50 cL and 4 × 50 cL sizes, as well as a skimmed version in a 6 × 1 L multipack.
Carrefour lists lactose-free semi-skimmed milk in a 6 × 1 L multipack in its Classic' range, as well as a product with vitamin D in a 6 × 50 cL multipack.
Auchan offers lactose-free semi-skimmed UHT milk in a 6 × 1 L multipack; its lactose-free milk category also lists a 6 × 50 cL size.
E.Leclerc lists DELISSE lactose-free milk in multipacks of 6 × 1 L and 6 × 50 cL.
Not based on the ‘lactose-free’ label alone: the Lactel and Candia+ products described by the brands contain milk. If you have a milk protein allergy, check the packaging and seek appropriate medical advice before choosing a product.
It’s easier to hand out 50 cL bottles individually than to share a 1 L bottle. Lactel and DELISSE offer 6 × 50 cL multipacks, while Candia lists a 4 × 50 cL multipack, so check how many bottles you’ll need.
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions for that product during transport. Candia advises keeping Candia+ between +1 and +6 °C after opening, while Auchan and Lactel specify a maximum of +6 °C for the products concerned. Taking a sealed bottle avoids having to manage opened milk in a packed lunch.
Check the date on each pack and make sure the bottles are intact. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that once a pack has been opened, the printed date is no longer enough to guide when to use it: also follow the product’s instructions for storage and use after opening.