For dinner for two, choose skimmed lactose-free milk if your priority is to keep fat to a minimum: the Candia and Lactel products featured here contain 0 and 0.2 g per 100 mL respectively. If you’d prefer milk with around 1–1.2 g of fat for a drink or recipe, compare the figures on each pack. In either case, choose a size that suits the amount you need, and check how long the milk will keep once opened.
If you’re serving or cooking with lactose-free milk and this is your top priority, compare the figures per 100 mL. The skimmed options featured from Candia and Lactel contain 0 and 0.2 g of fat per 100 mL respectively.
For coffee, dessert or a sauce, you may prefer an option with around 1–1.2 g of fat per 100 mL rather than skimmed milk. Check how much you’ll need before choosing a pack size, too.
Check for the words “lactose-free” and the amount shown on the pack. The Candia and Lactel options mentioned here contain less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 mL. However, lactose-free cow’s milk still contains milk proteins, so it isn’t suitable if you need to avoid these because of an allergy.
For dinner for two, start with how you plan to use the milk—as a drink, in a recipe or both. Then compare the fat content per 100 mL and choose a pack size you can use up after opening.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest fat content | Compare the fat content per 100 mL: Candia+ Écrémé contains 0 g, while Lactel Matin Léger skimmed contains 0.2 g. | If my main aim is to reduce the fat in the milk served at the table, I compare the figures rather than relying on the word “light”. Around 29% of consumers would put this first. |
| Drinks and cooking | Look for options with around 1–1.2 g of fat per 100 mL, and choose according to how much your recipe needs. | I’d like to use the same milk in a drink and a dish, without choosing a skimmed version. This versatility would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Lactose and allergens | Check the amount of lactose shown, as well as the ingredients and allergen information. “Lactose-free” does not mean “dairy-free”. | When I buy lactose-free milk, I want its lactose content to be clearly stated, without mistaking this for an absence of milk proteins. Around 21% of consumers would make this their top criterion. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare 50 cL, 1 L or a multipack, then read the storage instructions for before and after opening. | For one evening, I’d prefer an amount I can use up within the stated time. Pack size and storage would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Lactose-free cow’s milk still contains milk proteins. Lactose intolerance and milk protein allergy are two different conditions, as explained by France’s health insurance service, Assurance Maladie.
If you have a milk protein allergy, don’t choose this product based on the words “lactose-free” alone. Check the allergen information and follow the advice of your healthcare professional.
The Lactel and Carrefour products featured here have different values, ranging from 1 to 1.2 g of fat per 100 mL. The product name doesn’t replace checking the nutritional information for the option you choose.
Compare the fat content per 100 mL on the packs, then choose the amount that suits your priorities for your drink or recipe.
An opened bottle or carton may leave you with more milk than you’ll use during the meal. Storage instructions also vary by product.
Estimate how much you’ll need for two, compare pack sizes and plan to use up any leftovers within the stated time after opening. Fresh milk may also need to be kept in the fridge before opening.
The Matin Léger range includes a skimmed lactose-free option and an option with 1.2% fat.
Candia offers skimmed lactose-free milk in its Candia+ range, as well as lactose-free GrandLait Frais de Montagne, which needs to be kept in the fridge.
The Carrefour lactose-free options featured here include a 50 cL Classic’ bottle with 1.2% fat and a Carrefour Bio multipack of 6 × 1 L with 1% fat.
This skimmed lactose-free milk comes in a multipack of six one-litre cartons. For a one-off dinner for two, consider it if you also have a plan for using the remaining cartons.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’d like skimmed lactose-free milk for dinner and plan to use the other cartons afterwards.
The Joybuy product listing describes UHT lactose-free milk in a 6 × 1 L multipack. Once opened, keep a carton in the fridge and use it within three days. To check the fat content of this multipack, look at the figure per 100 mL on the label.
No. Lactose-free cow’s milk still contains milk proteins. France’s health insurance service, Assurance Maladie, distinguishes lactose intolerance from an allergy. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and follow your healthcare professional’s advice.
Compare the grams of fat per 100 mL on each pack. The Candia and Lactel skimmed options featured here contain 0 and 0.2 g per 100 mL respectively, while the Lactel and Carrefour options mentioned for a different use contain between 1 and 1.2 g per 100 mL.
Follow the storage time stated for the product you buy, and keep the milk chilled after opening. Lactel recommends using Matin Léger skimmed within three days; Candia recommends using Candia+ Écrémé and GrandLait Frais de Montagne within four days. The latter should also be kept between 0 and +6 °C before opening.
Not necessarily. France’s health insurance service, Assurance Maladie, says that limiting foods containing milk is generally tailored to individual tolerance, and that cutting them out completely is rare. If the cause of your symptoms hasn’t been established or they persist, seek medical advice rather than changing your diet on your own.