Who is this choice for?

Vegans who require certification

For breakfast or cooking in your holiday rental, you’ll want proof that applies to the drink you’ve chosen, rather than just a ‘vegan’ claim. The V-Label sets out standardised criteria for the products it certifies.

People looking to limit lactose without following a vegan diet

Your main concern is the lactose content, and you consume dairy milk. Lactose-free milk and plant-based drinks don’t have the same origin, so check the product name and ingredients before you choose.

Holidaymakers who prepare their own meals

If you want to use the same drink with cereal, in coffee and for cooking, compare its plant base, ingredients and allergens. Also check which product is available at a shop near your accommodation.

What should you check before buying?

First, decide whether your priority is vegan certification or a lower lactose content: meeting the second requirement doesn’t guarantee the first. Then choose a recipe that suits the way you’ll use it, and check the label on the product available near your holiday rental.

Criterion What to check Who it’s for
Vegan certification Look for a logo such as V-Label Vegan, and check that it applies to the exact product, not just the range. I want the food I buy for my stay to meet a verified vegan standard, rather than relying only on a claim on the product listing. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this proof.
Lactose content Read the product name and ingredients, and check the stated lactose content. ‘Lactose-free milk’ is still a dairy product if it’s made from animal milk. If I drink animal milk, its lactose content is the main thing that guides my choice for the stay. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Use and recipe Compare the plant base and ingredients for how you plan to use the drink, whether with cereal, in coffee or for cooking. I’d like to use the same carton in drinks and recipes, without assuming that every recipe will taste or behave the same. Intended use is the main criterion for around 20% of consumers.
Allergens and local shopping Check the allergens and any warnings about traces, then choose a shop or collection service near your accommodation. Before relying on a particular product for my stay, I need to account for the allergens of everyone in my group or arrange to buy it at our destination. Around 20% of consumers put these practical considerations first.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means ‘vegan’

    Lactose is a sugar found in milk. A low lactose content doesn’t change the animal origin of a dairy product: Lactel, for example, lists whole milk as an ingredient in Matin Léger Bio.

    If your shopping needs to be vegan, check the product’s origin and certification before looking at its lactose content.

  • Mistaking a ‘vegan’ claim for certification

    Carrefour describes an oat drink as ‘vegan’, while the V-Label outlines a certification scheme with criteria and checks. A claim on its own doesn’t prove that a product has the third-party certification you require.

    If certification is essential, look for a verifiable label on the packaging of the product you’re buying.

  • Overlooking allergens in plant-based drinks

    Carrefour Bio’s rice and hazelnut drink contains hazelnut and may contain traces of other tree nuts. ‘Plant-based’ doesn’t mean ‘suitable for everyone with allergies’.

    Read the allergen information on every pack, especially if several people will be sharing the shopping for your holiday rental.

  • Relying on a product without choosing a shop at your destination

    Finding a product listing before you leave isn’t enough to plan your shopping once you’re there. E.Leclerc Drive says that collection and delivery options depend, among other things, on the area.

    Select a shop or postcode near your accommodation, then check which product is available before finalising your shopping.

Brands and retailers to consider

Lactel

The Matin Léger range includes lactose-free dairy milk, which should be distinguished from plant-based drinks when shopping for a vegan stay.

  • Lactel lists sterilised UHT whole milk in the ingredients of Matin Léger Bio whole milk, and states that it contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 mL.
  • This is still a dairy product: its low lactose content doesn’t meet a vegan requirement.

Candia

Candia+ lactose-free is dairy milk for people looking for a lower lactose content, not a plant-based drink.

  • Candia states that the milk featured on its product page contains less than 0.1% lactose.
  • The description ‘lactose-free milk’ doesn’t make this product suitable for a vegan shop.

Carrefour

The retailer offers plant-based drinks such as Carrefour Sensation and Carrefour Bio, with recipes worth comparing.

  • Carrefour describes an oat drink as ‘vegan’; its Carrefour Bio rice and hazelnut drink listing says that the agricultural ingredients are plant-based.
  • These claims don’t replace checking whether the exact product you’ve chosen has vegan certification. The rice and hazelnut drink also contains hazelnut.

Auchan

Auchan Bio offers a plain soya drink to consider if this plant base suits the way you plan to use it.

  • The Auchan Bio plain soya drink listing states that it contains 3.5 g of protein per 100 mL.
  • If you require vegan certification, check the label on the exact product before buying.

Lidl

Lidl France has publicised a selection of vegan products, but that doesn’t mean a plant-based drink for your stay is certified.

  • One Lidl product listing explicitly states ‘V-Label vegan certified’ for a ginger and lemon juice.
  • That certification applies to the juice listed, not the retailer’s plant-based drinks. Check the carton you plan to buy.

E.Leclerc

E.Leclerc Drive can help you plan your shopping, depending on the collection and delivery options available near your holiday accommodation.

  • The retailer offers different ways to receive your shopping, including collection and delivery, depending on the area.
  • Choose a shop near your destination, then check the ingredients, allergens and any required vegan certification on the product you’ve selected.

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Frequently asked questions

Is lactose-free milk vegan?

No. If it’s made from animal milk, it’s still animal-derived. Lactel, for example, lists whole milk in Matin Léger Bio. For a vegan shop, look for a plant-based drink and check its certification if required.

Does a ‘vegan’ claim certify a plant-based drink?

No. A ‘vegan’ claim alone isn’t proof of third-party certification. Carrefour uses it for an oat drink, while the V-Label sets out certification criteria and checks. If you require a certified product, check the label on the one you’re buying.

Are plant-based drinks suitable for everyone with an allergy?

No. You need to check the ingredients and any warnings about traces for each product. Carrefour Bio’s rice and hazelnut drink contains hazelnut and may contain traces of other tree nuts. A food allergy is not the same as lactose intolerance.

How can you plan this purchase for a holiday rental?

First, choose a shop or collection service near your accommodation, then check the product you’ll be able to buy, its label and, if needed, its certification logo. E.Leclerc Drive says that collection and delivery options depend, among other things, on the area.