For lunch at work, only choose lactose-free milk after checking its gluten labelling separately: ‘lactose-free’ alone does not address the needs of someone with coeliac disease. Then compare formats based on how much you’ll drink and whether you can refrigerate the bottle after opening. AFDIAG also stresses the importance of avoiding cross-contamination when preparing meals.
If you’re also looking for a lactose-free product, check the gluten information separately on the specific product you buy. How you prepare and serve your meal at work matters too: AFDIAG highlights the need to avoid cross-contamination.
If you want something to go with a coffee or a meal at work, compare the lactose content shown for the specific product. The Lactel and Candia lactose-free milks reviewed are still dairy products.
Choose an amount you can finish at lunchtime, or make sure you have access to a fridge if you plan to keep an opened bottle. The 50 cl and 1 L formats suit different routines.
If you need to avoid gluten strictly at lunchtime, check the label on the specific product first. Then compare lactose content, format and nutritional information according to your needs.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten information | Check the ingredients, any information about possible cross-contamination and, if needed, the ‘gluten-free’ claim on the product you buy. ‘Lactose-free’ is not a substitute for this. | When I need to avoid gluten strictly, I want to be able to check the information on the product I take with me; around 36% of consumers would put this check first. |
| Lactose content | Compare the amount stated per 100 ml and the ingredients list. Candia states that its standard Candia+ milk contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml. | If lactose is my main concern, I look for a stated amount before choosing my drink; around 29% of consumers would have this priority. |
| Format and storage | Check how much you plan to drink, then look at the storage instructions after opening. 50 cl formats are available from brands including Lactel and Candia; an opened bottle should be stored according to the instructions for that specific product. | Without a fridge at work, I need a size I can finish rather than having to keep leftovers; nearly 21% of consumers would prioritise format and storage. |
| Nutritional values | Compare protein and fat on the same basis, for example per 100 ml. Candia states that standard Candia+ contains 3.3 g of protein per 100 ml, while Candia+ Protéines contains 5.0 g. | When putting my lunch together, I want to compare the drinks’ nutritional profiles without confusing these values with their gluten status; around 14% of consumers would prioritise this criterion. |
These claims relate to two different characteristics. For people with coeliac disease, AFDIAG also stresses the importance of preventing cross-contamination.
Check the gluten information on the packaging of the product you buy, as well as the conditions in which you’ll prepare and serve your lunch.
A bottle might be the right size in theory, but difficult to finish and store at work once opened.
Choose a size that suits how much you drink. For an opened bottle, note the date you opened it and follow the storage instructions for that specific product.
If you can’t keep it chilled as instructed, you may have to throw the rest away.
A drink’s protein content tells you nothing about its gluten information, format or storage requirements.
If you’re comparing standard Candia+ with Candia+ Protéines, read their nutritional values per 100 ml, then check the other criteria that matter for your lunch separately.
A brand or retailer may offer several formats and recipes. E.Leclerc, for example, recommends checking availability with the relevant store for its Délisse product.
Before planning your meals around a product, check that it’s available and read the label on the specific product you’ll be buying.
The Matin Léger range includes lactose-free UHT milk, including 1 L and 50 cl formats.
Candia+ includes standard lactose-free milk and a Protéines version. The brand also offers its standard milk in a 50 cl format.
The retailer offers lactose-free milk under its Carrefour Classic' brand and also stocks products from other brands.
Délisse offers lactose-free milk in 50 cl bottles, among other products.
Auchan offers lactose-free UHT milk under its own brand, including in a 1 L bottle.
What’s available at Lidl depends on the store’s range; no specific lactose-free milk is identified here.
The product below is a milk-based flavoured milkshake in 330 ml portions, not plain milk. If you’re thinking of taking it to work, check the lactose and gluten information on the packaging of the version you buy.
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The individual portion may suit a lunch when you want to take a flavoured dairy drink rather than plain milk.
The listing describes this version as lactose-free and gluten-free. If you need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, compare these claims with the label on the product you buy, especially the information about possible cross-contamination.
This drink contains milk and milk proteins. After opening, the listing says to refrigerate it and consume it within 24 hours.
No: ‘lactose-free’ tells you about lactose, not gluten. If you’re following a strict gluten-free diet, check the label on the product you buy and any relevant information about cross-contamination. AFDIAG reminds people to avoid cross-contamination when preparing meals too.
Refrigerate it after opening and follow the temperature and storage duration shown on the packaging. The guidance for the products reviewed varies: three days for Lactel Matin Léger and Auchan milk, and four days for standard Candia+.
It may be easier to choose if you plan to finish the bottle and don’t have a fridge for any leftovers. Lactel Matin Léger and Candia+ are available in 50 cl formats, among others; still, compare this size with how much you actually drink.
No: the Lactel, Candia and Auchan products reviewed contain milk, even when they include lactase. If the presence of milk is a deciding factor for you, read the ingredients list for the specific product.