Who is this choice for?

Anyone preparing a strictly vegan meal

You’ll need to leave milk and all dairy derivatives off the menu. The words ‘lactose-free’ aren’t enough to show that a drink is suitable for your meal.

Anyone making plant-based desserts

Whether you’re making pancakes, cakes or desserts, or serving coffee, look for a drink whose ingredients and stated uses suit what you’re preparing.

Hosts who want to know exactly what they’re serving

If you’re sharing the meal with several guests, check the declared allergens. You can also compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering.

What should you check?

For a vegan menu, first compare lactose-free milk and plant-based drinks by checking their ingredients. Then choose a drink to suit your recipe and guests.

What to check What to look for Who is this for?
Plant-based ingredients Read the ingredients list to check for milk and dairy derivatives. If certification is required, make sure it applies to the product you’ve chosen. I want to serve a vegan lunch without confusing ‘lactose-free’ with ‘free from animal ingredients’. Around 50% of consumers would make this their priority.
Use in cooking Check the suggested uses for coffee, pancakes or desserts, then read the storage instructions for after opening. If I’m making several recipes with the same drink, I need it to be suitable for the dishes I’m preparing. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this.
Nutrition and allergens Compare the nutritional values per 100 ml for the specific products, and check their declared allergens. If I’m serving guests who need to avoid soya or other ingredients, what’s in the drink comes first; around 20% of consumers would prioritise this.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means ‘vegan’

    Cow’s milk can contain very little lactose and still come from an animal. Lactel lists whole milk in its Matin Léger whole milk, while Candia lists milk in its lactose-free product.

    For a vegan menu, check the ingredients rather than relying on the words ‘lactose-free’ alone.

  • Confusing a vegan claim with certification

    The words ‘vegan’ or ‘plant-based’ don’t, on their own, identify a certifying body for the product in question.

    If certification is important to your choice, look for a recognisable logo and certifier on the packaging or the product’s official listing.

  • Forgetting about your guests’ allergens

    Plant-based drinks use different ingredients: Carrefour’s listing for Alpro soya drink names soya, while Joybuy’s listing for Bjorg oat drink flags gluten from oats.

    Check the allergens for every product you serve, and keep its packaging handy during the meal.

  • Using a plant-based drink instead of infant formula

    Anses states that drinks other than breast milk and breast-milk substitutes do not meet infants’ specific nutritional needs.

    Don’t serve a plant-based drink intended for a meal as a substitute for infant feeding.

Brands to compare

Lactel

The Matin Léger range makes it easy to distinguish lactose-free cow’s milk from a plant-based drink.

  • Lactel states that its whole milk product contains less than 0,1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
  • Its ingredients list starts with ‘whole milk’, so this product isn’t suitable for a vegan menu.

Candia

Candia’s lactose-free product is still cow’s milk, so it’s only an option if your meal doesn’t need to be plant-based.

  • Candia states that this product contains less than 0,1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
  • The ingredients list includes milk with 1,0% fat, so it isn’t vegan.

Carrefour Sensation

Carrefour describes its Sensation oat drink as ‘plant-based’ and ‘vegan’.

  • The ingredients list for this product includes water, 12% oats, sunflower oil and pea protein.
  • A marketing claim alone doesn’t prove third-party vegan certification. Check separately if certification is important to you.

Alpro

Alpro soya and hazelnut drinks have different ingredients, giving you options to compare for your guests.

  • Carrefour’s listing for the soya drink mentions protein, calcium and vitamins. Compare the nutritional values for the product you choose.
  • The ingredients list names soya in the soya drink and hazelnut in the hazelnut drink. Check the allergens before serving.

Bjorg

Bjorg recommends its oat drink both as a drink and in recipes such as pancakes.

  • This suggested use can help you choose a drink for the recipes you’re making for lunch.
  • Joybuy’s listing for the oat drink flags gluten from oats. Check the packaging if one of your guests needs to avoid it.

Joybuy products

Products related to this topic will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is lactose-free milk suitable for a vegan lunch?

Not if it’s cow’s milk: removing the lactose doesn’t change its animal origin. The ingredients lists for the Lactel and Candia lactose-free products mentioned here both include milk.

Which plant-based drink should I choose for pancakes and coffee?

An oat drink could be a good option if its stated uses suit your recipe: Bjorg mentions pancakes, while Oatly’s product listings suggest using its drinks in hot drinks or cooking. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the specific product before using it.

Can a plant-based drink replace infant formula?

No. According to Anses, drinks other than breast milk and breast-milk substitutes do not meet infants’ specific nutritional needs. A drink chosen for lunch shouldn’t be used for this purpose.

How should I store a plant-based drink after opening?

Follow the instructions on the packaging for the product you’re using, particularly for refrigeration and how long it can be kept after opening. Check the instructions for each drink rather than assuming they’re the same because they share a plant-based ingredient.