For an occasional touch of coconut at breakfast, choose according to the recipe: light culinary coconut milk gives a richer texture, while an unsweetened coconut drink is thinner and contains less fat than the products compared here. Neither should automatically be treated as a replacement for a toddler’s usual milk: Ameli recommends continuing infant formula until the age of one and says growing-up milk can be given afterwards, up to the age of 3.
If you’re using coconut as an ingredient in a dish suitable for your child, distinguish between richer culinary coconut milk and a thinner plant-based drink. Also consider how much you’ll use and the storage instructions once opened.
If these values guide your choice of ingredient, compare them for the same quantity of product rather than relying on the word ‘Light’. A coconut drink with less fat than culinary coconut milk still isn’t growing-up milk.
The right choice depends in particular on your child’s age and diet. Ameli recommends continuing infant formula until the age of one and says growing-up milk can be given after the age of one, up to the age of 3. Before replacing your child’s usual milk drink, ask the healthcare professional who looks after them for advice.
For a toddler’s breakfast, first decide whether coconut will be an occasional ingredient or whether you’re thinking of replacing their usual milk drink. These uses call for different choices.
Best for: adding a small amount to a dish suitable for your child’s age.
Keep in mind: ‘Light’ means reduced, not necessarily low in fat. The Auchan product listing for Kara Light gives its fat content as 13 g per 100 ml.
Best for: considering as a thinner ingredient in an occasional dish when comparing fat and sugar content.
Keep in mind: Bjorg’s unsweetened coconut drink contains 1,4 g of fat and 0,6 g of protein per 100 ml; it should not be treated as equivalent to infant formula or growing-up milk.
Best for: when you’re asking about your child’s usual milk drink, rather than a coconut ingredient. Ameli recommends continuing infant formula until the age of one and says growing-up milk can be given afterwards, up to the age of 3.
Keep in mind: if you’d like to change your child’s usual drink, ask the healthcare professional who looks after them to consider what’s right for their age and circumstances.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition and intended use | Consider your child’s age and whether the product will be added to a recipe or replace their usual milk drink. | If I’m thinking of serving coconut instead of my child’s morning milk, I want to avoid confusing two different dietary uses. Around 45% of consumers would put this distinction first. |
| Fat and sugar content | Compare fat, saturated fat and sugars on the same basis, for example per 100 ml where that is the unit used on the labels. | For a coconut-flavoured dish, I want to choose based on the nutritional values rather than the word ‘Light’ alone; around 36% of consumers would share this priority. |
| Size and storage | Check how much the recipe needs and the storage instructions for the product once opened. | If I only use a small amount of coconut, I prefer a pack that lets me use the rest within the stated timeframe. Nearly 19% of consumers would make this their main criterion. |
Culinary coconut milk or a plant-based coconut drink does not automatically serve the same purpose as a toddler’s usual milk drink. Ameli recommends continuing infant formula until the age of one and says growing-up milk can be given after the age of one, up to the age of 3.
First decide whether you’re buying an occasional ingredient or considering a replacement. If it’s the latter, ask the healthcare professional who looks after your child for advice, rather than relying on terms such as ‘plant-based’ or ‘Light’.
The Auchan product listing for Kara Light states that it has 30% less fat, but still lists 13 g of fat, including 12 g of saturated fat, per 100 ml.
Compare the nutritional values of the products you’re actually considering on the same basis, and check whether they’re intended for cooking or as a drink.
For an occasional addition, you may use far less than the pack contains. The Auchan product listing for Kara Light says to refrigerate it after opening and use within 3 days.
Work out how much your recipe needs and follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.
On Auchan’s listings, Kara’s 200 ml organic coconut milk contains 16 g of fat per 100 ml, compared with 13 g per 100 ml for Kara Light. These terms refer to different criteria.
Decide what matters most to you — ingredients, fat content or pack size — then check the nutritional information for the exact product.
The products mentioned illustrate different uses and ingredients; a brand name alone isn’t enough to tell you whether a product is suitable for the dish you have in mind.
The range includes Kara Light 200 ml culinary coconut milk, featured on Auchan’s product listing.
Bjorg distinguishes its unsweetened plant-based coconut drink from its coconut cooking products.
Suzi Wan describes its coconut milk as a cooking ingredient and offers, among other options, a resealable 330 ml pack.
The retailer offers its own 200 ml carton of coconut milk as well as Kara Light — two products to consider separately.
These two Light coconut milks are intended for occasional use as cooking ingredients. For a toddler’s breakfast, check that the dish is suitable for their age; the products are not a replacement for their usual milk drink simply because of their name.
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For adding coconut to an occasional dish suitable for your child. The description states that it contains 9 g of fat, including 8,5 g of saturated fat, per 100 ml. It advises refrigerating after opening and using within 3 days; check these instructions on the packaging you receive.
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For an occasional coconut dish suitable for your child. This 400 ml pack is labelled ‘Light’; before comparing its fat content with another product, check whether the values on the label are given per 100 g or per 100 ml. Also check the storage instructions once opened.
Don’t decide to replace it based on the word ‘Light’ alone. Ameli recommends continuing infant formula until the age of one and says growing-up milk can be given after the age of one, up to the age of 3. If you’re thinking of changing your child’s usual milk drink, ask the healthcare professional who looks after them for advice.
No. An unsweetened coconut drink is a thin plant-based drink, while the Light coconut milk featured here is a cooking ingredient. To choose an occasional addition, compare it with the recipe you have in mind and check the nutritional values on the same basis. Don’t assume either product is equivalent to infant formula or growing-up milk.
Check the product name, ingredients, nutritional information, pack size and instructions for use after opening. For this comparison, look in particular at fat, saturated fat, sugars and protein, taking note of the units shown. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on prepacked foods.
Follow the instructions for the product you buy: Auchan’s listing for Kara Light says to refrigerate it and use within 3 days of opening. Check the packaging for another product rather than automatically applying the same timeframe.