For meals in care homes, choose bottle sizes according to how the milk is served: 25 cl for individual portions, 50 cl for small amounts shared between people, or 1 L when the kitchen or serving team regularly uses the contents of opened bottles. Then check the storage instructions for the product you’re buying, the space available for storage and whether it meets residents’ individual needs.
If each resident is served milk with their meal, compare 25 cl and 50 cl bottles with the amount actually served. Candia and E.Leclerc offer products in these sizes; a 50 cl bottle may still need to be monitored after opening.
For drinks and dishes that regularly use milk, packs of 6 x 1 L mean you’ll need fewer containers. This option requires a system for tracking each opened bottle and following its storage instructions.
The number of units to store and product availability both affect how you organise your service. Confirm the pack size and supply arrangements with your chosen supplier before planning meals.
The size you choose depends first on how much milk is served per person and how you plan to use any milk left over. Products from E.Leclerc and Candia, along with the 1 L multipacks offered by other retailers, suit different ways of serving.
Consider these: when you plan to serve one bottle per person and this size matches the amount being served.
Bear in mind: you’ll need more units to store and distribute for the same total volume.
Consider these: for serving small amounts shared between people; Candia offers GrandLait semi-skimmed milk in packs of 6 x 50 cl.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to keep track of the bottle if it isn’t finished during service.
Consider these: when the kitchen or serving team uses milk regularly.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a system for managing opened containers, as storage times vary by product.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | The volume of each bottle and the amount of milk planned for each resident. | If I serve milk individually, I look for a container that matches the planned serving size without creating lots of leftovers. Around 36% of consumers prioritise portion size. |
| Storage after opening | The instructions on the packaging and how opened containers will be tracked. | If the same bottle is used across several servings, I need to be able to track when it was opened and use it within the stated timeframe. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | The nutritional information, whether it contains milk and any applicable individual requirements. | When serving residents with individual needs, I check that the product meets the relevant requirements. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Storage and supply | The number of units to store and whether the supplier has the product in stock. | If I’m preparing orders for several meals, I need a pack that’s easy to fit into our storage and delivery arrangements. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Instructions vary: the Auchan product page for one carton states 48 hours, the page for a Lactel milk product checked at Auchan says 3 days, and Candia gives 4 days for GrandLait. In each case, store at a maximum of +6 °C.
Check the instructions on the packaging you receive and include them in your care home’s system for tracking opened food.
The Lactel 6 x 1 L product checked is enriched with vitamin D, but this alone doesn’t establish whether it meets each resident’s individual requirements.
Check the nutritional information and ingredients of the product being served, then ask the professionals responsible at your care home to confirm that it meets each resident’s individual requirements.
The Eco+ product page checked at E.Leclerc stated that the product wasn’t sold online and advised customers to contact their E.Leclerc store.
Confirm the exact product and supply arrangements before adding it to your meal schedule.
Candia offers GrandLait semi-skimmed milk in several sizes, including 25 cl, 50 cl and 1 L, as well as packs of six.
The Lactel UHT semi-skimmed milk product checked comes in a pack of 6 x 1 L and is enriched with vitamin D.
Carrefour offers UHT semi-skimmed milk in a pack of 6 x 1 L bottles.
E.Leclerc offers Eco+ semi-skimmed milk in a pack of 6 x 1 L bottles.
Auchan offers UHT semi-skimmed milk in packs of 6 x 1 L, in bottles or cartons depending on the product.
This pack of 6 x 1 L is suited to kitchen use or group serving where opened bottles can be tracked. Check the packaging you receive for the storage instructions that apply to this product.
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Worth considering when milk is used regularly in the kitchen or for group serving. The pack contains six 1 L units; check the instructions on the packaging you receive for storage after opening, and make sure the milk meets the individual requirements of the residents concerned.
No. The 1 L size is best suited to kitchens or serving teams that regularly use the contents of opened bottles. If you serve milk individually, also compare 25 cl and 50 cl bottles with the amount planned for each meal.
Follow the timeframe stated for the product you buy rather than assuming the same applies to all UHT milk. The product pages checked state 48 hours for an Auchan carton, 3 days for a Lactel product and 4 days for Candia GrandLait. In each case, store at a maximum of +6 °C.
Not without checking the individual requirements that apply. Milk is listed among the ingredients and allergens for the products checked; before serving, the team should confirm that the product meets the requirements for each resident.
No. If a bottle isn’t used in full, you need to store it in line with the product instructions and your care home’s procedures. The Ministry of Agriculture’s guide to food safety management plans for catering services can help your care home organise its checks.