Households that regularly serve milk with snacks
A pack of six 1 L bottles can make storing milk at home easier, as long as you get through each bottle after opening before it goes off.
Who is this option for?
Families looking for lactose-free milk
If cow’s milk is still suitable for your child but lactose is the reason for choosing a different option, check for the ‘lactose-free’ label. Don’t mistake it for milk protein-free.
Families whose child’s school snack must follow a specific diet
If a food allergy or another health need means adjustments are required at school, an individual care plan, or PAI, may set out the diet to follow, according to the Ministry of National Education.
What should you check before buying?
For a snack, first check that the type and quantity of milk suit your household’s consumption. Organic and lactose-free labels meet different needs; neither makes milk suitable for someone with a milk protein allergy.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Family pack size and storage | Check that it says ‘skimmed’, that the pack contains 6 x 1 L, and that you follow the instructions for use after opening. Lactel says its organic skimmed milk should be kept chilled and used within three days of opening. | For frequent snacks at home, I want to keep several bottles in reserve without leaving an opened bottle for too long. Around 46% of consumers would put managing stock at the top of their list. |
| Lactose | Check for both ‘skimmed’ and ‘lactose-free’ on the label, as well as the ingredients list. Carrefour states that Lactel Matin Léger contains 0.1% lactose and is made with milk. | If my child has difficulty digesting lactose but can have cow’s milk, I look for a lactose-free option in a pack size we use regularly. This would be a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| A diet that excludes milk | Read the allergens listed on the label and confirm the arrangements for snacks with the school and, where applicable, in the PAI. Lactose-free milk is not necessarily free from milk proteins. | If my child’s diet excludes milk, I need to choose their snack in line with the adjustments in place, rather than simply switching to a different type of milk. Nearly 27% of consumers would prioritise this requirement. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming ‘lactose-free’ means ‘milk-free’
Lactel Matin Léger is labelled lactose-free, but its Joybuy product page says it contains milk. It is therefore not an automatic replacement when milk proteins need to be excluded.
If your child has an allergy, check the ingredients and follow their prescribed diet before choosing a snack.
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Confusing skimmed with semi-skimmed milk
A pack of 6 x 1 L doesn’t tell you what type of milk it contains. For example, the DELISSE packs mentioned by E.Leclerc contain semi-skimmed milk.
If you specifically want skimmed milk, read the full product description on each pack.
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Forgetting about the bottle you’ve already opened
According to Lactel, its organic skimmed milk should be kept chilled and used within three days of opening. So the size of each bottle matters as much as the size of the pack.
Before choosing six 1 L bottles, consider whether your household usually finishes a bottle within the time stated on the product.
Otherwise, some of the opened bottle may end up being thrown away.
Brands and retailers to know
These examples can help you tell different types and pack sizes apart. A brand or retailer appearing here doesn’t mean that all its products are suitable if you’re looking specifically for skimmed milk.
Lactel
The range includes organic skimmed UHT milk and Matin Léger skimmed lactose-free milk. The Auchan and Carrefour product pages list each of these products in 6 x 1 L packs.
- The Auchan product page states that the organic skimmed milk contains 0% fat.
- Matin Léger contains milk, so being lactose-free does not make it suitable for someone with a milk protein allergy.
Candia
Candia lists Candia+ in a 6 x 1 L pack as lactose-free milk, with less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 mL.
- The family-sized pack gives you another lactose-free option to compare.
- Candia states that this product contains 1.0% fat, so don’t confuse it with skimmed milk.
Carrefour
Carrefour’s product pages feature a 6 x 1 L pack of La Marque du Consommateur UHT skimmed milk and a 6 x 1 L pack of Lactel Matin Léger lactose-free milk.
- The product pages make it easy to compare a classic option with a lactose-free one.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the product you choose: both packs contain milk.
E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc lists DELISSE packs of 6 x 1 L in cartons or bottles.
- These products give you a useful size comparison when looking at different types of milk.
- The DELISSE packs in question are semi-skimmed, not skimmed.
Auchan
Auchan’s product page lists Lactel organic skimmed UHT milk in a pack of 6 x 1 L.
- The product page specifies the type of milk, pack size and storage instructions after opening.
- Before buying, make sure this pack size suits your household’s rate of consumption.
Joybuy products to suit these needs
These two products offer different options for snacks: lactose-free skimmed milk in a 6 x 1 L pack and a soya drink in a 3 x 1 L pack. The soya drink isn’t skimmed milk. If your child follows a specific diet, check that the product you choose is suitable.
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Lactel Matin Léger lactose-free skimmed UHT milk, 6 x 1 L
For households that regularly use skimmed milk and are looking for a lactose-free option. This UHT pack contains six 1 L bottles. The product contains milk, so it isn’t a suitable replacement for an option designed for someone with a milk protein allergy.
After opening, keep the bottle chilled and use it within three days, as instructed on the product.
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Alpro Soya Barista, pack of 3 x 1 L
This soya drink may be worth considering if your child’s snack needs to follow a diet that excludes cow’s milk. It isn’t skimmed milk, and the pack contains three 1 L bottles, not six. Check its ingredients and make sure it is suitable for your child’s diet and, where applicable, their PAI.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pack of 6 x 1 L suitable for every household’s snacks?
No. It’s best suited to households that drink milk regularly enough to finish each bottle after opening. For Lactel organic skimmed milk, the manufacturer says to keep it chilled and use it within three days of opening.
Is lactose-free milk suitable for a child with a milk allergy?
Not just because it says ‘lactose-free’: Lactel Matin Léger contains milk. If milk proteins need to be excluded, choose a snack that follows your child’s prescribed diet rather than automatically switching to a lactose-free version of milk.
What should you look for on a pack of skimmed milk?
Check the product description (‘skimmed milk’), volume, ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage instructions. For pre-packed food sold in France, the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control specifies, among other things, that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted.
How should you plan a school snack that includes milk?
If your child has a food allergy or another health need that requires a specific diet, confirm the arrangements for their snack with the school. According to the Ministry of National Education, a PAI can set out adjustments to a child’s schooling, including those relating to their diet.