Before choosing UHT or microfiltered semi-skimmed milk for a baby who is starting solid foods, check their age and how you plan to use the product. According to Assurance Maladie, milk remains the foundation of their diet, and infant formula should be continued until they are one year old. UHT treatment means an unopened carton can be stored at room temperature, while microfiltered milk must be kept chilled. Neither label alone tells you whether the product is suitable for your child, particularly if they have a milk allergy.
You want to know what role semi-skimmed milk should play in meals, without confusing it with the milk that remains the foundation of your child’s diet. Assurance Maladie recommends continuing with infant formula until your baby is one year old.
You want to understand the difference between UHT milk, which can be stored at room temperature while unopened according to the French Ministry of Agriculture, and microfiltered milk, which must be kept chilled.
If your child has been diagnosed with a milk allergy, you need to follow the avoidance instructions and check which foods contain milk, as advised by Assurance Maladie.
First, consider your child’s age and how you plan to use the milk. Then check any avoidance instructions before comparing processing methods and pack sizes.
| Consideration | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Age and role of the milk | Check your child’s age and distinguish between an ingredient used in a meal and a drink intended to replace their usual milk. | If my child is under one, I want to make sure breast milk or infant formula remains part of their diet while they start solid foods. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this question. |
| Milk allergy | If milk has been prescribed for avoidance, check the ingredients and allergens in the product, as well as those in any recipes you plan to use it in. | If my child is following an avoidance diet, I also need to look out for milk in meals we share. Around 29% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Processing and storage | Check whether the pack says UHT or microfiltered, and read the storage instructions for unopened products on the exact pack. | When planning my shopping, I need to know whether unopened milk can be kept outside the fridge or needs to stay chilled. Around 21% of consumers would put this first. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack size with how much you use and the stated storage time after opening. | If I only use a little milk at a time, I prefer a pack I can finish within the stated time. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
Terms such as “half-butter” or “filtered” do not, on their own, tell you that a milk is microfiltered semi-skimmed milk. UHT treatment and microfiltration are two different processes.
Check the exact product name, whether it says UHT or microfiltered, and the storage instructions.
Starting solid foods does not mean milk is no longer an important part of your baby’s diet. Assurance Maladie recommends continuing with infant formula until your child is one year old.
Before considering a different milk, take your child’s age and how you plan to use it into account. If your child has a particular medical condition, ask their healthcare professional for advice.
An allergy to cow’s milk proteins is not simply a matter of lactose. According to Assurance Maladie, an avoidance diet excludes the identified allergen and any foods that contain it.
If your child has a diagnosed allergy, follow the prescribed avoidance instructions and check the ingredients and allergens for every product.
The shelf life of an unopened carton does not apply once the milk has been opened. For example, for Lactel UHT semi-skimmed milk, Auchan recommends storing it at no more than 6 °C and consuming it within three days of opening.
Choose a pack size that suits how quickly you use milk and follow the instructions on the product you buy.
An opened carton kept beyond the stated time may end up going to waste.
Carrefour France offers a range of UHT semi-skimmed milks, including a Carrefour Bio product.
E.Leclerc offers Delisse semi-skimmed milk in packs of 6 × 1 L.
Auchan offers its own-brand UHT semi-skimmed milk in a pack of 6 × 1 L.
Lactel offers a UHT semi-skimmed milk product sold by Auchan.
ALDI France offers Milsani UHT semi-skimmed milk.
Not before your baby is one, according to Assurance Maladie’s recommendations. Milk remains the foundation of their diet while they start solid foods, and infant formula should be continued until that age. Assurance Maladie also recommends at least 500 ml of milk a day. Check your child’s age and how you plan to use the product before changing their milk intake.
No. The French Ministry of Agriculture describes UHT milk as milk that can be stored unopened at room temperature, while the French dairy industry describes microfiltration as a process that uses a membrane. Microfiltered milk must be kept chilled. Check the exact wording and storage instructions on the pack.
Follow the instructions for the product you buy, as the storage conditions for an unopened carton no longer apply once it has been opened. For the Lactel UHT semi-skimmed milk sold by Auchan, the instructions are to keep it at no more than 6 °C and consume it within three days.
The words “lactose-free” are not enough to establish whether a product is suitable for someone with a cow’s milk protein allergy. According to Assurance Maladie, a prescribed avoidance diet excludes the identified allergen and all foods that contain it. Check the ingredients and follow the medical advice given for your child.