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Who are these options for?

You’re making a vegan recipe

For a sauce, salad or dessert prepared before you set off, look for coconut milk labelled vegan, in a pack size and with a texture that suit your recipe.

You’d rather have a ready-to-eat dessert

A pot of coconut-based plant dessert saves you having to prepare anything on the spot, as long as you can transport and store it according to the instructions on the label.

You’re mainly looking for a coconut drink

A coconut-based plant drink is for a different purpose from culinary coconut milk. If a vegan label is important to you, check it on the specific product you choose.

What should you check before choosing?

For a vegan picnic, first check what the product says on the label, then decide whether you need a cooking ingredient, a drink or a ready-to-eat dessert. Storage requirements can then help you choose between the formats that suit your menu.

Criteria	What to check	Who is it for?
Vegan labelling	Check the label on the specific product you’ve chosen. If you require independent certification, look for the logo and the name of the certifying organisation on the packaging.	If I’m preparing a vegan meal to share, I want to be able to check the product’s status clearly before using it. Around 42% of consumers would make this evidence their top priority.
Use and texture	Check the product description and, for a recipe, the coconut extract content and relevant nutritional information.	For a sauce or a dessert prepared in advance, I need a different product from one I’d pour into a glass or serve as an individual pot. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise suitability for the intended use.
Storage	Check the stated temperatures, the date on the product and the instructions for after opening.	For a summer picnic, I need to be able to store the product correctly until it’s time to serve. Around 33% of consumers would put keeping it cool and transporting it safely first.

Common mix-ups to avoid

Confusing coconut drinks with culinary coconut milk

These products are intended for different uses. Carrefour’s product details for Alpro coconut drink list 0.8 g of fat per 100 g, while Auchan’s details for Jardin Bio Étic coconut milk list 17 g per 100 ml. As these figures are given for different quantities, they aren’t enough to compare how the products will perform in a recipe.

For cooking, start with the description and characteristics of the coconut milk intended for your recipe. Consider plant-based drinks separately if you’re looking for something to drink.
Assuming “vegan” means independently certified

A vegan label on a product listing and certification from an independent organisation are not the same thing. The label alone doesn’t identify a certifier for the specific product you’re buying.

If certification is one of your requirements, look for the logo and the name of the certifying organisation on the packaging.
Packing a chilled dessert without planning how to keep it cool

Auchan’s product details for the Andros coconut milk dessert say it should be stored between 0 °C and 6 °C. The Anses also highlights the importance of keeping food cold during summer picnics.

Plan to transport it in a way that keeps it at the stated temperature, and check the date on the packaging before you set off.
Forgetting after-opening instructions and allergen information

According to Auchan, Jardin Bio Étic coconut milk should be refrigerated after opening and used within 4 days. Auchan’s product details for the Andros dessert warn that it may contain soya and nuts. Describing it as vegan doesn’t answer questions about allergens.

Choose an amount that suits your recipe, follow the storage instructions once the product is open, and check the allergen information on the packaging you receive.

Brands and products to know

Jardin Bio Étic

Culinary coconut milk in a 22.5 cl tin, labelled vegan on its Auchan product listing.

Auchan’s product details state that it contains 68% coconut extract and 17 g of fat, including 16 g of saturated fatty acids, per 100 ml.
After opening, the product details say to keep it refrigerated and use it within 4 days. Check the packaging if you require independent vegan certification.

Carrefour Sensation

Fermented plant-based coconut milk dessert in 100 g pots, labelled vegan by Carrefour.

Carrefour describes it as a dessert with no ingredients of animal origin and states that it contains 72.6% reduced-fat coconut milk.
This is a chilled product, so check its storage instructions before transporting it. Check the packaging too if you need independent certification.

Andros

Fermented plant-based coconut milk dessert in four 100 g pots, labelled vegan on its Auchan product listing.

The individual pots make it easy to serve portions without preparing dessert on the spot.
Auchan’s product details say to store it between 0 °C and 6 °C and warn that it may contain soya and nuts.

Alpro

A plant-based drink made with rice and coconut milk, in a 1 L carton. It’s different from culinary coconut milk.

Carrefour’s product details list coconut milk and rice among the ingredients, and state that it contains 0.8 g of fat per 100 g.
If you’re specifically looking for a product labelled vegan or independently certified, check the packaging of this drink for those details.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a “vegan” label guarantee independent certification?

No. A label on a product doesn’t, by itself, identify a certifying organisation. If certification is essential to your choice, check the logo and the organisation’s name on the packaging of the product you’re buying.

What should I look for on the label before buying?

Check the ingredients list and the date on the product, among other things. These are two of the points covered in the DGCCRF’s food labelling guidance. For your picnic, also read the storage instructions and allergen information on the packaging.

Can you take the Andros coconut dessert without a cool bag?

Only choose it if you can keep it between 0 °C and 6 °C, as stated on its Auchan product listing, while travelling and during your picnic. The Anses recommends keeping chilled food cold when you’re out and about in summer.