Who is this choice for?

Organisers of a verifiably vegan buffet

You need to be able to show that every drink served matches what guests have been told, using its packaging or documentation that applies to the product you bought.

Those in charge of hot drinks

You’re planning to serve coffee or tea and want a plant-based drink whose intended uses are specified by the manufacturer, particularly if you’ll be serving frothed drinks.

Hosts mindful of allergens

You need to distinguish between being lactose-free and being dairy-free, and keep the ingredients of each drink clearly identifiable, including when it’s decanted or used in a recipe.

What should you check?

For a buffet advertised as vegan, first check the ingredients of the specific product you’ll be serving. Then consider how it will be used at the buffet and make sure allergen information is easy to find.

Criteria What to check Who is it for?
Vegan credentials Look for evidence that applies to the product you bought, such as a V-Label stating that it’s vegan. Don’t mistake lactose-free animal milk for a plant-based drink. When I advertise a vegan buffet, I want to be able to confirm the ingredients of every drink to guests and the caterer. Around 42% of consumers rank this as their top priority.
Serving cold and in coffee Check the manufacturer’s guidance on hot and cold uses. For frothed drinks, make sure the product is intended for barista use. Try it with the equipment you’ll be using at the event. If the buffet includes a coffee station, I want to choose a drink that’s suitable for what I’ll be serving, rather than assume that all oat drinks are interchangeable. This is a priority for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients and allergens for each product, then make sure the information remains easy to identify for any drinks that are decanted. I need to be able to give a precise answer to a guest avoiding milk or an allergen found in a plant-based recipe. For around 25% of consumers, this information is their top priority.

Buffet mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing “lactose-free” with “vegan”

    Candia describes Candia+ as milk containing lactase, while Lactel describes Matin Léger as milk in which the lactose has been broken down. These products are still animal-derived, even though they meet a different need related to lactose.

    For the part of the buffet advertised as vegan, leave out animal milk and check the ingredients of the drinks you serve instead.

  • Relying on the word “plant-based” alone

    A plant-based description alone doesn’t prove that the product being served has vegan certification. According to the Vegetarian Association of France, the vegan V-Label takes ingredients and processing aids into account.

    Before choosing a drink for a buffet presented as certified vegan, check for the label on its packaging or equivalent documentation that applies to the product you bought.

  • Losing track of allergens after decanting

    Ingredients vary between plant-based drinks. A drink free from dairy products can’t automatically be described as free from other allergens: for example, a Joybuy listing flags gluten in one Bjorg oat drink.

    Keep packaging or ingredient sheets available to serving staff, and label containers and prepared drinks separately.

  • Opening every carton before serving

    Instructions for use after opening vary by product. If your buffet setup doesn’t follow them, it may be harder to maintain the storage conditions specified on the packaging.

    Open drinks as you need them and follow the temperature and storage-time guidance for each product after opening.

Brands to consider for different needs

Bjorg

Bjorg describes its 1 L Oat Drink as a plant-based drink suited to occasions such as buffets, and says it can be served hot or cold.

  • The brand specifies that this product can be served hot or cold.
  • For a buffet advertised as certified vegan, check the evidence that applies to the product you buy, along with its allergen information.

Oatly

Oatly’s Barista Edition Oat Drink is designed for coffee and frothing. Its standard oat drink is a different product, so don’t confuse the two.

  • Oatly says Barista Edition can be frothed and contains neither dairy nor soya.
  • Check the vegan credentials and ingredients separately for the product you plan to serve.

Alpro

Carrefour’s listing for Alpro Oat Drink describes it as a lactose-free plant-based alternative containing oats.

  • The ingredients list lets you assess this product for an oat-based drink service.
  • The “vegetarian” classification on this listing doesn’t prove vegan certification: check the packaging of the product you choose.

Candia

Candia+ is a useful point of comparison if the request is for a lactose-free option, with no vegan requirement.

  • Candia describes Candia+ as milk with 1.0% fat, containing lactase and less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
  • It’s still animal-derived milk, so don’t include it in the vegan selection.

Lactel

Matin Léger is for those looking for lactose-free animal milk, which is a different choice from a vegan drink.

  • Lactel describes it as milk in which the lactose is broken down by lactase, and also mentions using it in cooking.
  • Breaking down the lactose doesn’t make Matin Léger suitable for a vegan buffet.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Products related to this topic will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is lactose-free milk suitable for a vegan buffet?

No, not if it’s animal-derived milk. Candia describes Candia+ as milk containing lactase, while Lactel describes Matin Léger as milk in which the lactose has been broken down. Reducing the lactose doesn’t change where the milk comes from.

How can you confirm that a drink being served is vegan?

Check for evidence that applies to the specific product you bought, either on the packaging or in the supplier’s documentation. According to the Vegetarian Association of France, the vegan V-Label takes ingredients and processing aids into account; the word “plant-based” alone doesn’t provide evidence of this label.

How should you tell guests about allergens if drinks are decanted?

Keep the ingredients list for each product and clearly link it to the relevant container or preparation. The DGCCRF highlights the importance of providing accurate allergen information for non-prepacked food. Ask the caterer to keep its information up to date if recipes or products change.

How should you store drinks once they’ve been opened during the buffet?

Follow the temperature and storage-time guidance on each package for after opening. To avoid opening every carton at once, arrange to replace them as service continues and keep opened products in the conditions specified for each one.