For several batches, a pack of six 1 L cartons of UHT whole milk makes it easy to work out quantities and keep cartons unopened until needed, in line with the packaging instructions. Fresh whole milk needs to be kept cold from the moment you buy it. Either way, plan how you’ll store it once opened, and check the ingredients in every recipe so you can let buyers know which cakes contain milk.
You’ll need to add up the quantities required by each recipe, then plan your shopping and transport. Packs of six 1 L cartons of whole milk are available from retailers and brands including Auchan, E.Leclerc, Carrefour and Candia.
If you’re shopping before baking day, check how the milk should be stored before opening. Lactel says its organic UHT whole milk can be kept at room temperature, while Candia says its GrandLait Frais de Montagne should be stored between 0 and +6 °C.
You’ll need to gather the information for every recipe, particularly whether it contains milk. The DGCCRF distinguishes between the labelling rules for prepacked foods and the separate French rules for providing allergen information about non-prepacked foods.
Start with the number of litres your recipes call for, then check where each carton will be stored before and after opening. You should also collect the ingredient lists before dividing the baking between volunteers.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Volume for your batches | Add up the quantities in your recipes and check the total volume and the number of cartons in the pack. | When making several recipes, I want to buy the amount I need without opening every carton at once; around 36% of consumers prioritise getting the right volume. |
| Storage | Check the storage instructions before opening, then note the temperature and how long the milk can be kept once opened. | If I’m shopping before baking day, I need to know where to keep the milk until then. Flexible storage is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Keep the ingredient lists for all the components you use, and check with the school or association how the information will be shared with buyers. | To tell people what each cake contains, I need information from every volunteer; around 21% of consumers prioritise keeping track of ingredients. |
| Requests for lactose-free options | Check whether anyone has asked for a lactose-free option, and read the ingredients for the product you choose: it may still contain milk. | If someone asks for a lactose-free recipe, I want to choose the right ingredient without mistaking it for a milk-free product; this is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Candia’s GrandLait Frais de Montagne must be kept between 0 and +6 °C before opening. By contrast, Lactel says its organic UHT whole milk can be stored at room temperature while unopened.
Read the instructions for your chosen product before buying, and make room in the fridge for any opened cartons.
Lactel’s Matin Léger Bio entier sans lactose is made from whole milk. Choosing it therefore doesn’t mean the cakes are free from milk.
Choose this option only if someone has specifically asked for lactose-free ingredients, and continue to mention milk in the recipe information.
A cake contains more than just milk: you’ll also need to consider the other ingredients and any toppings. The DGCCRF reminds food businesses that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list for prepacked foods; information about non-prepacked foods is covered by separate rules.
Keep the packaging or ingredient lists for everything you make, and ask the school or association how the information will be shared at the sale.
Candia offers GrandLait whole milk in a pack of six 1 L cartons, as well as a separate fresh whole mountain milk product.
The range includes organic UHT whole milk, whole milk with vitamin D and a lactose-free organic whole milk product.
Carrefour offers, among other products, Extra UHT whole milk in a pack of six 1 L bottles.
Auchan offers UHT whole milk in six 1 L cartons.
E.Leclerc offers packs of Delisse whole milk and Bio Village organic whole milk, both in 6 × 1 L formats.
This whole milk multipack is a good fit for recipes that call for several litres. If you plan to buy it before baking day, check the packaging for storage instructions before opening rather than assuming it’s UHT milk.
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Worth considering if your recipes call for several litres of whole milk: the pack contains six 1 L cartons. If you’re planning your shopping in advance, check the packaging for storage instructions before opening. Keep the ingredient list too, so you can record what’s in your cakes.
A pack of 6 × 1 L is handy if your recipes call for roughly that amount: you can count out six cartons and open only what you need for each batch. Auchan, E.Leclerc, Carrefour and Candia offer products in this format; first work out how many litres you’ll actually need.
It depends on the product and whether it has been opened. Lactel says its organic UHT whole milk can be stored at room temperature before opening, while Candia says its GrandLait Frais de Montagne should be kept between 0 and +6 °C. Once opened, follow the instructions for that particular carton.
No. A lactose-free product may still be made from whole milk, as is the case with Lactel’s Matin Léger Bio entier. You should therefore continue to mention milk in the cake’s ingredient information.
Keep the packaging or a copy of the ingredient lists for every component you use, then organise them by recipe. The DGCCRF sets out labelling rules for prepacked foods, including highlighting allergens. Ask the school or association how it plans to provide information for cakes sold without packaging.