For a vegan curry, choose a plant-based ingredient rather than lactose-free cow’s milk: Arla UK lists whole milk in its LactoFREE product, and the NHS says a vegan diet excludes dairy. Tinned coconut milk suits a recipe calling for a rich coconut sauce; a plant drink is an option when the recipe calls for a milk-style liquid or a less coconut-forward flavour. Check the particular pack’s ingredients, vegan wording and allergen information before cooking.
If the recipe calls for a rich coconut sauce, look at tinned coconut milk rather than assuming a coconut drink will play the same cooking role. M&S Food describes its tinned coconut milk as adding a velvety texture to curries, while its coconut drink is also intended for drinks and sauces.
Lactose-free does not mean dairy-free. Arla UK lists whole milk as an ingredient in LactoFREE Whole Milk, so it is not an option when the curry must be vegan.
Compare nutrition and fortification on the individual pack if the drink will also be a regular milk substitute. A 2025 UK government assessment by SACN and COT notes that plant drinks vary considerably in nutrient composition.
Decide what the recipe needs first, then check whether the chosen product meets the vegan and allergen requirements of everyone eating it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Check vegan wording and the ingredients on the current pack. Lactose-free cow’s milk still contains dairy: Arla UK lists whole milk in LactoFREE Whole Milk. | My curry must contain no dairy ingredients, so lactose-free milk is not the substitute I need. |
| Sauce and flavour | Check whether the recipe calls for tinned coconut milk or a milk-style liquid. M&S Food describes its tinned coconut milk as adding a velvety texture to curries and its Creamy Coconut Drink as usable in sauces and curries. | For a coconut-led sauce, I want the cooking ingredient the recipe specifies. For a less coconut-forward sauce, I would check whether an unsweetened plant drink suits the recipe. |
| Regular use | Compare the exact drinks’ per 100 ml nutrition and any calcium, iodine or vitamin fortification. SACN and COT’s 2025 UK assessment says plant drinks vary considerably in nutrient composition. | If I will use the drink after curry night, I want to know what the particular pack provides rather than treating all plant drinks as equivalent. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredient and precautionary allergen statements for the relevant allergy. A vegan claim concerns intentionally used ingredients; it does not, by itself, rule out cross-contact with milk. | When I am cooking for someone with a milk allergy, vegan wording alone is not enough to assess whether the product is suitable for them. |
Removing or breaking down lactose does not remove the milk ingredient. Arla UK lists whole milk in LactoFREE Whole Milk, and the NHS states that vegans do not eat dairy.
For a vegan curry, choose an appropriate plant-based product and check its current ingredients.
The products have different intended uses: M&S Food describes tinned coconut milk for velvety curries and its coconut drink for uses that include sauces and drinks.
Follow the format named in the recipe when its coconut sauce is the point of the dish; consider a drink when a milk-style liquid is intended.
Plant drinks vary considerably in nutrient composition, according to SACN and COT’s 2025 UK assessment. Vegan wording does not tell you which nutrients a particular drink contains.
For regular use, compare the packs’ per 100 ml information and any stated fortification.
UK government guidance defines vegan labelling by the absence of intentionally used animal-origin ingredients; a vegan claim alone does not settle cross-contact risk.
If someone has a milk allergy, check the full allergen information and any precautionary wording on the product they will eat.
These examples illustrate different ingredients and label checks; a brand name alone does not establish that every product in its range suits a vegan curry.
A lactose-free dairy range, not a vegan alternative to milk.
M&S Food describes both coconut cooking ingredients and a coconut drink for sauces and curries.
An unsweetened soya-drink option for a recipe that calls for a plant-based liquid rather than coconut milk.
A coconut-drink example for someone seeking a plant-based liquid with coconut flavour.
An oat-drink reference for shoppers considering a non-coconut plant drink.
These options include coconut milk for a coconut-led curry and plant drinks to consider when a recipe calls for a milk-style liquid. Check each pack against the recipe and the diners’ vegan and allergen requirements.
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Consider this 400ml coconut milk when the recipe calls for coconut milk as a cooking ingredient. Check the current pack’s ingredients and vegan wording; if cooking for someone with a milk allergy, also check its precautionary allergen information.
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The 250ml carton is an option when a recipe calls for a smaller amount of coconut milk. Confirm the current pack’s ingredients and vegan wording, and check precautionary allergen information where milk allergy matters.
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The 1L carton is a coconut-milk option for a recipe requiring a larger quantity. Check the current pack for vegan wording, ingredients and relevant allergen information before using it for the meal.
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This unsweetened soya drink is an option when a savoury recipe calls for a plant drink rather than coconut milk. The 8 x 1L pack also needs to suit your intended use and storage; check its allergen information if soya or milk cross-contact is a concern.
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Consider this oat drink only where the recipe calls for a plant-based liquid rather than the texture of tinned coconut milk. The pack contains 6 x 1L cartons; check current vegan wording, ingredients and allergen information, including oats and any relevant milk cross-contact warning.
No. Arla UK lists whole milk in LactoFREE Whole Milk, and the NHS states that a vegan diet excludes dairy. Lactose-free milk is therefore not a substitute when the curry must be vegan.
Use vegan tinned coconut milk when the recipe calls for a rich coconut sauce. M&S Food describes its Coconut Milk as adding a velvety texture to curries; a coconut drink or other plant drink serves a different recipe choice, so check the liquid the recipe specifies.
No. UK government guidance says vegan labelling means no animal-origin ingredients were intentionally used; that alone does not rule out cross-contact. Check the current pack’s ingredients, allergen statement and any precautionary milk wording for the person who will eat the curry.
Compare nutrition per 100 ml and any stated calcium, iodine or vitamin fortification on the exact products you are considering. SACN and COT’s 2025 UK assessment notes considerable variation in plant-drink nutrient composition, so a vegan label alone cannot tell you what a drink provides.