Taking fresh food into France

[Brian Kirby]

Done a bit of trawling. You should be able to find fresh, pasteurised, milk in (usually white) screw cap pottles. Blue cap = semi skimmed. Red cap = full cream. Green cap = skimmed (but can also be sheep's or goat's milk - so check. Brebis = Sheep, Chevre = goat.)

 

Brands may vary by region, even within the same supermarket chain, but Lactel and Delisse are fairly common. They will usually be in the chilled section, normally low down. The UHT is not sold chilled, and is better, IMO, than our UHT - which is treated at higher temperature and has a "nuttier" flavour. French UHT is also available in similar plastic bottles to the above. It isn't too bad in coffee, but then, like most of the French, I don't drink tea. :-)

 

From experience, good sources are E Leclerc, Carrefour, Super U, Geant and Intermarche. Remember that some Intermarche stores, especially in rural areas are independent franchises so may have alternative suppliers. Also remember that smaller stores ("express" or "local" variants in towns frequently have smaller ranges than the larger stores (in the "Centres Commerciales) around the edges of the larger towns, which are best for choice.