Baby and Toddler Milk Abroad | Which milk is full fat, whole, semi-skimmed?
This guide will help you decode the different types of milk abroad, which are likely to have different colour lids or cartons from back home. Alternatively, there may be a percentage written on instead of a different colour.
Whether you are looking for full fat or whole milk for your baby or toddler, or semi skimmed milk for your cuppa or low fat for other reasons, this post will help you. Additionally, there are notes on the language which may enable you to also decipher which type of milk you need.
I have inter-dispersed terms but whole milk and full fat milk are the same thing and usually about 3% fat. Semi skimmed is typically around 2%.
There is also an easy to read table below for quick reference.
Although fresh milk is usually and obviously found in the chilled section in supermarket, do be aware that in some places UHT milk or long life milk can be placed in there too.
In some countries you will find UHT milk (which has been heated for longer and can last for longer) more prevalent than fresh milk.
For babies who are still drinking formula milk, this guide will help you discover what brands are similar to your back home.
Australia
Whole/full fat = blue
Low fat = light blue/red
Bulgaria
3% = Whole milk
2% = semi-skimmed, 1% = skimmed
Note: Do not pick up Aryan (айран) a mix of milk, yogurt and salt by mistake!
Canada
Whole/Full fat = red
Semi Skimmed = pink or blue
Low Fat/skimmed = blue or green
Croatia
Whole/Full fat = 3.2%
Semi Skimmed = 1.8/1.9%
France
Whole/Full Fat = Red
Semi Skimmed = Blue
Low fat/skimmed = Green
Notes: Lait entier (red) =full fat, Lait demi ecreme (blue)= semi, Lait ecreme (green) skimmed
Germany
Whole/Full Fat = Green/dark blue/3.5%
Low Fat/Skimmed = 1% milk
Notes: H-Milch or Haltbare means long life. UHT is more common and Traditionelle HergestelltMilch-like the UK can be very hard to come by. Look for the %
Greece
Whole/Full fat = Blue
Semi Skimmed = Green
Low Fat/skimmed = Red/pink
Italy
Whole/Full Fat = Blue
Low Fat/skimmed = pink
Notes: Latte interno = full fat
Morocco
Notes: Not known but full fat is available. Haleeb mean milk
Netherlands
Notes: Verse melk is Dutch for fresh milk
Volle Melk = whole milk
Halfvolle melk = semi skimmed
Magere melk =skimmed
Portugal
What colour is full fat milk in Portugal?
Whole/Full Fat = Green
Semi Skimmed = Blue
Low Fat/skimmed = Pink
Notes: Full fat (leite) half-fat (meio gordo) The Vigor brand goes by these colours
Spain
What colour is full fat milk in Spain?
Whole/Full fat = Blue
Semi Skimmed = Green
Low Fat = Red
Notes: Look for the coloured writing on the carton. Semi skimmed is semi destinada. UHT is very common but you can buy fresh in most larger supermarkets.
Turkey
Whole/Full fat = Green
Low Fat = Blue
UAE (Dubai)
Whole/Full fat = Red
Low Fat = light blue
UK
Whole/ Full fat = Blue
Semi Skimmed = Green
Low Fat = Red
USA
Whole/ Full fat = Red
Semi Skimmed = Blue 2%
Low Fat = Yellow or Purple
Baby and Toddler Milk Abroad Table
