My diet:

Condensed milk

No E-numberDairyOrigin: Animal
Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganNo

It comes from a cow.

Gluten-freeYes
HalalYes

The milk has to come from a halal-slaughtered animal.

KosherYes

Dairy is kosher, though the equipment has to be kosher too.

KetoNo

It is about 55% sugar.

Low-FODMAPNo

Milk sugar plus added sugar makes it high FODMAP in any useful amount.

The short answer
Condensed milk is evaporated milk with about 55 percent sugar added, and it is safe but not a health drink. It is not vegan, it is not keto and it is not low FODMAP in any useful amount, so it belongs in baking.
Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone
Comes fromAnimal
What it doesDairy
Glycemic index—
Daily limitNot set
Also calledCondensed milk, Sweetened condensed milk

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive
🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive
🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive
CaliforniaNo extra rules

Condensed milk is a standardized dairy food, not an additive with an E-number, so none of the three regulators has evaluated it as an additive. As a milk product it falls under the allergen declaration rules in the US, the EU and Canada, and because of the added sugar it also carries a nutrition panel that makes the sugar content hard to miss.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

A tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk carries about 12 grams of sugar, and roughly 55 percent of the can by weight is added sugar. What is left is milk protein, a little fat and the minerals from the milk, in a form so thick it holds a peak when it is heated. That texture is why it is a pie filling rather than a drink.

Where it comes from: Cow's milk with the water taken off and about 55 percent sugar added, then sterilized and sealed in a can. It started as a way to keep milk safe on long sea voyages, and it is now the base for most American pies.

Why it’s in food

  • Fruit pies and tarts
  • Custards and puddings
  • Coffee and hot chocolate
  • Fudge and caramel
  • Ice cream sauces

Often found in

Condensed milkPumpkin pieKey lime pieFudgeIced coffee

Also listed as: Condensed milk, Sweetened condensed milk, Condensed milk (sweetened), Sweetened condensed full-fat milk

Health & gut impact

Sugar loadConcern

A tablespoon carries about 12 grams of sugar, which is close to a quarter of the daily free-sugar limit WHO recommends for an adult, and the can is mostly sugar by weight. Using it as a sweetener means checking the finished dish, not the ingredient list.

WHO, sugars intake for adults and children

Nutrient densityConcern

The milk content does bring protein, calcium and vitamin B12, but they arrive diluted inside a large amount of sugar. A tablespoon gives a little of each, and a whole can of filling gives a lot of sugar with it.

USDA FoodData Central, condensed milk, sweetened

Lactose and FODMAPUnder study

Condensed milk carries the lactose of milk plus a large amount of added sugar, and the two together make it high FODMAP in any portion big enough to matter. Someone managing IBS gets more out of leaving it out than out of hunting for a reduced-sugar version.

NHS, irritable bowel syndrome

What can I use instead?

Evaporated milk

Ratio: Use it one for one and add the sugar separately

Best for: A thinner filling you can sweeten to taste

Coconut milk

Ratio: Use it one for one in a vegan pie

Best for: A dairy-free filling with a similar body

Date syrup

Ratio: Use two thirds of the volume and less of it

Best for: A lower glycemic sweetener in a sauce

Related

More dairy:

CaseinCasein is the main protein in milk and the part that becomes cheese. It is a food rather than an additive, it is not vegan, and it turns up in the ingredient list of products that are not supposed to be dairy at all.Use in moderationCheese powderCheese powder is dried, milled cheese, and on many labels it is partly a whey-based flavor rather than cheese. It is a food rather than an additive, it is not vegan, and the animal rennet question is the one to check.Use in moderationCreamCream is the fat separated from milk, and it is a food rather than an additive, so there is no E-number for it. It is safe, but it is one of the most concentrated fat sources in the kitchen and it is the first thing to check on a label if saturated fat matters to you.Use in moderationEggEgg is a food rather than an additive, so there is no E-number for it. It is one of the most nutritious things on a label and one of the most common allergens, and it is not vegan.Generally safe

Common questions

What is the difference between condensed and evaporated milk?

Evaporated milk is milk with the water taken out and nothing else added, so it stays unsweetened. Condensed milk starts from the same place and adds sugar on top, around 55 percent by weight, which is what makes it thick, dark and sweet.

Is condensed milk high in sugar?

Very. The can is around 55 percent added sugar by weight, so a tablespoon alone carries about 12 grams of it. What looks like a dairy product on the shelf is mostly a sweetener.

Can I use condensed milk in coffee?

Yes, and in many parts of the world it is the standard way to drink coffee. It sweetens and thickens at the same time, which is why Vietnamese and Taiwanese coffee both use it.

Is condensed milk vegan?

No. It is cow's milk with sugar, so it is out for a vegan diet. Coconut milk and a sweetener of your choice are the usual stand-ins for a dessert filling.

Is Condensed milk safe?

Use in moderation (76/100). Condensed milk is a standardized dairy food, not an additive with an E-number, so none of the three regulators has evaluated it as an additive. As a milk product it falls under the allergen declaration rules in the US, the EU and Canada, and because of the added sugar it also carries a nutrition panel that makes the sugar content hard to miss.

Is Condensed milk vegan?

No. It comes from a cow.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations
  • WHO, sugars intake for adults and children
  • USDA FoodData Central, condensed milk, sweetened
  • NHS, irritable bowel syndrome