Coffee mate vs International Delight: Ingredients and Sugar

Coffee mate and International Delight French Vanilla creamers list the same 35 calories, 1.5 g of fat and 5 g of added sugar per tablespoon (15 mL). They differ in the oil (high oleic soybean and/or canola oil vs palm oil), in saturated fat (0 g vs 0.5 g) and in a few additives.

Both ingredient lists start with water and sugar and include mono- and diglycerides, carrageenan, dipotassium phosphate and a caseinate milk derivative. The oils and the remaining additives are where they part ways.

Key takeaways:

• Both creamers deliver 35 calories and 5 grams of added sugar per 1 tablespoon (15 mL) serving.
• Coffee mate lists high oleic soybean and/or canola oil and 0 g saturated fat; International Delight lists palm oil and 0.5 g saturated fat per tablespoon.
• Both list a caseinate labelled "a milk derivative," the wording FDA requires under 21 CFR 101.4(d) for caseinates in foods characterized as nondairy, so neither is milk-free.
• Both formulas use carrageenan and mono- and diglycerides; International Delight adds sodium stearoyl lactylate, while Coffee mate uses cellulose gel and cellulose gum.

Coffee mate vs International Delight: The Short Answer

Is Coffee mate or International Delight healthier? On the Nutrition Facts, the only fat difference is saturated fat: Coffee mate French Vanilla lists 0 g per tablespoon and International Delight lists 0.5 g. Calories, total fat and added sugar are the same.

Both brands supply exactly 35 calories and 5 grams of added sugar in a single 15 mL tablespoon.

International Delight lists palm oil, while Coffee mate lists high oleic soybean and/or high oleic canola oil.

Nutrition and Ingredients: Side-by-Side Comparison Table

What is the difference between Coffee mate and International Delight ingredients? Coffee mate pairs high oleic soybean or canola oil with cellulose gel and cellulose gum, while International Delight pairs palm oil with sodium stearoyl lactylate and added salt.

Here is how their standard French Vanilla formulations compare per 1 tablespoon (15 mL) serving based on manufacturer listings and Open Food Facts records.

Feature	Coffee mate French Vanilla	International Delight French Vanilla
Calories	35 kcal	35 calories
Total Fat	1.5 g	1.5 g
Saturated Fat	0 g	0.5 g
Trans Fat	not listed	0 g
Sodium	5 mg	10 mg
Total Carbohydrate	not listed	5 g
Added Sugars	5 g	5 g (10% DV)
Primary Oil	High oleic soybean and/or high oleic canola	Palm oil
Milk Derivative	Sodium caseinate or micellar casein	Sodium caseinate
Emulsifiers	Mono- and diglycerides	Mono- and diglycerides, sodium stearoyl lactylate
Gums and carrageenan	Cellulose gel, cellulose gum, carrageenan	Carrageenan
Phosphate	Dipotassium phosphate	Dipotassium phosphate
Added Flavoring	Natural and artificial flavors	Natural & artificial flavors

Coffee mate figures come from its Open Food Facts listing, not the brand's own page. International Delight figures come from its product page.

Oil Sources: Palm Oil vs. High Oleic Canola and Soybean

Does International Delight have palm oil? Yes, International Delight French Vanilla lists palm oil as its third ingredient directly following water and sugar, and the creamer lists 0.5 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon.

International Delight's product page does not say where its palm oil comes from or whether it is certified.

In contrast, Coffee mate liquid creamer relies on high oleic soybean oil, high oleic canola oil, or a combination of both. Its Open Food Facts listing shows 0 grams of saturated fat per 15 mL serving.

Carrageenan, Gums, and Emulsifiers: How Their Additives Differ

Do Coffee mate and International Delight have carrageenan? Yes, both Coffee mate French Vanilla and International Delight French Vanilla list carrageenan in their sub-2-percent ingredient decks.

Beyond carrageenan, both creamers incorporate mono- and diglycerides, which are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) under FDA 21 CFR 184.1505. They also both include dipotassium phosphate, which FDA lists as GRAS under 21 CFR 182.6285 when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice.

Where their additive strategies diverge is in secondary texture agents:

• International Delight uses sodium stearoyl lactylate, a permitted food additive under FDA 21 CFR 172.846 produced by reacting stearic acid with lactic acid. It also lists salt.
• Coffee mate lists cellulose gel and cellulose gum, which International Delight does not.

Neither manufacturer discloses the exact milligram quantity of carrageenan per serving, nor do they specify the individual chemical constituents that make up their "natural and artificial flavors." To understand how non-digestible plant hydrocolloids compare across food categories, consider reading about Pectin: The Fruit Fiber in Friendly's Bars and Nature's Bakery as well as Acacia Gum (Gum Arabic): What It Is and Why FDA Calls It Fiber.

Are They Dairy-Free? Caseinate and the "Milk Derivative" Label

Are Coffee mate and International Delight dairy-free? No. Both list a caseinate milk derivative: International Delight lists sodium caseinate, and Coffee mate lists sodium caseinate or, on newer listings, micellar casein.

Under FDA regulation 21 CFR 101.4(d), when a packaged food characterized as "nondairy" contains a caseinate ingredient, that ingredient must be followed by a parenthetical such as "a milk derivative." Because both list a milk derivative, anyone avoiding milk protein should check either label.

International Delight's product page notes that its sodium caseinate is not a source of lactose. Older Coffee mate Open Food Facts listings show sodium caseinate, while newer listings show "micellar casein (a milk derivative)." The listings do not settle which one the current US bottle uses, so check the bottle you buy.

Sugar Content: How Sweet Are These French Vanilla Creamers?

How much sugar is in Coffee mate vs International Delight French Vanilla? Both list 5 grams of added sugars per 1 tablespoon (15 mL) serving; International Delight's label puts that at 10% of the Daily Value.

Carrageenan: What FDA and EFSA Say

Both labels list carrageenan, and EFSA's 2018 re-evaluation asked for more data on it.

Carrageenan is a refined hydrocolloid from red seaweed (Rhodophyceae) that FDA permits as an emulsifier, stabilizer or thickener under 21 CFR 172.620, in the amount necessary. In 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) re-evaluated carrageenan (E 407) and concluded that carrageenan is not absorbed intact and raised no concern for genotoxicity or carcinogenicity. EFSA also said that, because of uncertainties, the existing group Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 75 mg/kg body weight per day should be considered temporary pending better data within five years.