Hosts checking fat content
If an almond drink needs to meet the UK low-fat criterion, you need a fat figure per 100ml on the carton. Sugar wording is not a substitute for that check, particularly when choosing an ingredient for a Christmas recipe.
Who is this choice for?
Hosts serving guests with different dietary needs
An almond drink can be an alternative to dairy, but it contains a tree nut. Check each guest’s allergies and the exact carton’s allergen information before adding it to a shared dish.
Cooks choosing a drink for baking
If the drink is going into a Christmas bake or dessert, look for a stated baking use and check the recipe separately. Plenish Drinks lists baking as a use for its Almond M*lk; that description does not establish its fat content or the result in a particular recipe.
What to check before choosing
Check the fat figure first if low-fat labelling matters, then consider the guests, the recipe and when you will open the carton.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Read fat per 100ml on the current carton. GOV.UK states that a liquid making a low-fat claim must contain no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml; “no sugars” does not answer that question. | I want to know whether the drink meets the low-fat criterion before using it in a Christmas dish. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen statement for the exact drink. GOV.UK lists almonds among the tree nuts that food businesses must declare as allergens; check product-specific warnings too. | Guests may need a dairy alternative, but an almond drink is not suitable for someone allergic to almonds. |
| Recipe use | Look for a stated use that matches your dish, then consider the recipe’s flavour and texture requirements. Plenish Drinks lists baking as a use for Almond M*lk, but that is not a guarantee for every bake or sauce. | For a dessert or savoury dish, I need the drink to work in that particular recipe, not just meet a nutrition criterion. |
| Fortification | Check the nutrient list on the exact carton if the drink will regularly replace dairy. Marks & Spencer lists added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. | If I plan to use it beyond one Christmas recipe, I want to know what has been added to the drink. |
| Opened-carton storage | Check refrigeration and use-by-after-opening instructions before planning quantities. Marks & Spencer says to keep its Unsweetened Almond Drink at 0°C to +5°C and consume it within three days of opening. | I may open the carton while preparing dinner and want to plan how much I will use afterwards. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming “unsweetened” means low fat
Sugar wording does not give the fat content. For a UK liquid low-fat claim, GOV.UK specifies no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml.
Check fat per 100ml on the current nutrition label rather than deciding from the front of the carton.
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Serving almond drink to every dairy-free guest
Almonds are tree nuts, so avoiding dairy does not make an almond-based dish suitable for a guest with an almond allergy. Marks & Spencer also warns that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.
Ask guests about allergies, check the full allergen statement and choose a suitable alternative where necessary.
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Opening a carton too far ahead
Storage instructions change how far ahead you can prepare a dish or use what remains. Marks & Spencer instructs customers to consume its Unsweetened Almond Drink within three days of opening.
Plan the quantity you need and follow the exact carton’s refrigeration and opened-life instructions.
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Expecting the fat figure to predict cooking results
Fat content does not establish how an almond drink will taste or behave in a particular gravy, bake or dessert.
Check the intended use and follow a recipe written for almond drink, or try the drink in the dish before relying on it for Christmas dinner.
Almond drink brands and product lines
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 for its Unsweetened Almond Drink.
- Its stated fat content is 0.9g per 100g. That figure uses a different basis from the UK liquid low-fat criterion of 1.5g per 100ml, so check the carton for a comparable per-100ml figure before making that judgement.
- M&S says this drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.
Tesco
Tesco lists an own-label Unsweetened Almond Drink with added nutrients.
- Tesco lists added calcium, potassium iodide, vitamin E, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin D2 for this drink.
- Check the current carton’s fat figure per 100ml if meeting the low-fat criterion is essential.
Rude Health
Rude Health’s No Sugars Organic Almond Drink is an option for shoppers looking at ingredients as well as sugar wording.
- Rude Health lists spring water, 3% organic almonds, organic carob seed flour and sea salt, and says it adds no sugar.
- “No Sugars” does not establish low-fat status. Rude Health also warns that the drink may contain traces of other nuts.
Plenish
Plenish Drinks lists baking among the uses for its Almond M*lk.
- The listed ingredients are water, organic almonds and salt; Plenish Drinks also says the product has no added sugar, oils or additives.
- Check fat per 100ml on the current carton if you need it to meet the UK low-fat criterion.
Almond drink option on Joybuy
This almond drink is an option to consider for Christmas meal preparation. Check its current nutrition and allergen labels against your requirements, and make sure it suits the dish you intend to make.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L
For a Christmas recipe, check this almond drink’s fat content per 100ml, the full allergen label and its suitability for the dish. The listed pack contains 8 x 1L cartons.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a low-fat almond drink in the UK?
GOV.UK states that a liquid making a low-fat claim must contain no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml. Check the exact carton’s fat figure on that basis; “unsweetened” and “no sugars” describe sugar, not fat.
Can I serve almond drink to a guest with a nut allergy?
Do not serve an almond-based drink to someone allergic to almonds. Check the guest’s needs and the full product warning: Marks & Spencer says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy, while Rude Health warns that its No Sugars Organic Almond Drink may contain traces of other nuts.
Which almond drink is described for baking?
Plenish Drinks lists baking as a use for Almond M*lk. Check the recipe for the result you need and read the carton’s fat figure per 100ml separately if low-fat status matters.
How long can I keep an opened almond drink?
Follow the instructions on the exact carton. Marks & Spencer says to refrigerate its Unsweetened Almond Drink at 0°C to +5°C after opening and consume it within three days.