Who is this for?

Shoppers comparing fat content

You want an almond drink for a low-fat diet and need to compare the fat figure per 100 ml, rather than relying on words such as ‘unsweetened’.

Households used to buying four pints

You buy around 2.27 L at a time and need to decide whether individual 1 L cartons or a larger multipack fit your storage space and rate of use.

Shoppers checking ingredients and labels

You use almond drink in cereal, smoothies or hot drinks and also need to consider added nutrients, allergen warnings and instructions for an opened carton.

What should you check?

Compare fat on the same per-100 ml basis first, then choose a pack size and check the label details that matter in your household.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fat content Read fat per 100 ml. The annex published by legislation.gov.uk sets the low-fat liquid claim threshold at no more than 1.5 g per 100 ml; check sugars separately. I want to compare drinks on their fat content, without assuming that ‘no sugars’ also means low fat.
Pack size Check whether the stated volume is for one carton or the whole pack. An 8 × 1 L multipack is different from one four-pint carton of about 2.27 L. A four-pint shop is my usual routine, but I need a quantity I can store and use.
Added nutrients Compare the exact carton’s ingredient and nutrition panels for calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12. Listed additions differ between the products described below. If almond drink is replacing dairy milk in my routine, I want to know what the particular drink contains.
Allergens and age wording Read the carton’s almond and other nut warnings. Check any product-specific wording about use by young children. Someone in my household may need an allergen check, or I may be buying for a young child.
After opening Check refrigeration and use-within instructions for the exact product, particularly when buying several cartons. I would rather choose a pack quantity that fits how quickly we finish an opened carton.

Common buying mistakes

  • Treating ‘no sugars’ as a low-fat claim

    Sugar and fat are separate label figures. Sainsbury’s lists 2.2 g fat per 100 ml for the checked Plenish organic almond drink, despite its short ingredient list and no-added-sugar description.

    Compare fat per 100 ml first if low fat is your deciding condition; then check sugars on the same product.

  • Assuming a four-pint dairy carton has an almond equivalent

    A 1 L carton and an 8 × 1 L multipack solve different shopping needs from a single four-pint carton. Buying several cartons also changes how much unopened product you need to store.

    Read both the carton volume and the number of cartons before choosing a pack.

  • Assuming all almond drinks have the same added nutrients

    Alpro, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S list added nutrients on the products described here, while the checked Plenish ingredient list contains spring water, almonds and sea salt.

    If particular nutrients matter to your choice, compare the current ingredient and nutrition panels rather than the almond percentage alone.

  • Skipping carton-specific warnings

    Allergen statements, opened-carton instructions and age wording can affect whether a drink fits your household. Sainsbury’s, for example, says its unsweetened drink is not a main milk alternative for children under three.

    Read those statements on the carton you intend to buy, and check that you can use an opened carton within its stated period.

Almond-drink brand references

Alpro

Alpro lists Original and No Sugars almond drinks in 1 L formats; its No Sugars drink also appears in an 8 × 1 L Joybuy listing.

  • Alpro UK lists 1.1 g fat and 0 g sugars per 100 ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars.
  • Alpro UK lists the same 1.1 g fat but 2.4 g sugars per 100 ml for Almond Original, so check which version you have selected.

Tesco

Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is a 1 L own-label carton.

  • Tesco lists 1.1 g fat and 0.3 g sugars per 100 ml, along with added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
  • A 1 L carton is not a single four-pint carton; check the quantity needed for your shop.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s Unsweetened Almond Drink is a chilled 1 L own-label option.

  • Sainsbury’s lists 1.4 g fat per 100 ml and added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
  • Its product instructions say to refrigerate after opening and use within three days; it is not a main milk alternative for children under three.

M&S

M&S Plant Kitchen Unsweetened Almond Drink is listed in a 1 L format for uses including cereal and smoothies.

  • M&S reports 0.9 g fat and 0.2 g sugars per 100 g, plus added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
  • Its figures are stated per 100 g, not per 100 ml. M&S also warns that the drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.

Plenish

Plenish Organic Almond Drink is listed as a 1 L carton and an 8 × 1 L multipack, with a short ingredient list.

  • The 1 L listing gives spring water, 4% organic almonds and sea salt as its ingredients.
  • Sainsbury’s lists 2.2 g fat per 100 ml for that 1 L product, above the low-fat liquid threshold stated in the annex published by legislation.gov.uk.

Rude Health

Rude Health lists almond-drink variants with differing short ingredient lists.

  • Its No Sugars Organic Almond Drink lists spring water, organic almonds, organic carob seed flour and sea salt; Pure Almond lists water and organic Italian almonds.
  • Choose using the nutrition panel for the exact variant if its fat per 100 ml is central to your decision; the ingredient list alone cannot answer that question.

Almond drink on Joybuy

This Alpro multipack is an option for stocking up on almond drink in 1 L cartons, rather than replacing a single four-pint carton.

Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 × 1 L

Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 × 1 L

The 8 × 1 L pack offers separate long-life cartons for a larger shop, but it is not a single four-pint carton. If fat content is your deciding factor, compare the current pack’s per-100 ml nutrition panel with the low-fat liquid threshold.

View on Joybuy

Questions about almond drink

What fat figure should I check on an almond drink?

Check fat per 100 ml. For UK shoppers comparing low-fat claims, the annex published by legislation.gov.uk states a threshold of no more than 1.5 g fat per 100 ml for liquids; ‘unsweetened’ does not tell you the fat figure.

Is an 8 × 1 L pack the same as a four-pint carton?

No. It contains eight separate 1 L cartons, whereas four pints is about 2.27 L in one carton. Check both the total quantity and the individual carton size when planning your shop.

Does no added sugar mean an almond drink is low in fat?

No. Sainsbury’s lists 2.2 g fat per 100 ml for the checked Plenish organic almond drink, whose listed ingredients contain no added sugar. Compare the fat and sugar figures separately.

How long can I keep an almond drink after opening?

Follow the instructions on the exact carton. Sainsbury’s says to refrigerate its unsweetened almond drink and use it within three days of opening; the checked Plenish product specifies refrigeration and use within four days.

What should I check when buying for someone with an allergy or a young child?

Read the exact product’s allergen and age statements before purchase. M&S warns that its unsweetened almond drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy; Sainsbury’s says its unsweetened drink is not a main milk alternative for children under three. Those age instructions should not be assumed to apply to every brand.