Start with the fat figure: the legislation.gov.uk annex sets a limit of 1.5 g fat per 100 ml for a low-fat claim on liquids. For a child aged 1 or over using an almond drink as a dairy alternative, NHS guidance favours an unsweetened, calcium-fortified option; Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust also highlights iodine when a child cannot consume dairy. A short ingredient list does not establish fortification, and almond drinks are unsuitable for anyone with an almond or nut allergy.
NHS guidance allows unsweetened, calcium-fortified milk alternatives from age 1. If a child cannot consume dairy, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust also advises checking for iodine fortification.
Check fat per 100 ml on the nutrition panel. The legislation.gov.uk annex sets 1.5 g fat per 100 ml as the limit for a low-fat claim on liquids.
An almond drink may be considered for cereal or a snack, but almonds are nuts, as classified by the Food Standards Agency. Do not serve one to someone with an almond or nut allergy.
Check fat on a comparable liquid basis first, then consider sugars and fortification in light of who will drink it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Read fat per 100 ml. The legislation.gov.uk annex sets a maximum of 1.5 g per 100 ml for a low-fat liquid claim. Do not treat a per-100-g figure as the same measurement without a comparable basis. | I want to compare drinks on the same basis, rather than rely on wording such as ‘no sugars’. |
| Fortification | For a child aged 1 or over, check for an unsweetened, calcium-fortified drink, as described by the NHS. If dairy is excluded, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust also advises checking for iodine. | If this drink will regularly take the place of dairy for my child, I need to consider its nutrients as well as its fat content. |
| Sugars | Compare sugars using the same nutrition-panel basis and read the ingredients for added sugars. M&S lists 0.2 g sugars per 100 g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink and 1.7 g per 100 g for its Sweetened Almond Drink. | For cereal or a school-holiday snack, I would compare unsweetened and sweetened versions separately, even if their fat figures look similar. |
| Allergens | Read the current allergen declaration and check any rules for the place where the snack will be served. The Food Standards Agency classifies almonds as nuts. | Where someone has an almond or nut allergy, I need a different type of drink altogether. |
Sugar and fat are different nutrition-panel entries. For liquids, the legislation.gov.uk annex gives 1.5 g fat per 100 ml as the condition for a low-fat claim.
Check fat per 100 ml first, then use the sugars entry for a separate comparison.
A simple almond recipe does not necessarily provide the added nutrients of a fortified dairy alternative. Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust highlights calcium and iodine when a child cannot consume dairy.
For a child aged 1 or over, check the current label for calcium and iodine rather than judging nutrient content by the number of ingredients.
M&S lists 0.9 g fat and 0.2 g sugars per 100 g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink, compared with 1.1 g fat and 1.7 g sugars per 100 g for its Sweetened Almond Drink. Those per-100-g fat figures should not be substituted for a per-100-ml low-fat check.
If limiting sweetness matters for the snack, compare the sugars figures and ingredients as well as fat on the current packs.
A drink’s nutrition figures cannot make almonds suitable for someone with an almond or nut allergy.
Choose a different drink where an allergy applies, and check the current label and any nut-free rules for the setting.
Compare individual variants, not brand names alone: ingredients, fortification and nutrition figures can differ within a range.
Its Unsweetened and Sweetened Almond Drinks provide a direct comparison on the same per-100-g label basis.
Tesco lists Almond No Sugar and Almond Original as distinct Alpro variants.
Its almond-drink range includes simple recipes and a chilled calcium-fortified variant.
Plenish lists almonds, spring water and salt for its Almond M*lk.
Tesco lists an own-label Unsweetened Almond Drink alongside branded options.
This long-life, no-sugars almond drink is an option to consider for cereal or other school-holiday snacks. Check the current pack’s fat, fortification and allergen information against the needs above.
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Consider this long-life almond drink for cereal or a snack. The pack contains 8 x 1 L; check fat per 100 ml and the current calcium, iodine and allergen declarations before choosing it as a dairy alternative for a child.
For a low-fat claim on a liquid, the legislation.gov.uk annex specifies no more than 1.5 g fat per 100 ml. Read the fat figure on that basis; ‘no sugars’, an organic label or a short ingredient list does not answer the fat question.
NHS guidance says children aged 1 and over can have an unsweetened, calcium-fortified milk alternative as part of a balanced diet. Almond drinks should not replace infant milk feeds for babies under 1; check the child’s age and the exact drink before serving it.
No. A short ingredient list does not establish added calcium or iodine. When a child cannot consume dairy, Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust advises using dairy substitutes fortified with both, so check the individual drink’s label.
Do not serve an almond drink to someone with an almond or nut allergy: the Food Standards Agency classifies almonds as nuts. Check the current allergen label and follow the rules of the school, club or other setting before bringing a snack.