Who is choosing almond milk?

Adults replacing dairy milk at lunch

If almond drink goes into your cereal, coffee or smoothie, compare its nutrient label with what you want from a regular dairy alternative. Almond drinks do not all list the same fortification.

Shoppers comparing sugars

An original and a no-sugars version can have different sugar values. Check the same per-100ml measure on each carton rather than relying on the flavour name alone.

Ingredient-list-focused shoppers

A short ingredient list or organic ingredients may be your priority. Check the nutrition panel as well if you also want the drink to contribute calcium, iodine or vitamins.

What should you check?

Start with the role the drink will play in your lunch, then compare the carton labels on the measures that matter for that use.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fortification Look for calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12 on the individual carton. The UK SACN/COT assessment says nutrient content varies considerably between plant-based drinks. I use almond drink regularly instead of dairy and want to know which nutrients this particular carton provides.
Sugars Compare sugars per 100ml. Alpro UK lists 0g per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars and 2.4g per 100ml for Almond Original. I prefer a no-sugars version with lunch, or I am happy with an original version once I have checked its label.
Lunch protein Check protein per 100ml and consider the rest of the meal. Alpro UK lists 0.5g per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars; NHS guidance includes beans, pulses and other protein foods in a balanced vegan diet. If almond drink is going into my lunch, I will choose the meal’s protein food separately rather than treating the drink as that component.
Ingredients Read the ingredient list for the formulation you want. Plenish describes its almond drink as almonds, spring water and salt; Rude Health lists rice, almonds, sunflower oil and salt alongside water in its Almond Drink. A short ingredient list matters to me, but I also want to check whether the drink has the fortification I am looking for.
Allergens Check the current allergen statement on each carton. The Food Standards Agency classifies almonds as tree nuts; Marks & Spencer marks its Unsweetened Almond Drink as unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy. I am buying for someone with an allergy and need to check the exact product, including any precautionary wording.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming every almond drink has the same nutrients

    Fortification varies between plant-based drinks, according to the UK SACN/COT assessment. A familiar category name does not tell you whether a particular carton lists calcium, iodine or vitamins.

    Read the nutrition panel when switching brands or formulations, particularly if the drink regularly replaces dairy.

  • Counting the drink as lunch’s protein food

    Alpro UK lists 0.5g protein per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, and Marks & Spencer lists 0.5g per 100g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. Neither figure should be mistaken for the protein content of the whole meal.

    Choose a separate protein food for lunch, such as beans, lentils, tofu, eggs or fish, according to what you eat.

  • Equating organic ingredients with fortification

    A preference for organic ingredients does not establish which nutrients an almond drink provides. The UK SACN/COT assessment notes a fortification restriction for plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK.

    Choose the formulation you prefer, then check its nutrient panel and consider where else those nutrients feature in your diet.

  • Overlooking the product’s allergy warning

    Almonds are tree nuts. Warnings can also differ by product: Marks & Spencer says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.

    Do not choose almond drink for someone with an almond allergy. Check the exact carton’s allergen and precautionary statements when buying for anyone with another relevant allergy.

Brand and product-line references

These examples show how formulations differ; a brand name alone does not establish the ingredients or nutrient values of every product in its range.

Alpro

Its Almond Original and Roasted Almond No Sugars give shoppers two labelled sugar profiles to compare.

  • Alpro UK lists 0g sugars and 120mg calcium per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars; Almond Original lists 2.4g sugars and 120mg calcium per 100ml.
  • The same Alpro UK labels list 0.5g and 0.4g protein per 100ml respectively, so plan the meal’s protein food separately.

M&S

Its Unsweetened Almond Drink is an own-label option with added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12 listed by Marks & Spencer.

  • Marks & Spencer lists 0.2g sugars and 0.5g protein per 100g for this product.
  • Marks & Spencer marks it unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy; check the current carton before buying.

Plenish

Plenish describes its almond drink as containing almonds, spring water and salt, with no added sugar.

  • The three-ingredient formulation may appeal if a short ingredient list is your main selection criterion.
  • If you also want calcium, iodine or vitamins from the drink, check its nutrient panel rather than inferring fortification from the ingredient list.

Rude Health

Rude Health lists organic rice and organic Italian almonds among the ingredients of its Almond Drink.

  • Its published ingredient list also includes spring water, cold-pressed sunflower oil and sea salt, making the formulation clear to compare.
  • Check the carton’s sugars and nutrient panel if either matters to your lunch choice; the ingredient list alone cannot answer those questions.

Almond drink options on Joybuy

This long-life No Sugars almond drink is an option to consider if you want that formulation with lunch; check its current carton for the nutrient details important to you.

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

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

If you want a No Sugars almond drink for lunch, this is an 8 x 1L long-life pack. Check the current carton for calcium, iodine and vitamin amounts if you are relying on the drink for those nutrients, and choose the meal’s protein food separately. Contains almond.

View on Joybuy

Questions about almond milk at lunch

Does almond milk provide the protein part of lunch?

Do not assume it does. Alpro UK lists 0.5g protein per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, while Marks & Spencer lists 0.5g per 100g for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. Choose a separate protein food for the meal; NHS vegan-diet guidance includes beans, pulses and other proteins.

When should I check for fortified almond drink?

Check fortification if almond drink regularly replaces dairy in your diet. Compare individual labels for calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12: the UK SACN/COT assessment says the nutrient content of plant-based drinks varies considerably.

What changes if I choose an organic almond drink?

Choose it for the formulation you prefer, but check how you will obtain the nutrients you want from the rest of your diet. The UK SACN/COT assessment states that plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be fortified with nutrients.

Is almond drink suitable for someone with an almond allergy?

No: almond is a tree nut, according to the Food Standards Agency. Check the exact product’s warning for other relevant allergies too; Marks & Spencer marks its Unsweetened Almond Drink as unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.