People using almond drink every day
If it goes into several coffees, cereal, porridge or smoothies, compare the label per 100ml and consider the total amount you pour. Vegan status does not tell you the energy content of those servings.
Who needs to check what?
Vegans replacing dairy drinks
When almond drink is a regular dairy substitute, check the exact carton for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine rather than assuming every almond drink is fortified alike.
Shoppers focused on ingredients or certification
A short ingredient list may meet an ingredient preference, while a recognised certification mark addresses independent vegan checks. Neither replaces reading the nutrition and allergen information.
What matters when choosing almond drink?
Start with the amount you actually use, then compare labels on the same measurement basis. Check fortification, ingredients and vegan status according to what matters for that purchase.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and sugars | Compare kcal and “of which sugars” per 100ml, then check the amount you pour. If labels use different bases, such as per 100ml and per 100g, do not treat their figures as directly interchangeable. | I use almond drink in several coffees or bowls of cereal and want to know what those pours add to my daily intake. |
| Fortification | Read the exact carton for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine. Check the amounts for the serving you expect to use. | When this regularly replaces dairy, I want to know which of those nutrients the particular drink provides. |
| Vegan certification | Distinguish a manufacturer’s vegan claim from a visible third-party mark. If certification matters, check the mark or the exact product under that scheme. | I want independent vegan certification rather than relying only on a vegan claim on the carton. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients, allergen statement and any precautionary allergen wording. Vegan labelling is not an allergen-safety check. | For an almond or nut allergy, I need allergen information before considering the drink, regardless of its vegan label. |
| Ingredients and use | Compare ingredient lists if rice, oil or a short formula matters to you. For coffee foam, check the specific barista product’s intended use and its own nutrition label. | Sometimes I want a simple ingredient list; for a cappuccino, foam may matter more. Neither preference tells me the drink’s kcal. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming vegan means lower-energy
Vegan status does not state the energy in the portion poured. The NHS explains weight loss in terms of overall energy intake and expenditure.
Compare kcal on the nutrition label and account for the almond drink used across coffees, cereal and smoothies.
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Assuming unsweetened drinks are fortified alike
Products can list different added nutrients, so an unsweetened name or short ingredient list does not establish what a regular dairy substitute provides.
Check calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on the exact carton.
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Reading “no added sugar” as zero sugars
Front-of-pack wording alone does not give the total sugars in the drink. Alpro UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, while Rude Health lists rice among the ingredients of its standard Almond Drink.
Compare the “of which sugars” figure on each product’s nutrition table using the same measurement basis.
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Using a vegan label to judge allergy safety
Almonds are nuts. The Food Standards Agency cautions that vegan labelling should not be used instead of allergen labelling.
If you have an almond or nut allergy, read the current allergen information and do not rely on a vegan claim or certification mark as a safety assurance.
Brand and product-line differences
Compare exact variants rather than treating an entire brand’s almond drinks as nutritionally identical.
Alpro
Alpro offers original, no-sugars and barista-style almond drinks.
- Alpro UK lists 14 kcal and 0g sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, alongside calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- If independent vegan certification is required, check the mark on the exact pack; a manufacturer vegan claim is not the same thing.
Rude Health
Its almond drinks include different ingredient formulations.
- Rude Health lists water and 5% organic Italian almonds for Pure Almond.
- Its standard Almond Drink also lists rice and sunflower oil. Check each variant’s nutrition table rather than applying one product’s details to another.
Plenish
Plenish offers a short-ingredient Almond M*lk and a separate barista variant.
- Plenish describes its standard Almond M*lk as almonds, water and salt, and describes Barista Almond M*lk as foamable.
- Choose between those variants by intended use, then check the exact carton’s energy, sugars and fortification.
Tesco
Tesco lists an own-label unsweetened almond drink with added nutrients.
- Tesco Groceries lists added calcium, potassium iodide, vitamin E, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin D2 for its Unsweetened Almond Drink.
- Check the current carton for its nutrition figures and any vegan claim relevant to your choice.
Sainsbury's
Its own-label Unsweetened Almond Drink has a published nutrition table.
- Sainsbury's lists 18 kcal and less than 0.5g sugars per 100ml, with calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
- If a vegan claim or independent certification is essential, check the exact carton before choosing it.
M&S
M&S offers both sweetened and unsweetened almond drinks.
- M&S lists its Unsweetened Almond Drink as vegan, with 14 kcal and 0.2g sugars per 100g.
- M&S states that this drink is not suitable for people with a nut allergy; read the current pack’s allergen information.
Joybuy almond drink option
This 8 x 1L no-sugars almond drink is an option for regular pours in coffee, cereal or smoothies. Check its exact carton when energy, fortification or independent vegan certification is decisive.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L
For coffee, cereal or smoothies, this drink is described as suitable for vegans and lists 0g sugars per 100ml, calcium and vitamins B2, B12 and D. Check the exact carton’s energy figure and iodine listing before making those comparisons, and look for a certification mark if independent vegan certification matters. Contains almonds.
Frequently asked questions
Does vegan almond milk help with weight loss?
Not automatically. The NHS explains that weight loss requires using more energy than you take in. Compare kcal on the carton and consider the amount you actually pour; vegan status does not establish a weight-loss benefit.
Is “no added sugar” the same as zero sugars?
No. Check “of which sugars” on the nutrition table. Alpro UK lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, but a no-added-sugar description on another drink does not itself establish a zero-sugars figure.
What should I check if almond drink regularly replaces dairy?
Check the exact carton for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine. The NHS advises people following a vegan diet to consider fortified dairy alternatives; nutrient listings vary by product.
Is a vegan label the same as independent vegan certification?
No. The Vegan Society says products applying for its Vegan Trademark are checked against the scheme’s standards, while GOV.UK notes that businesses do not have to follow that process to label food vegan. If certification matters, check the mark or the exact product under the scheme.
Does a vegan label mean an almond drink is safe for someone with a nut allergy?
No. Almonds are nuts, and the Food Standards Agency says vegan labelling is not a substitute for allergen labelling. Read the current ingredients, allergen statement and any precautionary wording; M&S states that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is not suitable for people with a nut or peanut allergy.