For a vegan, keto-oriented choice, compare unsweetened almond and soya drinks by total carbohydrate per 100ml and by the amount you will use; lactose-free dairy milk is still dairy, according to Arla UK. Tesco Groceries and Waitrose & Partners list Alpro almond and soya options respectively with 0g declared carbohydrate per 100ml, but the listed soya drink has more protein. If you follow a medically prescribed ketogenic diet, the drink and serving need to fit your individual clinical plan.
A plant-based drink meets the vegan requirement that lactose-free dairy does not. For a keto-oriented routine, compare total carbohydrate on an equal per-100ml basis, then consider the amount going into your tea, cereal or cooking.
Soya may be worth comparing with almond when the drink’s protein content matters. Waitrose & Partners lists Alpro No Sugar Soya at 3.3g protein per 100ml; Tesco Groceries lists Alpro Almond No Sugar at 0.5g per 100ml. Check the figures for the exact product you intend to buy.
If you avoid lactose but still consume dairy, lactose-free milk is a separate option. Arla UK makes clear that its lactose-free milk drinks remain dairy, so they do not meet a vegan requirement.
Consider it: If you want a vegan drink and protein is part of your comparison alongside carbohydrate.
Bear in mind: Soya is unsuitable if you need to avoid soya; check the total carbohydrate of the exact drink.
Consider it: If you prefer an almond drink and its carbohydrate and protein figures suit your intended use.
Bear in mind: The compared almond drinks declare less protein than the compared soya drinks and contain almond.
Consider it: If your aim is to avoid lactose while continuing to consume dairy.
Bear in mind: Arla UK confirms that lactose-free milk remains dairy, so it is not a vegan alternative.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan status | Check the ingredients and vegan claim on the current pack. A lactose-free dairy label does not mean dairy-free; check for a specific certification mark if you require one. | I need to avoid animal-derived dairy, not just lactose. Arla UK confirms that lactose-free milk drinks remain dairy. |
| Total carbohydrate | Compare total carbohydrate per 100ml, not just ‘unsweetened’ or ‘no sugars’ wording. Use the pack figure and your serving size when considering your own plan. | My usual portion matters as much as the per-100ml figure. Tesco Groceries lists Alpro Almond No Sugar at 0g carbohydrate per 100ml, and Waitrose & Partners lists Alpro No Sugar Soya at 0g per 100ml. |
| Protein and fortification | Read protein on the same stated quantity, then check the exact drink for added calcium, iodine and vitamins if those features matter to you. Fortification differs between products. | If this drink regularly replaces dairy for me, I want to compare more than carbohydrate. Waitrose & Partners lists Alpro No Sugar Soya at 3.3g protein per 100ml, against 0.5g per 100ml for Alpro Almond No Sugar on the Tesco Groceries listing. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen statements. Check for almond or soya as appropriate; a vegan claim is not an allergen-free claim. | I need allergen information that addresses the ingredient I must avoid. The Food and Drink Federation’s 2023 guidance says people with milk allergy should not rely on a vegan logo alone. |
Lactose-free dairy still comes from milk and does not meet a vegan requirement, as Arla UK explains.
If you are buying vegan, start with a plant-based drink and check its current ingredient and vegan information before comparing nutrition.
Unsweetened plant drinks can have different declared total-carbohydrate values, and the amount you pour changes the quantity in your serving.
Compare total carbohydrate per 100ml on the nutrition panel and apply the figure to your usual portion.
The compared retailer listings show different protein figures, while added vitamins and minerals depend on the individual drink.
Compare protein using the quantities stated on each label, and check fortification on the current pack if it matters to your choice.
The Food and Drink Federation’s 2023 guidance distinguishes vegan claims from allergen-free claims. Almond and soya drinks also contain their named plant ingredients.
For an allergy, use the current ingredient and allergen information and follow the advice relevant to that allergy rather than relying on a vegan logo.
Arla’s lactose-free dairy range is relevant if you avoid lactose but continue to consume dairy.
Tesco lists an own-label unsweetened almond drink suitable for vegans.
Sainsbury's lists both lactose-free dairy and plant-based almond and soya drinks in its lactose-free range.
M&S Plant Kitchen lists vegan unsweetened almond and soya drinks with separate nutrition information.
Waitrose lists unsweetened soya options, including its Essential drink and Alpro No Sugar Soya.
These Joybuy options are soya and almond drinks to consider when shopping for a vegan, keto-oriented milk alternative. Check the current pack for the nutrition, ingredients and any certification that matter to your choice.
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For a vegan, lower-carbohydrate choice, compare the current pack’s total carbohydrate per 100ml with the amount you will use. This is a long-life soya drink in an 8 x 1L pack; check the allergen information if you need to avoid soya.
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If you are considering this soya drink for a vegan, keto-oriented routine, check the exact variant’s total carbohydrate per 100ml, ingredients and serving size on the current pack. Check the allergen information if you need to avoid soya.
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This long-life almond drink offers an almond route to compare with soya for a vegan, keto-oriented purchase. The pack contains 8 x 1L; check its current carbohydrate and protein figures and avoid it if you need to avoid almond.
No: lactose-free cow’s milk remains dairy. Arla UK confirms that removing or breaking down lactose does not make a milk drink dairy-free. For a vegan purchase, check a plant-based drink’s ingredients and vegan claim on the current pack.
Choose by the exact drink’s total carbohydrate per 100ml and your serving, rather than assuming either plant base always has the same figure. Tesco Groceries lists Alpro Almond No Sugar at 0g carbohydrate per 100ml, and Waitrose & Partners lists Alpro No Sugar Soya at 0g per 100ml. Compare protein and allergens too if those affect your choice.
The compared soya listings declare more protein. Waitrose & Partners lists Alpro No Sugar Soya at 3.3g per 100ml, while Tesco Groceries lists Alpro Almond No Sugar at 0.5g per 100ml. These figures describe those products, so read the label for another variant.
No: a vegan claim is not an allergen-free claim. The Food and Drink Federation’s 2023 guidance says people with milk allergy should not rely on a vegan logo alone. Check the current ingredients, allergen statement and any relevant milk-free claim in line with the advice you have been given.
That decision needs to follow the individual clinical plan. Great Ormond Street Hospital describes ketogenic diet therapy as individually calculated; ask the clinical team or dietitian how a particular drink and serving fit that plan.