For a regular dairy alternative, start by comparing unsweetened long-life cartons that list calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12; Sainsbury's and M&S each list those nutrients for specific almond drinks. If a short organic ingredient list matters more to you, consider that route instead, but check the exact carton's nutrient panel and after-opening instructions before buying.
If you want a carton for cereal, drinks and occasional cooking, check its intended uses and nutrient panel as well as whether it can be stored unopened in a cupboard. Long-life storage does not remove the need to refrigerate it after opening.
Look at the ingredients and the 'of which sugars' figure per 100ml on each product. An original recipe, a no-added-sugar recipe and a no-sugars product need not have the same sugar content.
Check whether the drink is intended as an ingredient or as a child's main milk drink. North East London NHS Foundation Trust says plant-based drinks should not replace breast milk or formula as the main drink before a child is one year old; check the chosen carton for any further age restriction.
Choose a recipe that fits how you will use the drink, then compare its nutrient panel, sugar figure and storage instructions on the exact carton.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrients | For a regular dairy alternative, check whether calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12 are listed on the exact pack. Sainsbury's and M&S list these for their respective unsweetened drinks; an organic recipe alone does not establish fortification. | I'm planning to use almond drink regularly, so I want to know which nutrients this carton actually lists. |
| Sugar and recipe | Compare 'of which sugars' per 100ml and read the ingredients. Alpro Almond Original lists sugar as an ingredient, while Rude Health's almond-and-rice recipe is described as having no added sugar; the Joybuy Rude Health listing reports 4.7g sugars per 100ml. | If I want an unsweetened drink, I'll check the nutrition panel rather than assume 'no added sugar' means no sugars. |
| Storage and pack size | Confirm unopened storage instructions, carton count and the refrigeration and use period after opening. M&S specifies three days after opening for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; the Joybuy Rude Health listing specifies five days for its product. | Will I finish an opened carton in time, especially if I'm considering a multipack for a one-person household? |
| Allergens and age | Read the current ingredient and allergen statements, including cross-contact warnings. For a young child, check age-specific guidance before treating any plant drink as their main milk drink. | Someone in my household has a nut allergy, or I'm choosing a drink for a child, so the exact pack and its intended use matter. |
Sainsbury's lists added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12 for its Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink. Plenish describes its Almond M*lk by its three-ingredient recipe; that description is not a substitute for checking its nutrient panel.
If it will be your regular dairy alternative, compare the nutrients printed on each carton rather than choosing by the words 'almond' or 'organic' alone.
Long-life cartons still have product-specific instructions once opened. M&S says to refrigerate its Unsweetened Almond Drink and consume it within three days; the Joybuy Rude Health listing specifies five days for its drink.
Before buying several cartons, consider how quickly your household will use each opened one and follow its own label.
An opened carton that cannot be finished within its stated period may go to waste.
Rude Health's almond drink contains rice, and its Joybuy listing reports 4.7g sugars per 100ml despite the brand's no-added-sugar description.
Compare the 'of which sugars' figure per 100ml when sugar level is part of your choice.
Almond is a tree nut. Cross-contact statements can also differ between products, and a carton sold for general use is not automatically suitable as a young child's main milk drink.
Check each pack's allergen and age wording. North East London NHS Foundation Trust advises against replacing breast milk or formula with a plant drink as the main drink before age one; seek appropriate professional advice for a child with an allergy or restricted diet.
These are references for comparing particular recipes and labels, not a claim that every product from a brand has the same ingredients or nutrients.
Its almond-drink range includes original and no-sugars recipes, so the variant name matters.
Its Almond Drink uses an organic almond-and-rice recipe.
Its Almond M*lk is an organic option centred on a short ingredient list.
Its own-label Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink is a single 1L UHT carton.
Tesco lists own-label almond drink alongside branded long-life choices.
Its Unsweetened Almond Drink is another fortified option to compare by the carton.
This Alpro multipack is a cupboard-stored, no-sugars option to compare with single-carton choices for a first shop. Its eight-carton format is worth considering separately from the drink's recipe.
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This UHT multipack suits a household that wants a no-sugars almond drink for uses such as cereal, tea or coffee and expects to use eight cartons. Its product description lists 0.0g sugars per 100ml, calcium and vitamins B2, B12 and D; check the pack for iodine if that nutrient matters to you. Store unopened cartons as directed, then refrigerate an opened carton and use it within five days. It contains almond.
It can if you want a carton you can store unopened as its label directs and its recipe and nutrient panel suit your intended use. Once opened, refrigerate it and follow that product's instructions: M&S specifies three days for its Unsweetened Almond Drink, while the Joybuy Rude Health listing specifies five days for its drink.
No. Compare ingredients and 'of which sugars' per 100ml on the exact product. Alpro Almond Original lists sugar as an ingredient; Rude Health describes its almond-and-rice drink as having no added sugar, while its Joybuy listing reports 4.7g sugars per 100ml.
Not before age one: North East London NHS Foundation Trust says plant-based drinks should not replace breast milk or formula as the main drink before then, although they can be used in weaning foods from six months. Check product-specific age advice too; Sainsbury's states that its Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink is unsuitable as a main milk alternative for children under three.
Almond drink is not suitable for someone with an almond allergy because it contains almond, a tree nut. Read the exact pack for other allergen and cross-contact warnings: Sainsbury's warns about other nuts for its own-label drink, while M&S states that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for nut and peanut allergy.