Compare total carbohydrate and sugars per 100ml before deciding between lower-fat almond drinks: a lower fat figure does not tell you how much carbohydrate a drink contains. Alpro UK lists 0g carbohydrate and sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, while Marks & Spencer lists less fat but 0.8g carbohydrate per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. If a short ingredient list matters more, Tesco Groceries lists three ingredients, 0.4g carbohydrate and 2.2g fat per 100ml for Plenish Organic Almond Drink; check the current carton and the amount you usually pour.
The useful comparison depends on whether you count carbohydrate, want to compare fat, or prefer a shorter ingredient list.
If you record carbohydrate as part of your diabetes care, the figure per 100ml and the amount you pour matter more than a low-fat claim. Diabetes UK explains that carbohydrate from drinks is included in carbohydrate counting.
For a drink used in cereal, tea, coffee or smoothies, compare fat and saturates alongside total carbohydrate and sugars. An unsweetened label does not make those figures identical across products.
A short ingredient list may be important to you, but it is a separate consideration from fat, carbohydrate and added nutrients. Compare the full label before choosing between a minimally formulated and a fortified drink.
Start with the nutrition figures per 100ml, then check ingredients and fortification against how you use the drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate and sugars | Read total carbohydrate and “of which sugars” per 100ml. Use the amount you actually pour when recording carbohydrate; do not treat “no added sugar” as a carbohydrate figure. | I count carbohydrate from drinks, so I need the number on the carton rather than a front-of-pack claim. Diabetes UK includes drinks in its carbohydrate-counting guidance. |
| Fat and saturates | Compare both figures per 100ml on the same basis. Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; Alpro UK lists 1.1g for Roasted Almond No Sugars, and Tesco Groceries lists 2.2g for Plenish Organic Almond Drink. | If fat is a deciding factor for me, I want to compare it after checking that the drink’s carbohydrate figure works for my usual portion. |
| Fortification | Check the exact carton for added calcium and any other nutrients. Marks & Spencer lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12 for its Unsweetened Almond Drink. | When I use a plant drink regularly instead of dairy milk, I want to know whether it is fortified. Diabetes UK advises checking plant-based milks for calcium fortification. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen declarations. Tesco Groceries lists water, 4% organic almonds and sea salt for Plenish Organic Almond Drink; the Food Standards Agency identifies almond as an allergen. | I may prefer a short ingredient list, but I still need to compare its nutrition figures. If I have an almond allergy, I must not choose an almond drink. |
| Amount used and storage | Check the pack size, your typical pour and the carton’s instructions for storage after opening. | I want a pack I can store and use as directed, and I need my carbohydrate calculation to reflect the quantity I drink. |
Lower fat does not necessarily mean lower carbohydrate. Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat and 0.8g carbohydrate per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; Alpro UK lists 1.1g fat and 0g carbohydrate for Roasted Almond No Sugars.
Compare carbohydrate, sugars, fat and saturates using the same per-100ml basis before deciding which difference matters to you.
Ingredients such as rice can contribute carbohydrate to a drink. Sainsbury’s lists 10g carbohydrate and 4.7g sugars per 100ml for Rude Health Almond Drink, whose ingredient list includes rice.
Use the numerical carbohydrate and sugars lines, then account for the amount you pour.
Fortification varies by product. Diabetes UK advises checking for calcium fortification when choosing a plant-based milk as a dairy-free alternative.
If you use almond drink regularly instead of dairy milk, read the exact carton’s ingredient and nutrition information rather than relying on the category name.
Ingredients and nutrition information can change, which matters particularly when you are checking carbohydrate or allergens.
Read the physical pack’s nutrition table, allergen declaration and storage instructions, especially when switching products or noticing a packaging change.
These figures describe the named drinks, not every almond drink made by each brand.
Alpro UK lists 0g carbohydrate, 0g sugars, 1.1g fat and 120mg calcium per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars.
Tesco Groceries lists water, 4% organic almonds and sea salt for Plenish Organic Almond Drink.
Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat, 0.8g carbohydrate and 0.2g sugars per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink, with added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
Sainsbury’s lists rice among the ingredients of Rude Health Almond Drink, alongside 10g carbohydrate and 4.7g sugars per 100ml.
This long-life Alpro multipack is an option for shoppers comparing almond drinks for everyday use. Check its own carton rather than applying the figures for a differently named Alpro product above.
No image available
If you count carbohydrate from drinks, check this carton’s carbohydrate and sugars per 100ml and account for the amount you pour. The listing is for eight 1L long-life cartons; check storage instructions and the almond allergen declaration on the pack.
No. Marks & Spencer lists less fat but more carbohydrate per 100ml for its Unsweetened Almond Drink than Alpro UK lists for Roasted Almond No Sugars. Diabetes UK advises accounting for carbohydrate from drinks, so compare both figures on the cartons.
No. Check total carbohydrate and “of which sugars” separately. Sainsbury’s lists rice in Rude Health Almond Drink and gives it 10g carbohydrate and 4.7g sugars per 100ml.
Alpro UK lists 0g carbohydrate and 0g sugars per 100ml for Roasted Almond No Sugars, compared with 0.4g carbohydrate for Plenish Organic Almond Drink at Tesco Groceries and 0.8g for M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink at Marks & Spencer. These are figures for those exact products, not for every drink under their brands.
Fortification differs between products. Diabetes UK advises checking for calcium fortification when choosing plant-based milk as a dairy-free alternative; read the exact carton for added nutrients rather than assuming all almond drinks have the same formulation.
No. Almond is an allergen, and the Food Standards Agency identifies food containing almond as a possible risk for someone with an almond allergy. Read the current pack’s allergen declaration before choosing a drink.