People packing cereal, coffee or smoothies for work
A long-life carton may be convenient to keep unopened at work. Before choosing a larger carton, check where you will refrigerate it after opening and how quickly you will use it.
Who is this for?
Shoppers comparing fat and sugars
Check the figures on the exact carton rather than relying on words such as “almond” or “organic”. Compare products on the same nutrition-panel basis: a value per 100 g is not directly interchangeable with one per 100 ml.
Vegans who use plant drinks regularly
If almond drink regularly replaces dairy, check whether it is fortified. NHS guidance on vegan diets advises including fortified dairy alternatives and identifies calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 as nutrients that can require attention.
What should you check?
Choose a carton by checking its nutrition panel, fortification and storage instructions against how you will use it at work.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat, energy and sugars | Read all three figures on the exact nutrition panel. Compare like-for-like units and note whether values are per 100 ml, per 100 g or per serving. | I want a lower-fat drink without assuming that “unsweetened” tells me its fat or energy content. I also want to see how much sugar the carton declares. |
| Added nutrients | Look for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on the ingredient or nutrition information. Check the exact variant, not just the brand. | If I regularly use almond drink instead of dairy, I want to know whether this carton is fortified. NHS guidance on vegan diets advises including fortified dairy alternatives. |
| Storage at work | Check whether unopened storage at work is permitted and follow the carton’s instructions after opening. Sainsbury's Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink and M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink both specify refrigeration and use within three days of opening. | A spare unopened carton would be useful at work, but I need a fridge and enough time to finish it once opened. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen statement for almonds and any precautionary warning about other nuts. Check again when buying for someone else. | I need to avoid almond drink altogether for someone with an almond allergy; “dairy-free” does not mean suitable for a nut allergy. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every almond drink is equally low in fat or sugars
Nutrition figures differ between the named products, and their panels do not always use the same unit. An organic or dairy-free description is not a substitute for the figures.
Read the full panel and compare values expressed on the same basis. Do not treat a per-100-g figure as a directly comparable per-100-ml figure.
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Assuming a short ingredient list means added nutrients
Fortification varies by product. This matters particularly when almond drink regularly replaces dairy in a vegan diet.
Check the exact carton for added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 rather than inferring fortification from its ingredients or organic description.
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Leaving an opened long-life carton at your desk
Long-life storage instructions apply before opening. The named Sainsbury's and M&S drinks require refrigeration after opening and use within three days.
Check for access to an office fridge before opening a full carton, and follow that carton’s stated storage period.
A carton you cannot refrigerate and finish within its stated period may go to waste.
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Equating dairy-free with allergy-safe
Almond drink contains almonds. Rude Health No Sugars Organic Almond Drink also carries a warning that it may contain traces of other nuts.
Do not choose almond drink for someone with an almond allergy. Check the current carton’s full allergen information when other nut allergies are relevant.
Brand and product-line references
These details concern the named drinks, not every almond drink made by each brand.
Alpro
Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink is a fortified, long-life option for shoppers checking fat and sugars as well as cupboard storage before opening.
- Sainsbury's lists 1.1 g fat and less than 0.1 g sugars per 100 ml for its named 1 L product, alongside calcium, iodine and vitamins B2, B12 and D.
- It contains almonds. Check the storage directions and nutrition panel on the carton you buy, particularly when selecting a multipack.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink is an own-label, fortified long-life option.
- Its product page lists 18 kcal, 1.4 g fat and less than 0.5 g sugars per 100 ml, plus calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- Once opened, the named drink must be refrigerated and used within three days. Other Sainsbury's variants may have different figures.
M&S
M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink is a fortified option whose nutrition panel uses a per-100-g basis.
- Marks & Spencer lists 14 kcal, 0.9 g fat and 0.2 g sugars per 100 g, with calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- Do not rank those figures directly against per-100-ml labels. Refrigerate the named drink after opening and consume it within three days.
Rude Health
Rude Health No Sugars Organic Almond Drink may interest shoppers who prefer its stated short ingredient list.
- Rude Health lists spring water, organic almonds, organic carob seed flour and sea salt, and says no sugar is added.
- Check the carton’s fat and fortification information before choosing it for those reasons. The brand warns that it may contain traces of other nuts.
Plenish
Plenish Almond M*lk is another option for shoppers whose starting point is a short ingredient list.
- Plenish states that this drink contains water, organic almonds and salt, with no oils, additives or added sugar.
- Check its nutrition and fortification panels if fat content or use as a regular dairy replacement will determine your choice.
Joybuy almond-drink option
This long-life Alpro multipack is an option for keeping unopened almond drink at work. An 8 × 1 L pack is worth considering alongside how much you will use after each carton is opened.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 × 1 L
The long-life format suits keeping unopened cartons at work where their label permits cupboard storage; plan for refrigeration once a carton is opened. The listed fat content is 1.1 g per 100 ml, and the named drink is listed with added calcium, iodine and vitamins B2, B12 and D. Check the current carton’s energy figure before comparing calories, and follow its after-opening instructions. Contains almonds.
Questions about almond drinks at work
Can I keep an unopened long-life almond drink at the office?
Yes, if that carton’s storage directions permit it. Sainsbury's Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink specifies cool, dry storage before opening; check the instructions on another variant rather than assuming it has the same requirements.
Can an opened carton stay in a desk drawer?
Not when its label requires refrigeration. The named Sainsbury's and M&S almond drinks must be refrigerated after opening and used within three days, so arrange fridge space and follow the instructions on your own carton.
Does “no added sugar” mean no sugars at all?
No. “No added sugar” describes what has been added, not necessarily a zero on the nutrition panel. Read the sugars figure on the exact drink: Sainsbury's lists less than 0.1 g per 100 ml for its named Alpro Almond No Sugars product.
Should I check fortification if I am vegan?
Yes, particularly if almond drink regularly replaces dairy in your diet. NHS guidance advises including fortified dairy alternatives and notes that calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 can require attention in a vegan diet; check which of these are listed on the carton.
Is almond drink suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
It is not suitable for someone with an almond allergy. Check the current ingredient and allergen statement for almonds and any warnings about other nuts; a dairy-free label does not answer those questions.