Shoppers comparing fat figures
If you use almond drink in cereal, smoothies or on its own, compare total fat on the nutrition panel. Check whether each figure is stated per 100g or per 100ml before treating two labels as directly comparable.
Who is this choice for?
People replacing dairy regularly
If almond drink is a regular dairy alternative for you, check its added calcium, iodine and vitamins rather than assuming every recipe contains the same nutrients. The NHS advises people following a vegan diet to consider fortified dairy alternatives.
Ingredient-led shoppers
If an organic recipe or short ingredient list matters more to you, compare those features separately from fat, sugars and fortification. Plenish lists three ingredients, but its stated fat figure is 2.2g per 100ml.
What should you compare?
Start with the per-100g or per-100ml nutrition figures, then check ingredients, added nutrients and instructions for the way you will use the drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat | Read total fat and saturates, noting whether the serving basis is 100g or 100ml. Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat per 100g for its unsweetened drink; Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g per 100ml for both Alpro Almond No Sugar and Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink. | I'm choosing primarily by fat content, so I want to compare labels on a consistent basis rather than rely on the words ‘plant-based’ or ‘premium’. |
| Sugars | Compare the sugars line, not just a ‘no added sugar’ claim. Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Alpro Almond No Sugar and 4.7g per 100ml for Rude Health Organic Almond Drink, whose recipe includes rice. | Zero sugars matter to me as well as the fat figure; I don't want to assume that ‘no added sugar’ means 0g sugars. |
| Added nutrients | Check the current carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Marks & Spencer lists these additions for its unsweetened drink; Tesco Groceries lists them for Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink. | If I use almond drink regularly instead of dairy, I want to know which nutrients this particular carton lists. The NHS advises considering fortified dairy alternatives in a vegan diet. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient list and stated almond proportion. Tesco Groceries lists spring water, 4% organic almonds and sea salt for Plenish; it also lists 2.2g fat per 100ml for that drink. | A short organic recipe may be my priority, but I still want to check its nutrition figures and whether the carton lists added nutrients. |
| Allergens | Check for almonds and any peanut or other-nut warnings on the exact carton. Marks & Spencer says its unsweetened almond drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergies. | Someone drinking it has a nut or peanut allergy, so the full current allergen statement is essential to my choice. |
| Intended use | Check the carton's hot-drink directions, storage instructions and period for use after opening. Choose a pack size that fits how quickly you will use each opened carton. | I mainly want almond drink for coffee, or I use it slowly, so preparation and opened-carton instructions matter alongside the nutrition label. |
What can the label overlook?
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘zero sugars’
A recipe can contain sugars without added sugar. Tesco Groceries lists 4.7g sugars per 100ml for Rude Health Organic Almond Drink, which contains rice, compared with 0g per 100ml for Alpro Almond No Sugar.
Check sugars per 100ml alongside fat before choosing between cartons.
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Assuming organic means lower fat or fortified
Tesco Groceries lists three ingredients and 2.2g fat per 100ml for Plenish Organic Almond Milk. Its displayed ingredient list does not include added calcium, iodine or vitamins.
Choose a short recipe if that is your priority, but check fat and added nutrients separately when those matter to you.
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Overlooking nut warnings
Almond drinks contain almonds. The Food Standards Agency identifies almond as an allergen, and individual cartons can carry additional peanut or other-nut warnings.
Do not choose an almond drink for someone allergic to almonds; check the exact carton for any other relevant allergy warnings.
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Choosing for coffee without checking the instructions
A fat figure does not tell you how a drink should be prepared for a hot beverage or how long an opened carton can be kept.
Follow the carton's hot-drink and refrigeration directions, and consider whether you will finish an opened carton within its stated period.
Relevant brand references
These figures describe the named drinks, not every product made by each brand.
M&S
M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink combines a listed fat figure of 0.9g per 100g with added calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12, according to Marks & Spencer.
- The same label lists 0.2g sugars per 100g.
- Marks & Spencer says this drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergies.
Alpro
For Alpro Almond No Sugar, Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g fat, 0.1g saturates and 0g sugars per 100ml.
- The product listing also identifies added calcium, iodine and vitamins.
- It contains almonds; check the current carton for its full allergen statement.
Tesco
Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink is an own-label option listing 1.1g fat and 0.3g sugars per 100ml, according to Tesco Groceries.
- Its listing includes vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine.
- It contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Plenish
Tesco Groceries lists spring water, 4% organic almonds and sea salt for Plenish Organic Almond Milk.
- The listed recipe has three ingredients.
- The listing states 2.2g fat per 100ml, and its displayed ingredient list does not include added calcium, iodine or vitamins.
Rude Health
Rude Health Organic Almond Drink has an almond-and-rice recipe, according to Tesco Groceries.
- Its listed ingredients include organic rice and organic Italian almonds.
- The listing states 1.5g fat and 4.7g sugars per 100ml, so compare the nutrition panel if either figure drives your choice.
Joybuy almond-drink options
This Alpro option is for shoppers seeking an almond drink with a listed low fat figure and zero sugars; its 8 x 1L pack also makes opened-carton storage worth considering.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L
For a choice focused on fat and sugars, this drink lists 1.1g fat, 0.1g saturates and 0g sugars per 100ml, as well as calcium and vitamins B2, B12 and D. It contains almonds; refrigerate each carton after opening and use it within five days.
Common questions
Which almond drink should I check first if fat is my priority?
Check the nutrition basis before comparing cartons: Marks & Spencer lists 0.9g fat per 100g for M&S Unsweetened Almond Drink, while Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g per 100ml for Alpro Almond No Sugar and Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink. These different per-100g and per-100ml figures do not, on their own, establish a like-for-like order.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean an almond drink has no sugars?
No. Read the sugars figure: Tesco Groceries lists 0g per 100ml for Alpro Almond No Sugar, but 4.7g per 100ml for Rude Health Organic Almond Drink, whose recipe includes rice.
Are almond drinks equally fortified?
No. The NHS advises considering fortified dairy alternatives in a vegan diet, so check the specific carton for added nutrients. Marks & Spencer lists calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 for its unsweetened almond drink; the displayed three-ingredient Plenish recipe does not list those additions.
Is almond drink suitable for someone with an almond allergy?
No. The Food Standards Agency identifies almond as an allergen that may pose a risk to someone allergic to it. Check each drink's full label for additional peanut or other-nut warnings.
Can a young child use almond drink as their main dairy alternative?
Do not assume that an almond drink is suitable for that purpose. Sainsbury's says its Unsweetened Almond Drink is not suitable as a main milk alternative for children under 3, and the Almond Breeze listing at Tesco says that product is not suitable as a dairy alternative for children under 3. Seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional or dietitian about a child's specific needs.