Cereal and porridge eaters checking fat
If low fat is the priority, compare the fat figure per 100ml rather than relying on ‘unsweetened’ on the front of the carton.
Who is choosing almond drink?
How often you use the drink—and what you expect it to contribute to breakfast—changes which label details matter most.
People regularly replacing dairy
Check each carton for added calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. The UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reports considerable variation in plant-drink nutrient content.
Shoppers prioritising simple organic ingredients
A short ingredient list may be the deciding factor, but it is a separate consideration from fortification. The UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities states that UK plant drinks labelled organic cannot be fortified with nutrients.
What matters on the carton?
Compare fat on the same measurement basis first, then check sugars and fortification according to how you use the drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | Find fat per 100ml. The legislation.gov.uk annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 limits a ‘low fat’ claim on liquids to no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml; do not treat a per-100g figure as the same measurement. | For weekday cereal or porridge, I want a fat figure I can compare directly between cartons. |
| Fortification | Look for calcium, iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D on the individual product label. The UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities notes that plant-drink nutrient content varies considerably and that UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified. | If I use almond drink instead of dairy most mornings, I need to know which nutrients this particular carton lists. |
| Sugars | Read ‘of which sugars’ per 100ml separately from fat. Alpro UK lists 0g for Almond Roasted No Sugars; Tesco Groceries lists 0.3g for Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink. | I want to compare declared sugars without assuming that ‘unsweetened’ also tells me the fat content. |
| Allergens and storage | Read the current ingredient and allergen statement, then follow that carton’s refrigeration and opened-use instructions. | With several breakfast drinks in the fridge, I need to know which carton is open and when it must be used. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘unsweetened’ means low fat
Sugar wording does not establish a drink’s fat content. The legislation.gov.uk annex sets the ‘low fat’ claim limit for liquids at no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml.
Check the fat row per 100ml even when the carton says ‘no sugars’, ‘unsweetened’ or ‘dairy-free’.
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Assuming every almond drink has the same fortification
The UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reports considerable variation in plant-drink nutrient content. Alpro UK and Tesco Groceries also each list 0.5g protein per 100ml for the specific drinks discussed here.
If almond drink regularly replaces dairy, check its listed calcium, iodine and vitamins, and consider the rest of the breakfast rather than judging it by fat alone.
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Expecting an organic drink to be fortified
Plenish lists organic almonds, spring water and salt for its Almond M*lk. A short ingredient list does not mean added nutrients: the UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities states that UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified.
Choose between ingredient simplicity and a drink with the fortification you are looking for by reading the individual carton.
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Overlooking allergens and opened-carton instructions
‘Dairy-free’ does not remove the need to check almond and other relevant allergen information. Storage instructions can also differ between products.
Read the current pack, refrigerate it as directed after opening and note the opening date if you keep several cartons.
Opening more cartons than you can use within their stated periods can mean discarding unused drink.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different label and ingredient choices; a brand name alone does not establish the fat or nutrient content of every drink it sells.
Alpro
Almond Roasted No Sugars 1L is a documented option for comparing fat and fortification on a per-100ml basis.
- Alpro UK lists 1.1g fat, 0g sugars, 120mg calcium and 22.5µg iodine per 100ml, alongside vitamins D and B12.
- This product contains almond, stabilisers, flavouring and emulsifier; Alpro UK lists 0.5g protein per 100ml.
Tesco
Unsweetened Almond Drink 1L is an own-label example with a per-100ml nutrition listing.
- Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g fat and 0.3g sugars per 100ml, with calcium, iodine and vitamins E, B12, B2 and D2.
- The listed drink contains almond, stabilisers and emulsifier, and provides 0.5g protein per 100ml.
M&S
Plant Kitchen Unsweetened Almond Drink lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
- Marks & Spencer states 0.9g fat and 0.2g sugars per 100g for this drink.
- Its stated per-100g fat figure cannot by itself establish whether it meets the per-100ml limit for a ‘low fat’ claim on liquids.
Rude Health
Its standard Almond Drink is an organic recipe that differs from the unsweetened drinks above.
- Rude Health lists spring water, organic rice, 1% organic Italian almonds, sunflower oil and salt for its standard Almond Drink.
- Check the nutrition panel of the exact Rude Health variant you intend to buy; the standard recipe’s ingredients do not establish its fat or sugars per 100ml.
Plenish
Almond M*lk is an organic option for shoppers focused on a short ingredient list.
- Plenish lists organic almonds, spring water and salt, and states that this product has no oils, gums, additives or added sugar.
- The UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities states that UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified. Check the carton’s per-100ml fat figure if low fat is also a requirement.
Sainsbury's
Unsweetened Almond Drink 1L is listed by Sainsbury's as a chilled almond drink.
- The 1L chilled format is an option to consider for a breakfast routine.
- Check the current carton for fat per 100ml, sugars, fortification and storage instructions before comparing it with other drinks.
Joybuy almond drink option
This Alpro No Sugars long-life multipack is an option for weekday breakfasts. Check the exact carton’s fat figure per 100ml and fortification if either determines your choice.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L
For a weekday breakfast routine, this long-life almond drink comes as eight 1L cartons. If a low-fat claim or specific added nutrients matter to you, compare the nutrition information on this exact pack rather than relying on figures for another Alpro almond drink.
Questions about breakfast almond drink
What does ‘low fat’ mean for an almond drink?
The legislation.gov.uk annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 sets a limit of no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml for a ‘low fat’ claim on liquids. Compare drinks using a per-100ml fat figure; do not assume a figure given only per 100g establishes the same result.
Is unsweetened almond drink automatically low fat?
No. ‘Unsweetened’ describes a different consideration from fat, so check both lines on the label. Alpro UK lists 1.1g fat per 100ml for Almond Roasted No Sugars, and Tesco Groceries lists the same figure for its Unsweetened Almond Drink; those figures, not the names, allow a fat comparison.
When should I check fortification?
Check it when almond drink regularly replaces dairy at breakfast. The UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reports that nutrient content varies considerably between plant drinks, so look at the individual carton for calcium, iodine and listed vitamins rather than assuming they are present. UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified with nutrients.
Can someone with a nut allergy assume an almond drink is suitable?
No. Almond is relevant to a nut allergy, and Marks & Spencer specifically states that its Unsweetened Almond Drink is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergy. Read the current product’s ingredients and allergen statement rather than relying on a dairy-free label.
How should I store an opened almond drink?
Follow the refrigeration and opened-use instructions on the individual carton. Note when you opened it if several drinks are in use, rather than applying another product’s storage period.