Smaller households comparing fat labels
If a carton is used regularly for cereal, drinks or cooking, compare its total fat per 100ml. Unsweetened wording tells you something different from a low-fat claim.
Who is this for?
Adults replacing some dairy milk
If almond drink takes the place of dairy milk in your routine, check the individual carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12. The UK government's plant-based drinks assessment says nutrient content and fortification vary considerably.
One- or two-person households planning daily use
A litre may last longer than expected when it is used only in tea or coffee. Check the opened-carton instructions and any guidance for hot drinks before choosing a pack size.
What should you compare?
Start with the fat declaration on a common per-100ml basis, then check the nutrients and practical details that matter to how you will use the carton.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Low-fat claim | Compare total fat per 100ml. The UK low-fat condition for liquids is no more than 1.5g per 100ml, according to legislation.gov.uk; unsweetened and no-sugars labels do not establish fat content. | I want to compare cartons on the same basis, rather than assume a no-sugars drink is low in fat. |
| Fortification | Read the exact carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12. The UK government's plant-based drinks assessment says fortification varies and that UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified. | If I use almond drink instead of dairy milk regularly, I want to know which of those nutrients this carton lists. |
| Storage and hot drinks | Check the pack size, refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions. For hot drinks, Tesco advises adding its unsweetened drink before hot liquid and avoiding boiling water; Sainsbury's advises letting water cool slightly for its long-life drink. | A carton needs to fit how quickly we use it. I also want to follow the right preparation advice for tea or coffee. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredient and precautionary allergen statements on the exact product, including warnings about peanuts or other nuts. | Where nut allergies affect our household, I need the product-specific warning rather than an assumption about almond drinks generally. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming unsweetened means low fat
Sugars and fat are separate parts of the nutrition declaration. For liquids, the UK condition for a low-fat claim is no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml, as set out on legislation.gov.uk.
Check the total-fat line per 100ml even when the front of the carton says no sugars or unsweetened.
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Assuming an organic drink is fortified
The UK government's plant-based drinks assessment says UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified with nutrients. This matters when almond drink regularly replaces dairy milk.
If particular nutrients matter to your choice, read the carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12.
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Opening a litre that will go unfinished
Marks & Spencer says its Unsweetened Almond Drink should be refrigerated and consumed within three days of opening. Other cartons have their own instructions.
Consider how much you use at breakfast and in drinks before opening a carton, and follow its stated storage period.
An unfinished carton may need to be discarded when its stated opened-storage period has passed.
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Using the same method for every hot drink
Tesco warns against mixing its Unsweetened Almond Drink with boiling water; Sainsbury's says its Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink may separate unless the water cools slightly.
Follow the preparation instructions for the carton you buy rather than assuming the two drinks behave alike.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different labels and formulations; the details apply to the named drinks, not every product from each brand.
Alpro
Alpro UK lists a Roasted Almond No Sugars Drink with 1.1g fat per 100ml.
- The named drink lists 120mg calcium and 22.5µg iodine per 100ml, as well as vitamins D2 and B12.
- It contains almonds; Alpro lists 0.5g protein per 100ml, so check protein separately if it matters to your choice.
Tesco
Tesco Unsweetened Almond Drink 1L lists 1.1g fat per 100ml and added nutrients.
- The product information lists calcium, iodine and vitamins D2, B2, B12 and E.
- For hot drinks, Tesco advises adding the almond drink before the hot liquid and not using boiling water. Check its nut warnings on the pack.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink 1L lists 1.4g fat per 100ml.
- Its product information lists 120mg calcium and 22.5µg iodine per 100ml, plus vitamins D and B12.
- Sainsbury's advises cooling water slightly before adding the drink to avoid separation. Read its allergen warning before use.
M&S
M&S Plant Kitchen Unsweetened Almond Drink lists its fat value as 0.9g per 100g, a different declaration basis from the per-100ml figures above.
- Marks & Spencer lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12 for this drink.
- Marks & Spencer says to refrigerate it after opening and consume it within three days. Check the carton's per-100ml declaration when assessing a liquid low-fat claim.
Plenish
Plenish describes an almond drink made with water, organic almonds and salt.
- Its stated recipe offers a short ingredient list for shoppers who prioritise that feature.
- A Plenish Drinks article from May 2021 reported 3.1g fat per 100ml for Plenish Almond Milk. Check the current carton rather than treating that dated figure as its present nutrition declaration.
Rude Health
Rude Health No Sugars Organic Almond Drink lists spring water, organic almonds, organic carob seed flour and sea salt.
- The four-ingredient recipe may suit shoppers comparing ingredient lists.
- Rude Health warns that it may contain traces of other nuts. Check the carton's fat declaration if a low-fat claim is important to you.
Joybuy almond-drink option
This Alpro long-life multipack is an option to consider if you use almond drink regularly; for a smaller household, consider how quickly you will finish each opened carton.
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Alpro Almond No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 × 1L
The 8 × 1L long-life format is worth considering if your household uses almond drink often. Check the carton's per-100ml fat and nutrient declarations, opened-storage instructions and hot-drink guidance against your intended use.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a low-fat almond drink in the UK?
For a liquid, the UK condition for making a low-fat claim is no more than 1.5g fat per 100ml, as set out on legislation.gov.uk. Read the total-fat declaration per 100ml; unsweetened wording does not answer the same question.
Does unsweetened mean an almond drink is low in fat?
No. Unsweetened or no-sugars wording concerns sugars, while the fat declaration must be checked separately. Alpro UK and Tesco each list 1.1g fat per 100ml for the named drinks above; Sainsbury's lists 1.4g per 100ml for its named long-life drink.
What should I check if almond drink replaces dairy milk?
Check the exact carton for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12 rather than assuming every almond drink lists them. The UK government's plant-based drinks assessment says nutrient content and fortification vary considerably, and UK organic plant drinks cannot be fortified.
Can I put almond drink in tea or coffee?
Yes, but follow the instructions for the product you buy. Tesco advises adding its Unsweetened Almond Drink before hot liquid and avoiding boiling water; Sainsbury's advises letting water cool slightly before adding its Unsweetened Long Life Almond Drink because it may separate.
How should a small household plan around an opened carton?
Follow the storage period on that carton and consider how much you will use before opening it. Marks & Spencer says its Unsweetened Almond Drink should be refrigerated and consumed within three days of opening; do not assume the same period applies to another product.