For a child aged 1 or over who can have soya, start by comparing unsweetened, fortified drinks rather than assuming a carton described as mild is unsweetened. The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommends checking for calcium of at least 120 mg per 100 ml, alongside iodine, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Check the child’s allergens and the nursery’s packed-lunch and storage arrangements before sending a carton.
If your child can have soya, compare the sugar information and fortification on the carton before deciding whether its taste suits them. The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s plant-based drink guidance applies to children aged 1 and over.
A dairy-free soya drink still contains soya. Check the current carton’s allergen declaration and any other allergy information relevant to your child; NHS North West Knowledge Now notes that some children with cow’s-milk allergy may need individual advice about soya.
Ask the nursery whether it accepts the drink and how it handles packed-lunch drinks and individual allergy plans. Department for Education guidance for early-years providers in England says food allergies and intolerances must be taken seriously.
For a nursery lunch, establish allergy and nursery requirements, then compare sweetness, fortification and the carton’s handling instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 ml and read the ingredients for added sugars and sweeteners. Mild-tasting wording does not tell you either figure. | I want a taste my child will accept without choosing a sweetened drink solely because it sounds milder. |
| Fortification | For a regular plant-based drink for a child aged 1 or over, the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommends an unsweetened option with at least 120 mg calcium per 100 ml, plus iodine, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Check the values on the carton. | If soya drink will be a regular alternative, I want to compare its listed nutrients rather than assume every unsweetened carton is fortified alike. |
| Allergens and acceptance | Read the current soya allergen declaration and any relevant precautionary statement. Confirm the nursery’s packed-lunch rules and the child’s individual allergy plan. | I need to know that my child can have soya and that the nursery can accept the particular carton. |
| Storage | Check whether the carton is long-life or chilled, its instructions after opening, and how the nursery stores drinks. | A carton packed for lunch needs to fit the nursery’s handling arrangements, especially if it has already been opened. |
Taste wording does not establish sugar content. Sainsbury’s lists 2.3 g sugars per 100 ml for its Sweetened Soya Drink, while the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology advises choosing unsweetened plant-based drinks without free sugars or non-sugar sweeteners for children aged 1 and over.
Read the ‘of which sugars’ line and ingredients instead of relying on the front of the carton.
A dairy-free soya drink still contains soya, which matters for a child with soya allergy or an individual allergy plan.
Check the carton’s allergen information and follow the child’s plan and nursery procedure before sending it.
A short ingredient list does not establish whether the drink contains the nutrients in the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s plant-based drink checklist.
For a regular alternative, compare the carton’s calcium value and listed iodine, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D.
Retailers including Tesco and M&S warn that ingredients, nutrition and allergy information can change.
Read the carton you are packing, particularly when the nursery needs its current allergen details.
Alpro Soya No Sugars is a long-life option to compare when you want an unsweetened, fortified drink.
Tesco lists unsweetened soya drinks in both chilled and long-life versions.
Sainsbury’s lists both unsweetened and sweetened soya drinks, making their labels worth comparing separately.
M&S Plant Kitchen Unsweetened Soya Drink has a retailer-listed nutrient profile for label comparison.
Waitrose Essential Unsweetened Soya Drink is a long-life option with listed fortification.
This long-life, no-sugars soya drink is an option to check for a nursery lunch where the child can have soya and the nursery accepts it.
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For a nursery lunch, check that the child can have soya and that the nursery accepts the carton. The product listing states 0.0 g sugars and 3.3 g protein per 100 ml; Sainsbury’s lists added calcium, iodine and vitamins B2, B12 and D2 for this drink. Check the carton’s calcium value against the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s recommendation of at least 120 mg per 100 ml, and follow its storage instructions.
No. North East London NHS Foundation Trust advises that plant-based milks should not replace breast milk or infant formula as the main milk drink before a child turns 1. The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s plant-based drink selection guidance applies from age 1.
No. Soya is an allergen even when a drink is dairy-free. Check the child’s individual allergy plan and the current carton; NHS North West Knowledge Now notes that some children with cow’s-milk allergy may also need individual advice about soya.
No. Use ‘mild’ as a taste description, then read the ‘of which sugars’ value and ingredients. For plant-based drinks used by children aged 1 and over, the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommends choosing unsweetened, fortified options without free sugars or non-sugar sweeteners.
Follow that carton’s after-opening storage instructions and check whether the nursery can meet them. Do not apply an unopened long-life carton’s storage instructions to one that has already been opened.