For ordinary vegan-labelled service, choose a soya drink whose current pack states that it is suitable for vegans. If the workplace canteen requires independent vegan certification, verify the Vegan Trademark for the exact product instead; either way, check the delivered pack for allergens, storage instructions and whether the drink is sweetened.
If procurement calls for independent vegan certification, a general suitable-for-vegans statement is not enough. The Vegan Society sets standards for products carrying its Vegan Trademark; check the exact product against that requirement.
Choose a drink whose vegan statement, storage instructions and intended serving use fit the canteen’s routine. Check the carton before adding it to tea, coffee or cereal service.
Vegan suitability does not remove the need for an allergen check. Soya is an allergen, so staff need the exact product’s current information when answering a diner’s question.
Set the vegan claim required for the menu or purchase order first. Then check each candidate carton for allergen information, its nutrition declaration and instructions that fit the way it will be stored and served.
Choose when: Procurement requires independent certification for the exact soya drink.
Keep in mind: A suitable-for-vegans statement does not establish that the product carries the Vegan Society’s Trademark.
Choose when: The canteen requires a clearly vegan-labelled drink but not third-party certification.
Keep in mind: Check the delivered pack, because product ingredients and dietary information can change.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan status | Read the exact pack’s vegan statement. If certification is required, check for the Vegan Trademark on that product or verify its registration with The Vegan Society. | I need the product claim to match what the canteen will say on its menu or purchase order. |
| Allergen information | Check the current ingredient and allergen declaration, including soya and any other product-specific warnings. Keep that information available to serving staff. | When a diner asks about allergens, I need an answer for the carton being served, not just a general vegan claim. |
| Sugars and nutrients | Compare sugars and protein on a consistent per-100 ml or per-100 g basis, noting which unit each pack uses. Check its own declaration for added calcium, iodine or vitamins. | An unsweetened option may suit our menu, but I still want to compare the exact drinks before choosing one. |
| Storage and service | Check whether the carton needs chilling before opening, then follow its own refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions. Read any hot-drink directions before using it at a tea or coffee station. | Our stock rotation and serving routine need to work with the instructions for the drink we buy. |
A suitability statement and the Vegan Society’s Trademark make different claims. A product labelled suitable for vegans does not thereby meet a certification-specific purchasing requirement.
Specify either suitable-for-vegans labelling or Vegan Trademark certification, and check the exact product against the chosen requirement.
Soya drinks contain soya. Product-specific warnings can matter too: Marks & Spencer states that its Unsweetened Soya Drink is not suitable for people with nut or peanut allergy.
Use the delivered carton’s allergen information and the canteen’s established process when responding to dietary requests.
Sweetened and unsweetened drinks can differ in their declared sugars, protein and added nutrients. A familiar product name does not answer every menu or stock-handling question.
Compare the exact nutrition labels using their stated units, and check storage and serving directions before ordering.
Retailers including Tesco and Marks & Spencer caution that product information can change. An earlier listing may not describe the carton that arrives.
At goods-in and before service, check the delivered pack’s ingredients, vegan statement, allergen warnings, storage directions and date code.
These examples illustrate product-level labelling and handling checks; a brand name alone does not establish the status of every drink it makes or sells.
Tesco lists its Unsweetened Soya Drink as suitable for vegans and gives directions for opened cartons and hot drinks.
Alpro describes Soya Original as vegan, while Tesco lists an Alpro Soya Original Long Life drink as suitable for vegans and UHT sterilised.
M&S presents its Plant Kitchen Soya Drink as a long-life vegan option and separately lists an Unsweetened Soya Drink as vegan.
These Alpro soya drinks offer options to consider for vegan-labelled canteen service. Check each delivered pack before making a vegan or allergen statement; if certification is required, verify the exact product’s Vegan Trademark status separately.
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The named no-sugars, long-life variant may fit a canteen seeking that format in an 8 x 1 L pack. Confirm the delivered carton’s vegan status, soya-allergen information and instructions for storage after opening; do not treat vegan labelling as certification.
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Consider this named variant for a vegan-labelled service only after checking the exact carton’s suitability statement and soya-allergen information. Confirm what the listing’s “6” includes before planning stock; it does not establish the total bundle quantity on its own.
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The Plant Protein variant is an option to assess where the declared nutrition matters to the menu. Compare its exact label with other drinks, check vegan and allergen information on the delivered pack, and confirm the total bundle quantity before ordering for service.
No. The Vegan Society’s Trademark is a separate certification scheme, while “suitable for vegans” is a product suitability statement. If procurement requires the Trademark, check it for the exact current product rather than assuming that vegan labelling is sufficient.
Do not serve a soya drink as a soya-free option: soya is an allergen, and the exact carton’s ingredient and allergen information must guide the response. Follow the canteen’s allergen-information process for each request.
The Vegan Society’s Trademark standards call for surfaces and utensils to be thoroughly cleaned before vegan food preparation, cooking and service. Apply the canteen’s own procedures to the way drinks and food are handled on site; a certified carton alone does not describe the whole serving process.
Choose according to the menu and compare sugars on the exact products’ labels, using their stated per-100 ml or per-100 g units consistently. Check the vegan statement and allergens separately: an unsweetened name does not answer either question.
Follow that carton’s instruction, not another drink’s. Tesco says to refrigerate its Unsweetened Soya Drink after opening and consume it within five days; M&S gives a three-day refrigerated period for its Plant Kitchen Soya Drink.