Who is this for?

Households using soya drink every day

If several people use it for cereal, drinks or cooking, consider how many 1L cartons you will open at once and whether each will be finished within its pack instructions.

Adults comparing fat and sugar

Front-of-pack wording does not replace a per-100ml comparison. Tesco Groceries lists 1.3g total fat per 100ml for Grower’s Harvest Unsweetened and 1.5g for its chilled Tesco Unsweetened drink; their sugar and protein figures differ too.

Families choosing a drink for a child

Check the child’s age, the exact carton and any allergies. NHS dietetic guidance discusses unsweetened fortified soya drinks for children aged one or over who need a plant alternative, but notes that soya may not suit some children with cow’s-milk protein allergy.

What should you compare?

Compare cartons on the same per-100ml basis, then check fortification and storage against the way your household will use them.

Priority What to check Your needs
Fat and sugar Read total fat, saturates and sugars per 100ml. Tesco Groceries lists 1.3g fat and 0.3g sugars for Grower’s Harvest Unsweetened, versus 1.5g fat and 0.4g sugars for its chilled Tesco Unsweetened drink. I want to compare the figures on the cartons, rather than assume that every unsweetened drink has the same fat content.
Fortification and protein Check calcium on the current carton, along with iodine and vitamins D and B12 where relevant. Compare protein per 100ml: the Tesco Groceries listings give 3.0g for Grower’s Harvest Unsweetened and 3.5g for chilled Tesco Unsweetened. If soya drink regularly replaces milk at home, I want to know what the particular carton contains.
Carton storage Check whether the carton is chilled or long-life, and follow its refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions. The Waitrose & Partners Alpro listing and Tesco Groceries’ chilled Tesco listing each say to use the drink within five days of opening. We may buy several cartons at once, but we still need to finish each opened one within its stated period.
Allergies and age guidance Read the soya allergen statement and any age guidance on the exact pack. For a child who needs a plant alternative, check the fortification and individual dietary needs as well. With a child or someone with a soya allergy in the household, I cannot choose a shared drink on its fat figure alone.

Common shopping mistakes

  • Assuming unsweetened means lowest in fat

    Unsweetened describes sugar, not the drink’s total fat content. The Grower’s Harvest and chilled Tesco unsweetened listings show different fat figures per 100ml.

    Compare total fat, saturates, sugars and protein using the same per-100ml measure before buying several cartons.

  • Choosing by the front label without checking fortification

    Plant drinks vary in nutrient content across types and brands, as noted in a 2025 report from the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Committee on Toxicity.

    For a drink used regularly instead of milk, read the current carton’s calcium information and check other fortification relevant to your household.

  • Opening more cartons than the household can finish

    Opening instructions apply to each carton, even when the cartons were bought together.

    Plan how many to open at once, refrigerate them as directed and follow each pack’s use-after-opening period.

    An opened carton that cannot be used within its stated period may have to be discarded.

  • Using an adult’s fat preference to choose for a child

    A child’s age and allergies can change which drink is appropriate. NHS dietetic guidance warns that soya may not suit some children with cow’s-milk protein allergy.

    Check the exact product’s age guidance and allergen information. Seek advice from a clinician or dietitian if a child has an allergy, poor growth or a restricted diet.

Brand and product-line references

These named drinks illustrate label differences; check the carton you intend to buy rather than applying one product’s figures to a whole brand.

Alpro

Waitrose & Partners lists an Alpro Soya Long Life No Sugar drink for household use.

  • Its listed nutrition gives 1.9g fat, 0g sugars and 3.3g protein per 100ml.
  • The listing says to refrigerate after opening and use within five days. Check the current carton’s fat figure when comparing it with other packs.

Tesco

Tesco lists a chilled Unsweetened Soya Drink in a 1L carton.

  • Tesco Groceries lists 1.5g fat, 3.5g protein and 120mg calcium per 100ml.
  • Its opened carton must be refrigerated and consumed within five days, according to the listing.

Grower’s Harvest

Tesco lists Grower’s Harvest Unsweetened as a 1L soya drink.

  • Its Tesco Groceries listing gives 1.3g fat, 0.3g sugars, 3.0g protein and 120mg calcium per 100ml.
  • It contains soya; check the current pack’s allergen and storage instructions.

Waitrose Essential

Waitrose & Partners lists an Essential Unsweetened UHT Soya Drink.

  • The listing describes added calcium, iodine and vitamins D, B12 and B2.
  • Check the current carton’s age guidance and opened-carton instructions before including it in a family shop.

Joybuy product options

This long-life Alpro multipack is an option for households planning to use several soya-drink cartons over time; compare its current carton label with other drinks if total fat is your deciding factor.

Alpro Soya No Sugars Long Life Drink, 8 x 1L

Alpro Soya No Sugars Long Life Drink 8 x 1L

The 8 x 1L UHT pack suits a household planning when to open each carton. The product description lists 0g sugars and 3.3g protein per 100ml, plus added calcium and vitamins. Store unopened cartons in a cool, dry place; refrigerate each carton after opening and use it within five days. Contains soya. Check the current carton’s total fat per 100ml before using it for a lower-fat comparison.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does unsweetened mean a soya drink has the lowest fat content?

No. Compare total fat per 100ml: Tesco Groceries lists 1.3g for Grower’s Harvest Unsweetened and 1.5g for its chilled Tesco Unsweetened drink. An unsweetened label alone does not establish which carton has less fat.

What else matters if the family uses soya drink regularly?

Check calcium fortification and the protein figure on the particular carton, along with other added nutrients relevant to your household. NHS guidance includes unsweetened calcium-fortified plant alternatives in the dairy-and-alternatives food group, while UK scientific advice notes that nutrient content varies by drink and brand.

Can a child have an unsweetened soya drink?

For children aged one or over who need a plant alternative, NHS dietetic guidance identifies unsweetened fortified soya drinks as an option, subject to the child’s needs and the exact product. Check age guidance and allergens; soya may not suit some children with cow’s-milk protein allergy. A plant drink should not be used as a main milk drink for an infant under one.

How should we manage cartons after opening?

Follow each carton’s refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions. The Waitrose & Partners Alpro listing and Tesco Groceries’ chilled Tesco listing both specify five days after opening; check the pack you buy before planning how many cartons to open.

Is soya drink suitable for someone with a soya allergy?

No. Soya drinks contain soya, so check allergen statements before choosing a drink for the household. If a child needs an alternative because of an allergy, seek advice from a clinician or dietitian about a suitable product.