For an older adult using soya drink in place of milk, choose a long-life carton whose current label confirms calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine, then compare protein, energy and sugars per 100ml. An unsweetened drink is not a substitute for individual advice when appetite is poor or weight is falling. If filtering matters to you, confirm it on the exact carton rather than assuming that “long-life” means filtered.
If soya drink regularly goes into tea, cereal, porridge or cooking, check whether the carton lists calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine. The UK SACN and COT assessment says nutrient content varies considerably between plant-based drinks.
An unsweetened or no-sugars carton may fit this preference, but compare its nutrition panel and fortification too. The sugar description alone does not tell you how much protein or calcium the drink provides.
If an older person is eating less or losing weight unintentionally, ask a GP or dietitian about their overall energy and protein needs. NHS dietetic guidance explains that a reduced appetite can make those needs harder to meet; an ordinary soya drink should not be relied on as the whole response.
Start with the reason for using soya drink, then read the exact carton’s nutrition panel and any individual dietary instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fortification | Look for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine on the current label. Compare stated amounts per 100ml where available; the UK SACN and COT assessment notes substantial variation between plant-based drinks. | I use soya drink regularly instead of milk and want to know which nutrients this particular carton contributes. |
| Energy and protein | Compare energy and protein per 100ml and for the amount usually served. If appetite is poor or weight is falling, discuss overall intake with a GP or dietitian rather than choosing by a “high protein” name alone. | A small appetite makes the drink’s contribution to daily food and drink intake more important to me. |
| Sugars | Check the sugars figure as well as an “unsweetened” or “no sugars” description. Check fortification separately: neither description establishes the drink’s vitamin or mineral content. | I prefer to limit sugars without overlooking the nutrients I was getting from milk. |
| Storage and suitability | Check the carton’s unopened and opened storage instructions, soya allergen declaration and any prescribed dietary or swallowing guidance. If “filtered” is a requirement, look for that claim on the exact pack. | Keeping an unopened carton in the cupboard is convenient, but the drink still has to suit the person using it. |
The UK SACN and COT assessment says plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrient content, so the category name does not establish what a carton provides.
Read the current ingredient and nutrition panels for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine. The assessment also states that UK plant-based drinks labelled organic cannot be fortified with nutrients.
Sainsbury’s lists 26kcal and 2.2g protein per 100ml for its Unsweetened Long Life Soya Drink. NHS dietetic guidance says people with poor appetite or unintentional weight loss may need nourishing foods and drinks as part of an individual plan.
If weight is falling or appetite remains poor, ask a GP or dietitian for advice rather than relying on an ordinary soya drink alone.
A UHT or long-life description identifies a format; it does not state the drink’s protein, energy or fortification, or establish that it is filtered.
Check each attribute separately on the exact product label, including any filtering claim that matters to you.
Soya is unsuitable for someone with a soya allergy. Kidney disease can involve individual protein or potassium advice, while swallowing difficulties may require guidance on fluid texture.
Check the allergen declaration and follow any advice from the person’s dietitian, renal team or speech and language therapist before changing their regular drink.
These examples illustrate why it is worth comparing exact products and variants, rather than treating a brand name as a nutrition specification.
Alpro has long-life soya drinks, including Soya No Sugars; a separately named High Protein Soya Original Long Life product appears in Tesco’s range.
Its Unsweetened Long Life Soya Drink is a fortified own-label option with a published per-100ml nutrition panel.
Tesco lists an own-label unsweetened long-life soya drink as well as branded long-life options.
M&S describes a long-life Plant Kitchen Soya Drink and a separate unsweetened soya drink.
The Essential Unsweetened Soya Drink is listed as a UHT, fortified own-label option.
This option is an Alpro no-sugars long-life multipack for everyday dairy-free use. For poor appetite or weight loss, choose a nutrition plan with individual advice rather than treating the carton as a supplement.
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For everyday use where a no-sugars soya drink is preferred. The pack contains 8 × 1L; check the exact cartons’ nutrition and fortification details, and allow space to store the multipack. Do not rely on an ordinary soya drink alone to address poor appetite or unintentional weight loss.
Check whether the current label lists calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine, then compare protein, energy, sugars and salt per 100ml. The UK SACN and COT assessment says plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrient content and fortification, so do not assume two soya drinks are equivalent.
Do not rely on the drink alone. Sainsbury’s lists 26kcal and 2.2g protein per 100ml for one unsweetened long-life product, while NHS dietetic guidance says poor appetite and unintentional weight loss may call for an individual approach to energy and protein intake. Ask a GP or dietitian for advice.
Do not assume it can. The UK SACN and COT assessment states that plant-based drinks labelled organic in the UK cannot be fortified with nutrients. If the drink replaces dairy milk, consider how calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine are provided elsewhere in the person’s diet.
Someone with a soya allergy should avoid soya-containing drinks and follow their allergy specialist’s advice. Check the ingredients and allergen declaration on the exact product each time you buy it.
Follow their prescribed swallowing and fluid-texture instructions before changing drinks. NHS guidance says swallowing problems may require advice from a speech and language therapist or dietitian; a long-life format or particular brand does not establish that a drink has the required texture.