For a drink alongside a post-run meal, compare high-protein soya options; for cereal, porridge or everyday drinks, an unsweetened fortified option may better match a preference for less sugar. Alpro and Sainsbury’s reviewed high-protein drinks each list 5.0 g protein per 100 ml, while Tesco and Waitrose unsweetened drinks list 3.5 g and 3.4 g respectively, according to their product information. Those figures do not establish any of the drinks as a complete during-run fuelling or hydration plan.
A soya drink can be one component of breakfast, a smoothie or a snack after training. Compare the protein on the carton and consider what else the meal contains; do not treat the drink alone as a race-fuelling plan.
If you use soya drink in cereal, coffee or porridge, an unsweetened option may suit your taste and sugar preference. Check fortification on the particular carton rather than assuming every unsweetened drink contains the same nutrients.
A statement that a drink is suitable for vegans is different from a Vegan Trademark. The Vegan Society says it can verify a product under its scheme when that product carries the Trademark; check the exact pack if certification matters to you.
Decide when you will use the drink, then compare labels on the same stated basis and check the exact carton before buying.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Compare protein per 100 ml and for the serving you expect to pour. Alpro and Sainsbury’s reviewed high-protein drinks each list 5.0 g per 100 ml; the reviewed Tesco and Waitrose unsweetened drinks list 3.5 g and 3.4 g. | I want the drink to contribute protein alongside food after training, so the amount in my usual serving matters more than the wording on the front of the pack. |
| Carbohydrate and sugars | Read carbohydrate and sugars as separate entries, per 100 ml. Sainsbury’s lists 2.9 g sugars per 100 ml for its Sweetened High Protein drink; Tesco Unsweetened lists 0.4 g and Waitrose Essential Unsweetened lists 0.0 g. | For regular use, I may prefer an unsweetened drink. For a training session, I need to consider the drink alongside the rest of my tested food and fluid plan, not assume that its sugar figure makes it suitable race fuel. |
| Fortification | Check the exact carton for calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine. The reviewed Tesco and Waitrose unsweetened drinks list all four; declarations differ between products. | If soya drink regularly replaces a dairy drink in my meals, I want to know which nutrients this particular carton lists. |
| Vegan assurance | Distinguish a manufacturer’s or retailer’s vegan statement from the Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark. Check the mark on the exact pack if third-party certification is required. | I may be content with a clearly labelled vegan product, or I may specifically want independently verified vegan status; those are different checks. |
| Allergens and changes | Read the current ingredients and allergen declaration on the carton. The NHS lists soybeans among common food allergens, and retailers caution that product information can change. | If soya is an allergen for me, I cannot choose a soya drink. Even for a familiar product, I need the current pack information rather than an old listing. |
Protein on the label does not tell you whether a drink fits your carbohydrate and fluid needs during a marathon. The reviewed products are ordinary soya drinks, with different nutrition values.
Use the drink as part of a meal or snack if that suits your routine. Test any pre-run or during-run food and drink choices in training rather than introducing them on race day.
The Vegan Society distinguishes products carrying its Vegan Trademark from those described as suitable for vegans without that mark.
If certification is important, look for the Trademark on the exact carton or check the Society’s product search. Otherwise, read the current vegan statement and ingredients without assuming third-party certification.
The reviewed Tesco and Waitrose unsweetened drinks list 3.5 g and 3.4 g protein per 100 ml, compared with 5.0 g per 100 ml for the reviewed Alpro and Sainsbury’s high-protein drinks. Their fortification also needs checking product by product.
Compare protein, carbohydrate, sugars and listed nutrients on the same per-100-ml basis, then decide which figures matter for the meal or drink you are preparing.
Recipes and allergen declarations can change. Soybeans are a common food allergen, according to the NHS.
Read the physical carton, particularly if you have an allergy or are buying a different format of a familiar drink. Do not use soya drink if you have a diagnosed soya allergy.
These details concern the named drinks, not every soya product made or sold by each brand.
Alpro Soya High Protein Plain is a 1 L drink to compare when choosing a soya component for a meal or snack after training.
Sainsbury’s Sweetened High Protein Soya Drink is a 1 L own-label option with a stated 250 ml serving.
Tesco Soya Drink Unsweetened is a 1 L option listing calcium, iodine and vitamins B12, B2 and D2.
Waitrose Essential Unsweetened Soya Drink is a 1 L UHT option listing calcium, iodine and vitamins D, B12 and B2.
M&S Plant Kitchen Unsweetened Soya Drink is a 1 L drink described as vegan and fortified with calcium, iodine and vitamins D and B12.
This Alpro drink is an option to consider alongside a post-run meal or snack. Check its carton for the nutrition and vegan assurance you require, and confirm the pack quantity before ordering.
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For a post-run meal or snack, compare the carton’s protein and carbohydrate per 100 ml with what else you plan to eat. The listing names a 1 L drink, but its leading “6” does not clearly establish the bundle quantity; confirm the pack contents before ordering. If third-party vegan certification matters to you, check the exact carton for the Vegan Trademark.
Do not assume it can. The reviewed soya drinks have different carbohydrate and sugar values and are not presented as purpose-designed race fuel. Consider them for meals or snacks, and test any during-run choice as part of your individual food and fluid plan.
Look for the Vegan Trademark on the exact pack if you require The Vegan Society’s certification. The Society says its standard covers animal use in ingredients and testing; a retailer’s “suitable for vegans” statement does not itself mean the product carries the Trademark.
Compare carbohydrate and sugars for the way you intend to use the drink, then check any calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and iodine declarations. The reviewed Tesco and Waitrose unsweetened products list all four nutrients, but check the particular carton rather than assuming formulations are identical.
Do not use soya drink as a training drink if you have a diagnosed soya allergy. The NHS lists soybeans among common food allergens; if you suspect a reaction, seek medical advice and check the current ingredients and allergen declaration on any product you buy.
Yes. Check the current ingredients, allergen declaration, nutrition table and storage instructions on the physical pack. Retailer product information can change, and a vegan statement does not establish that a drink carries third-party certification.