For an adult choosing soya milk to add protein through the drink itself, compare the nutrition figures per 100ml: Alpro and Sainsbury’s high-protein examples each list 5.0g, while the standard and no-sugars examples considered here list 2.2g to 3.3g. Check sugars and fortification alongside protein; if you have kidney disease, seek an individual protein target from your renal dietitian or clinician rather than following general high-protein advice.
If you pour soya milk over cereal or use it in a smoothie, the amount you use determines how much protein the drink contributes. Alpro and Sainsbury’s high-protein examples list 5.0g per 100ml; their standard or unsweetened examples list 2.2g to 3.3g per 100ml.
Protein is only one label detail when a plant drink replaces dairy. The NHS recommends fortified dairy alternatives as part of a vegan diet and identifies vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, selenium and calcium as nutrients to consider. Check which nutrients the particular carton lists.
An older adult can compare drinks using the same per-100ml label figures, but a carton cannot establish a personal protein target. If you have kidney disease, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust advises particular care with protein intake when approaching dialysis; discuss your target with your renal dietitian or clinician.
Start with protein per 100ml and the amount you normally pour, then check sugars, fortification and any dietary restrictions on the same carton.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Compare grams per 100ml, then calculate the amount in your usual serving. Sainsbury’s Sweetened High Protein Soya Drink lists 5.0g per 100ml and 12.5g per 250ml. | I want the drink itself to contribute protein, rather than assuming every soya carton has the same amount. |
| Sugars | Read sugars alongside protein on a like-for-like basis. Alpro Soya High Protein lists 2.5g sugars per 100ml; Alpro Soya No Sugars lists 0g sugars and 3.3g protein per 100ml. | If limiting sugars matters more to me than protein per glass, I need to weigh up both figures before choosing. |
| Fortification | Look separately for calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 on the current pack. The NHS notes that some plant drinks are fortified with iodine and advises checking the label. | When I use a plant drink instead of dairy regularly, I want to know which nutrients this particular carton lists. |
| Personal suitability | Check the ingredient and allergen label for soya. If you have kidney disease, confirm an individual protein target with your renal dietitian or clinician before using a drink to increase your intake. | My allergy information or clinical advice needs to guide the choice before its protein figure does. |
Sainsbury’s lists 5.0g protein per 100ml for its Sweetened High Protein Soya Drink but 2.2g for its Unsweetened Soya Drink. The category name alone does not tell you what a serving contributes.
Compare protein per 100ml and use the amount you actually pour to work out the contribution.
Alpro Soya High Protein lists 5.0g protein and 2.5g sugars per 100ml. Its No Sugars drink lists 0g sugars and 3.3g protein per 100ml, so the choice changes with the nutrient you prioritise.
Read both lines of the nutrition table before choosing between a high-protein and a no-sugars formulation.
Fortification is product-specific. The NHS advises checking a plant drink’s label to see whether it contains iodine.
If you rely on a plant drink instead of dairy, check the current carton separately for iodine, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust cautions that too much protein can put extra strain on the kidneys when approaching dialysis. A drink comparison cannot set an individual intake.
Ask your renal dietitian or clinician what protein target applies to your circumstances before changing your intake.
These examples illustrate why the exact formulation matters; a retailer’s listing for one drink does not describe every soya drink it carries.
Alpro lists both high-protein and no-sugars soya drinks.
Sainsbury’s lists high-protein and unsweetened own-label soya drinks with different protein figures.
Tesco lists Alpro High Protein Soya Original in a 1L carton.
Asda lists Alpro High Protein Soya Original in a 1L carton.
M&S lists an unsweetened soya drink with declared fortification.
Waitrose lists Alpro Soya Long Life No Sugar.
These Joybuy options include plant-protein and no-sugars soya drinks, plus individual cartons. Use each product’s current label to compare protein, sugars and fortification for your needs.
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A plant-protein soya option for regular use: compare protein and sugars per 100ml on the current carton, and check iodine separately if it matters to your diet.
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The individual cartons offer a defined serving size. Compare the sugars figure on the current nutrition label rather than relying on the Low-Sugar name, and check fortification if relevant.
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Consider this no-sugars formulation if sugars are a deciding factor. Alpro’s No Sugars drink lists 3.3g protein per 100ml; compare the current carton with a high-protein drink if protein per glass is your priority, and check iodine if relevant.
It depends on the carton and the amount you pour. Alpro and Sainsbury’s high-protein examples each list 5.0g protein per 100ml; Sainsbury’s lists 12.5g for a 250ml serving. Check the per-100ml figure when comparing other drinks.
Check the particular soya drink’s fortification. The NHS recommends fortified dairy alternatives as part of a vegan diet and highlights vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, selenium and calcium as nutrients to consider; the presence of one added nutrient does not establish that the carton contains the others.
Not in the Alpro examples here. Alpro Soya No Sugars lists 0g sugars and 3.3g protein per 100ml, while Alpro Soya High Protein lists 5.0g protein per 100ml. Decide which label figure matters more for your use.
Do not set a personal protein target from a general drink comparison. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust cautions against too much protein when approaching dialysis; ask your renal dietitian or clinician what intake applies to your treatment and circumstances.
Do not choose a soya drink if you have a soya allergy. Read the current ingredient and allergen label before selecting any alternative drink.