If you follow a vegan diet, choose a plant-based drink rather than lactose-free animal milk: removing or breaking down the lactose does not change where the milk comes from. Before placing an online order, check the ingredients and vegan claim for the exact product. If you require certification, make sure it applies to that specific product, then compare its nutritional information and availability for your chosen shop or address.
If you avoid ingredients of animal origin, being lactose-free is not enough. Carrefour describes a Sensation oat drink as vegan and says that some products in its Sensation VÉGÉtal range carry the V-Label. Check the claim or certification for the specific product you’re ordering.
If you’re choosing between soya, oat or another plant-based option, compare the nutritional values on the same basis, as well as the ingredients and allergens. The figures Bjorg publishes for its unsweetened soya and oat drinks show how two specific recipes differ; they don’t represent every drink in these categories.
If you’re adding a plant-based drink to your online grocery shop, first select your shop or enter your address. This lets you check the product, collection or delivery options and the terms shown for your order.
| What to check | How to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Plant-based ingredients and vegan claim | Read the product description, ingredients and vegan claim on the listing and packaging. If you require certification, look for evidence that applies to the exact product. | If I want to avoid ingredients of animal origin, “lactose-free” isn’t enough to help me choose; around 42% of shoppers would make proof that a product is vegan their priority. |
| Nutritional values and allergens | Compare protein and sugars on the same basis, per 100 g or per 100 ml as shown on the label, and check the listed allergens. | If I’m comparing the ingredients of two recipes, I want to know their protein and sugar content, as well as which ingredients to avoid; around 33% of shoppers would put this first. |
| Ordering and collection | Once you’ve selected a shop or entered your address, check whether the product is available and which collection or delivery options are offered. | To add to my online grocery shop, I need to be able to order my chosen drink using my preferred collection option; around 25% of shoppers would make this their priority. |
Lactel describes Matin Léger as lactose-free milk, while Candia says that Candia+ milk contains lactase. Neither becomes a plant-based drink just because its lactose content has been reduced.
If you avoid animal milk, start with the “plant-based drink” category, then check the ingredients and claims for the product you choose.
Carrefour says that some Sensation VÉGÉtal products are V-Label certified. This doesn’t mean that every drink with the range name is certified.
If certification matters to you, look for the logo or a statement that specifically identifies the product you’re ordering.
The information Bjorg publishes for its unsweetened soya and oat drinks shows that their protein and sugar values differ. So the plant base alone doesn’t tell you the nutritional values of each recipe.
Compare the nutritional information on the same basis, and check the ingredients and allergens for each product.
A listing that advertises a drink in a supermarket, such as Lidl’s Vemondo range, doesn’t by itself confirm that you can add it to an online basket.
Select your shop or enter your address, then check that the product and your preferred collection option are shown in your order.
A plant-based range that includes an oat drink Carrefour explicitly describes as vegan and offers for click and collect or delivery.
Alpro soya and oat drinks are among the products worth comparing online, particularly for their ingredients.
The unsweetened soya and oat drinks reviewed here offer two distinct plant-based recipes to compare.
Matin Léger is a useful example of the difference between lactose-free milk and a plant-based drink.
Candia+ is another example of lactose-free animal milk, not a plant-based drink.
These soya, rice, oat and almond drinks give you several plant-based options to consider when ordering online. If a vegan claim or certification is essential to your choice, check the product and its packaging before ordering.
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The pack of six 250 ml portions could be a good choice if you want to enjoy this soya drink on several occasions. The listing describes it as “vegan-friendly”, but this wording alone doesn’t constitute certification; check the packaging if you require it. Contains soya and sesame.
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This 1 L soya drink could be used at breakfast or in cooking. It contains soya; if you require vegan certification, check the specific product and its packaging.
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If you’d like to compare rice with soya and oats, this 1 L drink offers another plant-based option. Check the ingredients, allergens and any vegan certification you require on the product you order.
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This 1 L oat drink is worth considering for breakfast or cooking. The listing states that it contains oats with gluten and may contain traces of soya or nuts; if a vegan claim is essential to your purchase, check it for this specific product too.
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If you’re looking for an unsweetened almond drink, this UHT option comes in a 1 L pack. Before choosing it for a vegan diet or to avoid certain foods, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
No. Milk from animals remains animal-based when its lactose is treated with lactase. Lactel describes Matin Léger as lactose-free milk, and Candia also describes Candia+ as milk. If you want to avoid animal ingredients, look for a plant-based drink instead and check the product you choose.
No. A vegan claim on a product listing and certification awarded to a product are two different things. Carrefour describes an oat drink as vegan, but its statement that some Sensation VÉGÉtal products are V-Label certified doesn’t mean every drink in the range is automatically certified.
Compare the nutritional values on the same basis and for the exact products you’re considering. Bjorg states that, per 100 g, its unsweetened soya drink reviewed here contains 3.9 g of protein and less than 0.5 g of sugars, while its oat drink reviewed here contains 0.5 g of protein and 4.0 g of sugars. These figures don’t apply to all soya or oat drinks.
No, not as the main milk feed for an infant under one year old. Anses states that plant-based drinks don’t meet the nutritional needs of infants of this age. Ask a healthcare professional for advice on choosing suitable nutrition.
No. A product appearing online doesn’t confirm that it’s available for your order. Select your shop or enter your address, then check the product and the collection or delivery options offered before placing your order.