Strict vegans
You avoid animal products at breakfast. Skimmed milk is still milk, even when it’s organic, so check the ingredients of a plant-based drink instead.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers looking for organic products
You’re choosing between organic milk and an organic plant-based drink. The French Vegetarian Association points out that milk can also be organic, so check the ingredients’ origin and organic certification separately.
Supermarket shoppers
You’ve spotted an organic plant-based drink and want to find it at your usual shop. Check availability with your chosen store or online grocery service before setting off.
What should you check before buying?
Organic skimmed milk
Worth considering: if you’re looking for organic dairy milk and your purchase doesn’t need to be vegan.
The catch: skimming and organic certification don’t change the fact that milk comes from animals.
Organic plant-based drink
Worth considering: for a vegan breakfast, once you’ve checked the ingredients of the specific product you’re considering.
The catch: don’t assume it’s certified organic or nutritionally equivalent to skimmed milk; check its own label.
Once you’ve chosen a category, check these points in the order that best matches your priorities.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | The product name and full ingredients list, including confirmation that it contains no milk or other animal-derived ingredients. | If I want to avoid animal products at breakfast, organic milk won’t meet my needs; the origin of the ingredients comes first for around 50% of shoppers. |
| Organic status and ingredients | The organic certification on the packaging, followed by the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product. | When choosing what to have for breakfast, I want to distinguish organic certification from what’s in the carton. Around 30% of shoppers prioritise checking both. |
| Local availability | Whether the product is available at your chosen shop or online grocery service and, if relevant, the offer’s validity dates. | When I shop at a particular retailer, I want to be able to find my chosen drink there; this is the priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Confusing ‘organic’ with ‘vegan’
Organic refers to how a product is produced, and milk can also be organic. So organic skimmed milk doesn’t meet strict vegan requirements.
Check where the ingredients come from first, then look for organic certification on the product you plan to buy.
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Assuming oat drink is the same as skimmed milk
The product name, ingredients and nutritional values vary from one product to another. A plant-based base alone doesn’t mean it’s nutritionally equivalent.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 ml, sugars, declared allergens and any added vitamins or minerals on the relevant packaging.
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Assuming a product you’ve spotted is available everywhere
A retailer’s website or a dated offer doesn’t confirm that the product is available at the shop where you plan to do your shopping.
Check with your chosen store or online grocery service, and check the offer dates before buying.
Brands to consider, depending on what you’re looking for
Lactel
Lactel offers organic skimmed milk, as well as an organic skimmed lactose-free version.
- An option if you’re specifically looking for organic skimmed dairy milk.
- The lactose-free version is still a dairy product, so neither option is suitable for a strictly vegan shop.
Candia
The GrandLait Bio range includes semi-skimmed milk.
- A product to consider if you’re looking for organic milk from an animal source.
- The product mentioned is semi-skimmed, not skimmed, and isn’t suitable for a strictly vegan shop.
Carrefour Bio
Carrefour lists an organic oat drink in a 1 L carton.
- According to Carrefour, its ingredients include water, 11% oats, sunflower oil and sea salt.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the carton you buy, and confirm any specific vegan certification requirements.
Bio Village
This E.Leclerc own-brand product is a 1 L organic oat drink described as ‘no added sugars’.
- According to E.Leclerc, the listed recipe contains 11% oats.
- For this product, E.Leclerc advises contacting the relevant store to check availability.
Vemondo
Lidl has listed an organic oat drink under the Vemondo brand.
- Another product to look out for if you’d like to compare organic oat drinks.
- Check the label and availability at your local shop: an offer published on a particular date doesn’t guarantee it’s still available.
Oat drinks on Joybuy
These oat drinks suit different plant-based breakfast occasions, from cereal to coffee or a flavoured drink. If organic certification is essential to your choice, check the packaging of each product before buying.
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NATRUE Oat Drink 0% 1 Liter
An oat drink to try with breakfast cereal. The product information flags oats containing gluten and possible traces of soya or nuts; check the label if these allergens are relevant to you.
Also check the ingredients list and organic information on the carton.
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OATLY Barista Oat Drink 1L
This Barista version is for anyone looking for an oat drink to make coffee with. The product information flags gluten from oats; check the label if this is relevant to you.
If you’re also looking for an organic option, check the certification on the packaging of this product.
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NATRUE Chai Latte Oat Drink 1L
Consider this if you’d prefer a chai-flavoured oat drink at breakfast to a plain version. The product information flags possible traces of soya or nuts; check the label if these allergens are relevant to you.
Compare the sugars listed in the nutritional information and check the organic information on the carton.
Frequently asked questions
Is organic skimmed milk suitable for a vegan shop?
No: organic skimmed milk still comes from animals. The French Vegetarian Association points out that milk can also be organic; for a strictly vegan shop, choose a different category of drink.
Does organic certification guarantee that a drink is vegan?
No. Organic certification and the absence of animal ingredients answer two different questions, so check both separately on the product you choose.
What should you check on an organic plant-based breakfast drink?
Start with the ingredients list, declared allergens and nutritional information for the exact product. Also check for any added sugars, vitamins or minerals, depending on what you want to compare. Don’t assume an oat drink has the same composition as skimmed milk.
Will a plant-based drink I’ve spotted online be available at my local shop?
Not necessarily. For the Bio Village product listed, E.Leclerc advises contacting the relevant store to check availability. Check with the shop or online grocery service where you plan to do your shopping to confirm that any product is in stock.