Vegans who also avoid lactose
You’re looking for a drink to add to your vegan shopping basket. The first thing to check is the ingredients: lactose-free milk can still contain milk, as do the Lactel and Candia products featured here.
Who is this guide for?
Regular plant-based drink shoppers
Whether you drink it on its own, pour it over cereal or use it in a recipe, you can compare the plant base, sugars and any added calcium or vitamins on each carton.
People who need to avoid certain ingredients
If you need to avoid soya, almonds, hazelnuts or other nuts, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the specific product you’re considering.
What should you check?
For a vegan shopping basket, start by checking where the ingredients come from. Once you’ve ruled out milk, compare plant-based drinks based on how you’ll use them and which ingredients you want to avoid.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Read the ingredients list: ‘lactose-free’ isn’t enough if the product contains milk. | I want to exclude milk from my shopping basket, even if I’m also looking for a lactose-free drink. Around 50% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Use and ingredients | Compare the plant base, sugars and any added calcium or vitamins, depending on how you plan to use it. | I want the ingredients to suit how I’ll use it in cereal, drinks or recipes. This would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients to avoid and storage | Check allergens, ‘may contain’ warnings and storage instructions after opening before buying several cartons. | I need to avoid certain ingredients or finish a carton within the stated time after opening. Around 20% of consumers would put these considerations first. |
Things to watch out for
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Confusing ‘lactose-free’ with ‘vegan’
The lactose-free products featured by Lactel and Candia contain milk and lactase. Their stated low lactose content doesn’t change the fact that they’re dairy products.
For a vegan shopping basket, start with the ingredients list rather than relying on the claim on the front of the pack.
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Forgetting about allergens when switching plant bases
The soya, almond and hazelnut products mentioned here contain the relevant ingredient. Some also warn that they may contain traces of other nuts.
If you need to avoid any of these ingredients, check the allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings on each carton.
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Assuming all plant-based drinks are the same
Ingredients, sugars and any added calcium or vitamins vary from one product to another. A ‘no added sugars’ recipe may still contain naturally occurring sugars.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific products you’re choosing between.
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Ignoring storage instructions after opening
Storage times vary: Lactel says to keep the product featured here chilled and use it within three days of opening, while the Auchan almond drink featured here should be used within five days.
Choose the carton size and quantity to suit how much you drink, then follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
If you can’t finish an opened carton within the stated time, it may go to waste.
Brands to compare
These ranges show the difference between lactose-free milk and plant-based drinks. Always check the specific product before adding it to your basket.
Lactel
Matin Léger includes lactose-free dairy milk, with skimmed and whole milk options among its products.
- Lactel states that the skimmed product featured here contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
- Milk is the first ingredient, so this product isn’t suitable for a vegan shopping basket.
Candia
The CANDIA+ range includes lactose-free milk with 1% fat. The brand also offers a fresh GrandLait product with lactase.
- Candia states that the CANDIA+ product featured here contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 ml.
- These products contain milk. The fresh version also needs to be kept chilled.
Alpro
The soya product featured by Carrefour is a plant-based drink intended for drinking or enjoying at breakfast, among other uses.
- This product is shown with added calcium and vitamins.
- It contains soya and sugar, so check the ingredients if you need to avoid either.
Carrefour Bio
The products featured include an organic plain soya drink and an organic rice and hazelnut drink.
- The ingredients shown for the plain soya drink include organic soya juice; the rice and hazelnut drink is described as having no added sugars.
- The first contains soya. The second contains hazelnut and may contain traces of other nuts.
Auchan
The product featured is a 1 L carton of almond drink.
- Auchan describes it as having no added sugars.
- It contains almonds, so check the label if you need to avoid nuts.
Plant-based drinks available on Joybuy
These oat, almond and soya drinks suit a range of uses, from coffee to cereal and recipes. Choosing a plant-based drink doesn’t mean you can skip checking the sugars, allergens and storage instructions for each carton.
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Alpro Oat Barista, 1 L
An oat drink to consider if you want to make a frothy plant-based coffee.
For frothing, keep the temperature below 65 °C and don’t froth the drink a second time. Check the label if you need to avoid gluten.
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Alpro Almond Unsweetened UHT, 1 L
This almond drink could be enjoyed with cereal, in a smoothie or in coffee, depending on the recipe you have in mind.
It contains almonds, so check for warnings about other nuts if you have an allergy. Follow the storage instructions on the carton after opening.
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Vitasoy Original Soy Milk, 6 × 250 ml
The pack of six 250 ml cartons could suit you if you want a soya drink to enjoy on its own or pour over cereal.
The recipe contains soya and the ingredients list includes sugar. After opening, keep the carton chilled and use within 24 hours, following the instructions on the pack.
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Alpro Almond Drink, 1 L
This 1 L almond drink can be enjoyed on its own, added to cereal or used in recipes.
It contains almonds and the ingredients list includes sugar. Check the carton for how soon to use it after opening.
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BJORG Organic Almond Milk Intense, 1 L
This almond drink could be a good choice for breakfast, a hot drink or a recipe if you’re looking for an almond-based option.
It contains almonds and may contain traces of other nuts. If you’re looking for a product with no added sugars, check the carton: the available information also lists cane sugar as an ingredient.
Frequently asked questions
Is lactose-free milk vegan?
No, not if it still contains milk, as is the case with the Lactel and Candia products featured here. ‘Lactose-free’ doesn’t mean the ingredients are plant-based, so check the ingredients before choosing.
Which plant base should I choose instead of milk?
Start by choosing according to how you’ll use it and which ingredients you’re happy to have. The soya, almond, oat and rice and hazelnut products featured here don’t all have the same ingredients. Compare the sugars, any added calcium or vitamins, and the allergens listed on each product.
Can I have a plant-based drink if I need to avoid soya or nuts?
Not necessarily: some products contain soya, almonds or hazelnuts, and they may warn that they contain traces of other nuts. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific carton before buying.
How long can I keep a carton after opening?
Follow the storage time and temperature shown on the carton you buy. For example, the Lactel milk featured here should be kept chilled and used within three days of opening, while Auchan says to use its almond drink within five days when kept chilled.