Sainsbury’s Launches Kid-Friendly Soy And Oat Milk

From plantbasednews.org

An increasing number of companies and supermarkets are producing everyday basics for families who are vegan or dairy-free 

Shoppers can now purchase kid-friendly soy and oat milk products at Sainsbury’s.

The British supermarket chain sells its own private-label plant-based milk drinks for children one year old and up, fortified with essential vitamins and nutrients.

Sainsbury’s 1+ Years Soya Drink and 1+ Years Oat Drink feature added calcium, iodine, and iron, as well as vitamins A, D, B2, and B12. The soy version is also low in sugar and contains around 6.5g of protein and 1.1g of fibre per 250ml serving.

The majority of British parents and guardians would like to see more healthy vegan food options for kids - Media Credit: Plant Based News

A 2022 report by The Vegan Society found that 66.9 percent of UK parents and guardians with children under 15 would like to see more healthy vegan food options for kids. Nearly 40 percent would like to see more vegan food products specifically aimed at children, and over 68 percent said the food industry could do more to develop kid-focused options.

In 2025, Alpro launched a new range of products specifically for kids, including plant-based milk and yogurts. At the time, the company said that its Alpro Kids range contains 30 percent less sugar than comparable products and is fortified with calcium, vitamin D2, and other essential nutrients, such as iodine and vitamin B12. 

In January of this year, the largest peer-reviewed study of its kind found that well-planned plant-based diets can aid children’s growth and support their heart health. In June, a separate study found that children and teenagers are more open to meat-free diets than adults, but can struggle to maintain them without familial support.

Roughly five percent of people in the UK are lactose intolerant, including kids.

Kids don’t eat enough plant-based foods

In July, a study found that kids and young people around the world are not eating enough nutritious, sustainable, plant-based foods. The authors noted that healthy foods such as beans, legumes, and other plants can help improve youth nutrition and contribute towards global Sustainable Development Goals like ending malnutrition.

According to Sainsbury’s, its oat and soy drinks for young kids can be part of a healthy, balanced diet from one year of age, but not as the main milk alternative for children under two. The products have an RRP of £1.70 per 1-litre carton.

https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/food/sainsburys-launches-kid-friendly-soy-milk/

What is the Best Plant-Based Milk for Coffee?

From veganuary.com

If you’re trying plant-based milk for the first time and can’t go without your daily coffee, you might be wondering which non-dairy option provides the best latte or the creamiest cappuccino.

What works best for you will depend on how you take your coffee. Oat milk is generally the best all-rounder for coffee, especially barista blends, since the fat and protein balance gives you the steam and froth you’d get from cow’s milk. Soya is a solid match for texture and protein content, while almond and coconut work better in black, iced or flavoured coffee.

In this blog, we’ll go through the options available in the UK and how to pick the best milk for your preferences.

Oat milk

Oat milk has become the UK’s most popular plant-based dairy alternative, as its thick and creamy texture rivals cow’s milk.

There are barista-style versions which have been specifically formulated to froth and hold their texture in coffee. Whether you prefer a latte, cappuccino, iced coffee or black coffee with a splash of milk, oat milk covers all bases.

                                                                                        Image Credit: Leon Seibert on Unsplash

Oat milk brands to look out for:

Oatly

Alpro

Plenish

Glebe Farm

Minor Figures

Moma

MYOM

Califia Farms

Oddlygood

Supermarket own-brand

Why it’s great: It’s the most widely available barista-style plant milk in the UK and reliable for all your caffeine-related needs.

Soya milk

For those who love milky coffees like lattes or flat whites, soya barista blends are one of your best bets alongside oat.

Soya milk has a naturally sweet taste which is loved by many. However, it has a lighter texture than oat, which means it doesn’t have quite the same frothing and foaming abilities. Standard (non-barista) soya milk splits or curdles when added to hot espresso or instant coffee, so stick to a barista version where you can.

Soya milk brands to look out for:

Alpro

Plenish

Grower’s Harvest

Glebe Farm

Rude Health

Sojade

Supermarket own-brand

Why it’s great: It’s higher in protein than many plant milks, froths up pretty well and is one of the cheaper dairy alternatives.

Almond milk

Almond milk has a subtly nutty taste, which some people love. It’s lighter than alternatives like oat or hazelnut milk, so it works well in iced coffee.

There are several barista-style versions available, which froth up well for lattes and flat whites. The standard versions have a thinner texture than oat and soya and can curdle in Americanos or instant coffee. If almond milk is your preference, it may take some experimenting to get the right brand for you.

Almond milk brands to look out for:

Alpro

Plenish

Rude Health

Almond Breeze

Supermarket own-brand

Why it’s great: It’s a popular choice for iced coffee and widely available across UK coffee chains. 

Hazelnut milk

Hazelnut milk has a creamy texture and a distinctly nutty flavour, stronger than almond milk. Its thickness means it froths well and holds up in hot espresso-based drinks.

The taste also pairs well with mochas and other flavoured or dessert-style coffee drinks.

Hazelnut milk brands to look out for:

Alpro

Rude Health

Oddly Good

Why it’s great: A distinctive flavour for anyone who likes a stronger kick to their coffee.

Coconut milk

Coconut milk offers a tropical, sweet flavour, but doesn’t have the same thick and creamy consistency as other plant milk options.

It works well in iced coffee, sweeter drinks or anything where you want that richness to come through. Although there are barista options available, they are not as easy to come by as other dairy alternatives.

Coconut milk brands to look out for:

Alpro

Plenish

Koko

Rude Health

Why it’s great: Offers a tropical flavour if you want a change from your usual coffee order.

Cashew milk

Cashew milk has a subtly nutty taste and froths moderately well in a latte or cappuccino. It doesn’t tend to curdle in Americano or instant coffee drinks, making it a reliable option.

Cashew milk brands to look out for:

Plenish

Rude Health

Why it’s great: Gives a creamy, subtly nutty flavour that sits between almond and hazelnut.

                                                                                                              Image Credit: AdobeStock

Pea milk

Yes, pea milk is a thing and it really does work in coffee (don’t worry – it’s not green and it doesn’t actually taste of peas).

While not widely available in the UK, it’s an option for those avoiding oat, soya and nut milks and offers a surprisingly smooth, creamy taste. Choose a barista version if you want to use pea milk for flat whites, lattes and frothy coffees.

Brands to look out for in the UK:

Sproud

Mighty

Why it’s great: Packed with calcium and protein and a handy option for those with allergies to nuts or soya.

Best-performing plant milks for coffee

Here are the plant milks that tend to stand out among reviewers for lattes, cappuccinos and other milky coffees drinks:

Oatly Oat Drink Barista Edition – Often considered the gold standard of plant milks for coffee. It’s formulated specifically for steaming and frothing and is widely used in coffee shops.

Minor Figures Organic Barista Oat Drink – Used in coffee shops, Minor Figures’ barista oat milk has rave reviews for its frothing ability and texture.

Alpro Barista Oat Drink – Reviewers love this option and it’s available in many supermarkets. It does a good job of frothing for lattes, flat whites and lattes and has a creamy texture.

Plenish Organic Soya Barista Milk – People love this soya barista milk because it froths nicely and has a natural sweetness.

MOMA Barista Oat Drink – A reliable option if you want a creamy oat milk that works well in all your favourite hot drinks.

Alpro Barista Almond Drink – Reviewers have raved about the nutty flavour of Alpro’s almond barista milk and how well it complements their hot drinks.

Califia Farms Oat Barista Blend – Another standout. Reviewers have praised its ability to froth up well and its taste.

Sproud Barista – Designed for all your coffee-related needs, from creating latte art to splashing in your filter coffee. Reviewers are impressed with the texture and how well it steams up.

If you don’t like the first non-dairy milk you try, don’t be put off. There are so many brands and options so it may take some experimenting. We’re certain you’ll find your new favourite before long!

https://veganuary.com/best-plant-milk-coffee/

Which plant 'milk' is best? A clear guide

From bbc.co.uk/food

Whether you have a dairy intolerance, want to cut back on animal products or just prefer the taste, there are plenty of alternatives to dairy milk to choose from.

But how do they compare when it comes to flavour, nutrition and environmental impact?

That's tricky to answer, says Day Radley, external, chef and founder of The Vegan Chef School. "There can be a big difference between brands, even when they use the same base ingredient."

Still, there's lots to consider and to read on their labels. Here's what to consider when you're next in the supermarket.

                                                                                                                   Getty Images

Quick answer: which plant 'milk' is best?

• Best for protein: Soya or pea

• Best for coffee: Oat

• Best for lowest climate impact: Soya, oat or pea

• Lowest calories: Almond

• Avoid for under-5s: Rice

What do you use plant 'milk' for?

Plant 'milks' can replace dairy in most recipes and hot drinks, although nut 'milks' may thicken sauces more quickly.

What to check on the label

Dairy milk is a good source of calcium and protein, so registered nutritionist Charlotte Radcliffe, external says to look out for plant-based 'milks' fortified with calcium, vitamin B12 and iodine "to ensure you're getting enough of these important nutrients".

But watch out for organic options – "by law, organic milk alternatives cannot be fortified."

Radcliffe says that long-life and chilled plant-based 'milks' are nutritionally similar, and to choose unsweetened versions.

"If you're looking for a plant-based milk alternative with similar nutritional values to cow's milk, soya and pea drinks are my recommended go-tos," she says.

                  Banana cocoa crunch overnight oats  This recipe for overnight oats uses soya 'milk'  BBC Food

Are plant-based 'milks' ultra-processed foods?

"While over 90% of plant-based 'milks' would be considered ultra-processed because they're created from food components and substances (flavours, stabilisers or preservatives) not used in normal cooking, this isn't actually a problem," says professor Janet Cade, external, from the University of Leeds' school of food science and nutrition.

These additions mean the 'milks' last longer and have a similar mouthfeel to cow's milk.

Which plant 'milk' is best for the environment?

"On a climate change basis, I'd say any plant 'milk' is better than cow's milk," says the University of York's professor Sarah Bridle, external, author of Food and Climate Change.

Environmental impact varies by farming system, transport and processing methods.

A 2022 study on the environmental impact of foods, external estimated that cow's milk produced 3.7kg of greenhouse gas emissions per litre of milk, compared to 0.98kg for soya 'milk', 0.66kg for almond 'milk' and 0.45kg for oat 'milk'.

How do the most popular plant-based 'milks' stack up?

Soya 'milk'

Nutritionally, this neutral-tasting 'milk' is the best swap for cow's milk because it has a similar amount of protein, according to Radcliffe.

"It's low in saturated fats and a source of healthy unsaturated fats."

While soya beans do have a bad reputation for driving deforestation in the Amazon, it's reported that 77% of soya grown globally is for animal feed, and only 7% is used for human food products (such as tofu and 'milk').

Oat 'milk'

"Oat 'milk' is very creamy, so it works very well in hot drinks like coffee," says Radley.

Oat 'milk' is low in protein and often higher in energy (calories) than other alternatives, Radcliffe says. It also contains more 'free sugars', external that are created by starch when the oats are broken down, which the NHS advises us to limit, external.

Oat 'milk' has a much lower environmental impact, external on land, water and greenhouse gases than cow's milk.

Almond 'milk'

The flavour of almond 'milk' is nutty but the strength can vary depending on the percentage of nuts it contains.

It's low in calories, saturated fats and protein, says Radcliffe.

                          Mushroom and ale pie   Almond 'milk' is used in the pastry for this rich pie  BBC Food

While almonds have low greenhouse gas emissions, they can require a lot of water, external to grow compared to other nuts.

Rice 'milk'

"Rice 'milk' can be very sweet and thin," says Radley.

It doesn't score highly nutritionally, either. Low in saturated fats and protein, it's often higher in calories and free sugars than other alternatives.

"Rice drinks are also not recommended for children under the age of five due to their arsenic content, external," she explains. "Arsenic is naturally present in our environment and can inadvertently be absorbed into crops – rice has been shown to absorb more than other cereal crops."

Rice 'milk' has higher greenhouse gas emissions than soya, almond and oat, and is another thirsty crop, external.

Pea 'milk'

Pea 'milk' is made with protein sourced from yellow split peas and has a creamy, mildly sweet taste.

"Pea 'milk' has comparative amounts of protein to cow's milk and is low in saturated fats, so this is a good option for anyone who is allergic to soya and wants to avoid dairy," says Radcliffe.

It has one of the lightest environmental footprints, external, with one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions and low water requirements.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/cwy9zlxjywgo