Oat and almond milks outperform coconut in Austria's nutrition review

A new review of plant-based milk alternatives in Austria has revealed stark differences in nutritional quality. While many oat and almond products meet health guidelines, coconut-based options often fall short. The findings highlight how ingredients affect sugar and fat levels across different brands.

The study, conducted by SIPCAN, assessed drinkable and spoonable plant-based milk alternatives sold in Austria. Results showed that about 90% of drinkable products met the organisation's nutritional standards. In contrast, only 25% of spoonable versions passed the same checks.

Among the alternatives, coconut-based products performed the worst. On average, they contained 7.1 grams of sugar and 6.5 grams of fat per 100 grams or millilitres. Just 12% of these met SIPCAN's criteria for sugar, fat, and no added sweeteners. Oat and almond milks fared far better. Oat drinks averaged 4.3 grams of sugar and 1.9 grams of fat, while almond versions had 2.1 grams of each. Around 85% of these products fully complied with the nutritional guidelines. Overall, the review found that one in three plant-based milk alternatives in Austria failed to meet SIPCAN's standards. No data was available on market growth or sales trends in Austria or Europe over the past two years.

The report underscores the variability in plant-based milk alternatives, with coconut drinks lagging behind oat and almond options. Consumers looking for lower-sugar, lower-fat choices may need to check labels carefully. The findings provide a clear snapshot of current nutritional quality in Austria's market.