International Analysis of the Nutritional Content and a Review of Health Benefits of Non-Dairy Plant-Based Beverages.
Concerns about environmental impact and sustainability, animal welfare, and personal health issues have fueled consumer demand for dairy alternatives. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey of plant-based non-dairy beverages from three different continents (USA, Australia, and Western Europe) to assess their nutritional content and health profile. A total of 148 non-dairy beverages were analyzed from the nutrition label and ingredients listed on the commercial package or from the information located on the website of the manufacturer or retailer. The different types of beverages were extracts of nuts or seeds (n = 49), grains (n = 38), legumes (n = 36), coconut (n = 10), and mixed blends (n = 15). On average, the plant-based beverages generally scored well in terms of not containing high levels of sodium, saturated fat, or calories. Over half of the beverages were fortified with calcium to levels equal to or greater than that of dairy milk. The protein content varied from 0 to 10 g/serving. Levels of vitamin D and B12 fortification were quite low. Consumers should be informed of the nutritional profile and potential health benefits of plant-based dairy alternatives as the nutritional content can vary greatly between the different types of beverages.
['Craig|Winston J|WJ|', 'Fresán|Ujué|U|0000-0001-8140-4338']
D001315:Australia D002136:Calcium, Dietary D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D014676:Diet, Vegetarian D005060:Europe D007887:Fabaceae D005527:Food, Fortified D006801:Humans D041941:Milk Substitutes D009753:Nutritive Value D009754:Nuts D010936:Plant Extracts D012639:Seeds D014481:United States D014805:Vitamin B 12 D014807:Vitamin D
plant-based non-dairy beverages calcium protein vitamin D fortification nutrient composition plant-based milks sugar vitamin B12