So GoodPlant-Based Milks

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage

Published

Summary

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage is a sweetened, fortified almond drink sold as a dairy-free alternative to milk. It scores [F][L]CB3: nutrition is held up only by added calcium and vitamins, ingredients lose points because no vanilla is listed, and risk is moderate because of the added sugar. Best as an occasional drink, not a daily milk replacement.

Full summary

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage scores [L][F]CB3 on CleanPlate: nutrition C, ingredients B, load risk 3.

The [L] flag means the name or pack promises more than the ingredient list delivers. The [F] flag means added vitamins or minerals lift its nutrition grade.

60%33%

Tap a slice or a name to see what it is made of.

Share of calories, per 100 ml

  • Protein: 0.6 g per 100 ml, 6% of the calories.
  • Sugars: 6.5 g per 100 ml, 60% of the calories, of which 6.3 g is added.
  • Fat: 1.6 g per 100 ml, 33% of the calories, of which 0.1 g is saturated.
  • Fibre: 0.3 g per 100 ml, 1% of the calories (fibre counts at 2 kcal per gram).
Added sugar6.3 g
Saturated fat0.1 g
Sodium32 mg

The tick is the “high” line

Watch
High added sugar (6.3g per 100ml)
In its favour
Low sodium
On the pack
5 claims checked: 2 hold, 2 need care, 1 is misleading

Last reviewed October 30, 2026

Ingredients, decoded

10 listed
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Almond
  • Minerals
  • Flavour (Natural Flavour)
  • Emulsifier (INS 322)
  • Stabiliser (INS 418)
  • Edible Common Salt
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 500(ii))
  • Vitamins
High concernModerate concernLow concernNo concernIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more. How we rate additives
So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage pack, front view

1½ teaspoons of sugar in every 100 ml · 6.5 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon

FFortifiedLPack claim not backed upHigh sugarNutrition per 100 ml
CNutrition densityBIngredient integrity3Load risk
Nutrition facts
Energy43 kcal
Protein0.6 g
Carbohydrates6.7 g
Total sugars6.5 g
Added sugars6.3 g
Dietary fibre0.3 g
Total fat1.6 g
Saturated fat0.1 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium32 mg
Calcium154 mg
Vitamin B10.11 mg
Vitamin B20.15 mg
Vitamin B31.1 mg
Vitamin B50.38 mg
Vitamin B60.15 mg
Vitamin D1.1 µg
Folic acid23.1 µg
Vitamin B120.17 µg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Think this score is wrong?

What to know about So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage

Mostly water and sugar: 3% almond, no vanilla

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage is a 1 l carton of almond drink built from water, sugar and almond (3%), with added minerals, natural flavour, lecithin (322), gellan gum (418), salt, an acidity regulator (500(ii)) and vitamins. It is bought as a dairy-free, lactose-free milk alternative for tea, coffee, cereal and smoothies.

A 200 ml serve gives 86 kcal, 1.2 g protein, 12.6 g added sugar and 64 mg sodium. The added calcium is real: 154 mg per 100 ml, 308 mg per serve. What it costs is sugar, which is the second ingredient and comes ahead of the almonds, and very little protein or fibre.

The name promises vanilla, and the ingredient list has none: the taste comes from natural flavour. That is what sets the [L] flag. The pack also leans on calcium and vitamins, which are added rather than coming from the almonds. CleanPlate scores it [F][L]CB3.

Does So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage live up to its claims?

The calcium claim holds, but the vanilla in the name does not: none is listed. The almond claim is true but small, at 3%, about 6 g in a 200 ml serve.

  • Product name

    “So Good Vanilla”

    Misleading

    No vanilla is in the ingredient list. The taste comes from natural flavour, so an ingredient named in the product name is absent.

  • On the pack

    “High in Calcium”

    Holds

    154 mg per 100 ml, 308 mg in a 200 ml serve. It is added as minerals, not from the almonds.

  • On the pack

    “Every serving has approx 5 almonds”

    Be careful

    The pack works it out from 3% almond paste, 6 g in 200 ml, at 1.2 g per almond. True, but almond is a small part of the drink.

  • On the pack

    “Dairy Free”

    Be careful

    All ingredients are of non-animal origin, but the allergen line says it is processed in a factory that handles dairy.

  • On the pack

    “No Preservatives”

    Holds

    No preservative is listed. The lecithin, gellan gum and acidity regulator are additives but not preservatives.

Why So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage scores [L][F]CB3

Nutrition is a C only because of added calcium and vitamins; the macros give no credit. Ingredients are a B, held back by the missing vanilla and three additives. Risk is a 3, driven almost entirely by 6.3 g added sugar per 100 ml.

How we score →
01 Nutrition densityA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
0.6 g
Fibre
0.3 g
Vitamins and minerals
9 declared
Energy
43 kcal

01 Nutrition density: why C

Protein is 0.6 g and fibre 0.3 g per 100 ml, so the core nutrition earns no credit. Almond is only 3% of the drink.

The grade comes from added micronutrients: calcium, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, folate and vitamin D. Without that fortification the grade would be an E, so it rests on what was put in, not on the almonds.

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.

02 Ingredient integrityA to E
B

Good, few concerning additives

Base
Water
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
3
Flagged
None

02 Ingredient integrity: why B

The list is short and mostly plain: water, sugar, almond, minerals and vitamins. Natural flavour only, lecithin (322) and gellan gum (418) each cost ingredient points, and the sodium carbonate acidity regulator costs none.

The name says vanilla and no vanilla is listed. An ingredient named in the product name that is absent costs ingredient points and sets the [L] flag. Sugar has no declared percentage, which is a small label gap.

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Load risk1 to 5
3

Moderate risk

Added sugar
6.3 g
Sodium
32 mg
Saturated fat
0.1 g
Trans fat
0 g

03 Load risk: why 3

Added sugar is nearly all of the risk: 6.3 g per 100 ml, 12.6 g in a 200 ml serve.

Sodium is 32 mg per 100 ml, saturated fat 0.1 g and trans fat 0 g, so they add very little. Energy is 43 kcal per 100 ml and adds nothing to the risk number.

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

[F] Added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift this product's nutrition grade. Without them it would score lower.

[L] The name or pack claims promise more than the ingredient list delivers. See Claims vs reality.

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (6.3g per 100ml)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Low sodium

What's in So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage?

Water, sugar and a small share of almond lead the list. Watch the added sugar and the lack of any vanilla.

The ingredient list, read for you

Water leads, then sugar, then almond at 3%, the only declared percentage. Sugar has no stated share. Minerals and vitamins are added for fortification, with no forms named.

Natural flavour gives the taste in place of vanilla. Lecithin (322) mixes the oil and water, gellan gum (418) keeps the almond from settling, salt adds taste and the sodium carbonate acidity regulator (500(ii)) keeps the acidity steady.

Ingredients to watch

  • Added sugarConcern

    6.3 g per 100 ml, 12.6 g in a 200 ml serve, and sugar is listed ahead of the almonds. It drives the risk grade.

  • No vanilla in a vanilla drinkConcern

    The name promises vanilla, but only natural flavour is listed. This costs ingredient points and sets the [L] flag.

  • Lecithin and gellan gumWorth watching

    Lecithin (322) and gellan gum (418) are texture additives and each costs ingredient points.

  • FortificationWorth watching

    Calcium and eight vitamins are added. They lift the nutrition grade from E to C, but the almonds are 3% and give almost no protein or fibre.

  • Fat and cholesterolFine

    Saturated fat is 0.1 g per 100 ml, trans fat 0 g and cholesterol 0 mg.

What it doesn’t have

  • No vanilla is in the list, despite the name.
  • No percentage is given for the sugar.

Who should eat So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage?

A few times a week for most adults, and occasionally for children. The sugar, not the fat, is the limit: 12.6 g added sugar per 200 ml.

  • Most adultsA few times a week

    12.6 g added sugar per 200 ml adds up if it is your daily milk.

  • ChildrenOccasionally

    Added sugar with almost no protein, though calcium is useful.

  • Heart healthA few times a week

    Saturated fat is 0.1 g and cholesterol 0 mg, but the added sugar counts.

  • Lactose intoleranceA few times a week

    No lactose in the ingredients, but it is processed where dairy is handled.

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage: common questions

What is the CleanPlate score of So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage?

So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage is a sweetened, fortified almond drink sold as a dairy-free alternative to milk. It scores [F][L]CB3: nutrition is held up only by added calcium and vitamins, ingredients lose points because no vanilla is listed, and risk is moderate because of the added sugar. Best as an occasional drink, not a daily milk replacement. CleanPlate scores it [L][F]CB3: nutrition C, ingredients B, load risk 3 (A and 1 are best).

How many calories and how much protein are in So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage?

Per 100 ml, So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage has 43 kcal, 0.6 g protein, 6.7 g carbohydrate, 1.6 g fat and 0.1 g saturated fat. One serve (1 glass, 200 ml) has 86 kcal and 1.2 g protein.

What are the ingredients in So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage?

10 ingredients, in label order: Water, Sugar, Almond, Minerals, Flavour (Natural Flavour), Emulsifier (INS 322), Stabiliser (INS 418), Edible Common Salt, Acidity Regulator (INS 500(ii)), Vitamins.

Does So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage live up to its claims?

5 claims checked: 2 hold, 2 need care, 1 is misleading. "So Good Vanilla" is misleading: No vanilla is in the ingredient list. The taste comes from natural flavour, so an ingredient named in the product name is absent. "Every serving has approx 5 almonds" needs care: The pack works it out from 3% almond paste, 6 g in 200 ml, at 1.2 g per almond. True, but almond is a small part of the drink.

Who should limit So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage?

Most adults: a few times a week. 12.6 g added sugar per 200 ml adds up if it is your daily milk. Children: occasionally. Added sugar with almost no protein, though calcium is useful. Heart health: a few times a week. Saturated fat is 0.1 g and cholesterol 0 mg, but the added sugar counts.

How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage have?

Per 100 ml, So Good Vanilla Almond Beverage has 6.3 g added sugar, 32 mg sodium (about 0.1 g salt) and 0.1 g saturated fat. The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 5 g added sugar, 300 mg sodium and 2.5 g saturated fat per 100 ml. It is high in sugar.

Last reviewed October 30, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .

Label read on 30 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.

Score history (1)
DateScoreMethodWhy
30 October 2026CB3v5.0First scored

Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.

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