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Plant-based drinks under 2 years

In the body: Most plant drinks carry very little protein and are low in fat and calories, so paediatricians and dietitians advise against them in place of cow’s milk before age two.

Not rated by dose: a flag on 3 reviewed foods, among them Almond drink, unsweetened, fortified, Oat drink, unsweetened, fortified and Soy drink, unsweetened, fortified.

Pregnancy, babies and young children. Stricter agency advice for these stages of life. Gram figures elsewhere on this site count a 70 kg adult, unadjusted for pregnancy, babies or young children; the advice here is the agency’s own for them.

All hazards

The reference value and where it comes from

  • The agency’s figureno agency dose value
  • BasisCanadian paediatric and dietitian advice (not an agency numeric limit): CPS and Dietitians of Canada (2017) call soy, rice and other plant-based beverages, whether or not fortified, inappropriate alternatives to cow milk in the first two years; Health Canada's guidance for birth to six months says they are not appropriate as a breastmilk substitute. No intake number.
  • Source Canadian Paediatric Society 2017

Reviewed foods that carry it

3 reviewed foods carry it; none is rated by dose.

How often you can eat it

No food here is rated by dose. Each line says why it’s listed: a flag for the people the source names, advice on handling it, or context.

Flags and context, not rated by dose

  • Almond drink, unsweetened, fortified

    Worth knowing

    Canadian Paediatric Society 2017 · grade B

    How it’s rated

    Flagged for children under 2: Health Canada says plant-based beverages, whether or not fortified, are not an appropriate alternative to breast milk, formula or cow's milk in the first two years. Almond drink is also low in protein and energy (0.55 g and 15 kcal per 100 g), and only soy-fortified beverages are named as an exception for later childhood.

    Intake: not applicable (flag)

    Measured on: not stated in the draft

  • Oat drink, unsweetened, fortified

    Worth knowing

    Canadian Paediatric Society 2017 · grade B

    How it’s rated

    Flagged for children under two: plant beverages, fortified or not, are not an appropriate alternative to breast milk, formula or cow's milk in the first two years. Oat drink is also low in protein, 0.80 g per 100 g.

    Intake: not applicable (flag)

    Measured on: not stated in the draft

  • Soy drink, unsweetened, fortified

    Worth knowing

    Canadian Paediatric Society 2017 · grade B

    How it’s rated

    Flagged for children under two: Canadian paediatric and dietitian bodies advise that soy and other plant beverages, fortified or not, are not appropriate alternatives to cow's milk in the first two years. The source is a 2017 news release from the Canadian Paediatric Society and Dietitians of Canada.

    Intake: not applicable (flag)

    Measured on: not stated in the draft

Sources