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Trader Joe's Almond Beverage Vanilla Unsweetened
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Almond-based drinks

Trader Joe's Almond Beverage Vanilla Unsweetened

Good out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
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Why it scores 68

Trader Joe's Almond Beverage Vanilla Unsweetened scores 68 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, flavoring and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. Emerging
  3. Calcium phosphate: EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better plant milks

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Almond Beverage Vanilla Unsweetened

START100

Ingredients

  • Calcium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [1]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [2][3]
  • Gellan gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [3]
  • Sunflower lecithin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [3]
  • Locust bean gum
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [3]
subtotal−10.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [3]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, flavoring and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [3]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 ml

  • Energy 13 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [4]
subtotal−1
TOTAL 68Good

100 − 32.5 = 67.5 → 68

GTIN 00009100004741 · 2026-01-30

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy13 kcal
Fat1 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates0.4 g
Sugars0.4 g
Added sugars0 g
Protein0.4 g
Salt0.2 g

Serving: 240ml

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

ALMOND BASE been a (FILTERED WATER, ALMOND), TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SEA SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, GELLAN GUM, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, LOCUST BEAN GUM, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, ERGOCALCIFEROL (VITAMIN D2), DL-ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E). good drin SHAKE W PE KEEP REF USE WIT AFTE CONTAINS ALMONDS. NOT FOR U FOR

Allergens and diets

Contains: Tree nuts

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Composite material

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest almond-based drinks in the US

More from Trader Joe's

Sources

  1. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  2. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  3. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  4. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  5. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  6. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org