Plant-based milk alternatives
Friendly Farms Original CocunutMilk
1.89 L
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
Why it scores 38
Friendly Farms Original CocunutMilk scores 38 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 7.5 points Carrageenan: In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher carrageenan intake was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes; cause and effect is not established. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better plant milks
-
Almondmilk Silk · 64 fl oz (1.89 L) Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 92 out of 100 , 54 points higher -
Organic Unsweetened Soymilk Silk · 64 fl oz No added sugars · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 78 out of 100 , 40 points higher -
almond MALK ORGANIC CHOCOLATE MALK Organics · 28 fl oz/1.75 PT/828 mL Not ultra-processed · No gut-studied emulsifiers Score 79 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Original Unsweetened Oat Milk Willa's Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 100 out of 100 , 62 points higher -
Barista Oat Light Minor Figures Not ultra-processed · No added sugars Score 78 out of 100 , 40 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Original CocunutMilk
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
- Guar gum minus 1.5 points
- Gellan gum minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 1.5 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Sugars 2.6 g / 100 ml minus 6 points
- Saturated fat 2 g / 100 ml minus 1 points
- Energy 31 kcal / 100 ml minus 3 points
100 − 62.5 = 37.5 → 38
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 31 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 2.2 g |
| Saturated fat | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 2.2 g |
| Sugars | 2.6 g |
| Added sugars | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0.2 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Serving: 8.0 oz
Ingredients
- coconutmilk (filtered water, coconut cream) (not recognized)
- cane sugar (high concern)
- calcium carbonate
- carrageenan (moderate concern)
- natural flavors
- guar gum
- gellan gum
- vitamin a palmitate
- vitamin d2
- vitamin b12
Label text, as published
coconutmilk (filtered water, coconut cream), cane sugar, calcium carbonate, carrageenan, natural flavors, guar gum, gellan gum, vitamin a palmitate, vitamin d2, vitamin b12, contains: coconut,
Allergens and diets
Contains: Tree nuts
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“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
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org