Text | Dairy Home Liquid Milk Evaluation and Research Center
As more and more people pay attention to the healthy, environmentally friendly and fashionable lifestyle brought by vegetarian food, plant-based drinks have been favored by more and more consumers. As a result, in order to meet the diversified consumer needs of consumers, but also in order to expand their own product architecture to enhance competitiveness, many dairy companies have increased their plant-based drinks, and during this period, some cutting-edge brands specializing in plant-based have emerged.
After the launch of soy milk products to achieve good results, companies have launched oat milk drinks, the plant-based drinks are further subdivided, oat milk does not contain lactose, while containing milk does not have grain nutrition, but also effectively solves the problem of lactose intolerance and milk allergy people.
So how to choose so many oat milk brands on the market? Based on this, in order to solve the confusion of consumers, Dairy Home, a big data service platform dedicated to providing dairy product evaluation and comparison for 1.4 billion Chinese people, specially selected 7 best-selling oat milk on the market: plant selection, flavor full plant pure strength, OATLY, vita milk, wheat Ouye, Daily Box, Ozak, respectively from the corporate background, plant base, nutritional ingredients, nutritional supplements, sugars, food additives, price and word of mouth and other aspects of multi-dimensional horizontal comparative evaluation.
Pre-test instructions:
Oat milk has not yet issued a national standard for oat milk categories, and the oat milk products on the market mainly follow the national standard of beverages.
The main reference provisions of this issue of evaluation are: the national standard "GB 7101-2015 national standard for food safety beverages" and the national standard "GB28050-2011 national standard for food safety General Rules for prepackaged food nutrition labeling".
This evaluation is initiated by the Dairy Home Liquid Milk Evaluation Research Center, the products purchased by the evaluation, all the costs required for the evaluation are borne by the Dairy Home, the whole process is at its own expense, and does not accept sponsorship from any brand merchants. This evaluation is a non-profit activity, without any commercial purpose, all links adhere to the principle of objectivity and fairness, seek truth from facts, do not ignore the advantages of any product, but also do not hide the shortcomings of any product.
Objective, professional and valuable, it is the professional ethics upheld by Dairy Home, which aims to provide consumers with valuable decision-making references. If you have any comments or suggestions about our evaluation report, please leave a comment to point out that if it makes sense, we will carefully adopt it.
1. Background checks
Second, plant-based
Plant-based is the raw material for making plant-based products, just like raw milk for milk products, which directly determines the quality of the product.
The plant bases of these 7 products are different, and the following table is the plant-based breakdown of these 7 products.
(1) Oats
Oats are cultivated worldwide, but the main concentrated production area is the temperate region of the Northern Hemisphere. The northern foothills of the Yin Mountains in central Inner Mongolia are known as the world's main producers of golden oats.
Oats are rich in linoleic acid, protein, amino acids, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E, niacin, folic acid and dietary fiber, etc., of which soluble dietary fiber (the main ingredient is β-dextran) accounts for about 1/3 of the total dietary fiber, which is significantly higher than other cereals. Oats have the effects of lowering cholesterol, lowering blood lipids, regulating blood sugar, improving constipation, and controlling weight.
(2) Oat flour
Oat flour is highly refined from flour made of hulled oats, and oat flour is processed at a deeper level than oats, destroying some of the original nutrition of oats, so oat flour is not as good as oats in nutrition.
brief summary:
●Plant selection, flavor whole plant pure strength, OATLY, daily box, Ozark plant base is oats, in the production of oats retain all the nutrients
● The plant base of Vitasoy and Wheat Oye is oat flour, which is not as nutritious as the other 5 products
Third, the nutritional composition
Vegetable milk is a plant milk or plant drink made from plant seeds (such as soybeans, walnuts, peanuts, etc.) or fruits (such as coconuts, etc.) containing protein and fat, without a drop of milk, and its main nutrients are derived from plant-based.
calcium
Grains, nuts and other plants themselves are rich in calcium, but the absorption effect is not as good as milk, and the main raw material of plant milk on the market is water, making the overall calcium content of the product very low. Some products add nutrients such as calcium carbonate to increase the calcium content of plant milk.
"GB7101-2015 - National Standard for Food Safety Beverages" does not stipulate the calcium content.
According to the "GB 28050-2011 National Standard for Food Safety, General Principles for Prepackaged Food Nutrition Labeling", 15% NRV per 100ml ≥ can be claimed to be "high", according to the standard of China's food label nutrient reference value (NRV), the calcium content per 100ml ≥120mg (800mg×15% = 120mg) can be called "high calcium".
●Wheat Oye, Vitasoy, OATLY, and FlavorEdura Pure Strength are marked with calcium content, all of which meet high calcium standards
●The calcium content of Ozark, daily box, and plant selection is not marked
2. Protein
Plant milk is rich in plant proteins. Plant protein is a kind of protein, derived from plants, comprehensive nutrition, similar to animal protein, easy to be digested and absorbed by the human body, with a variety of physiological health care functions. Some nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, almonds, etc. contain high protein (15%-30%), legumes such as some dried beans can have a protein content of up to about 40%, especially soybeans are more prominent in legumes. It is not only high in protein content, but also of high quality, and is a good source of protein for human food. Plant-based protein is the main source of protein in the diet of vegetarians.
"GB7101-2015 - National Standard for Food Safety Beverages" does not require protein content.
● The protein content of these 7 oat milk is not high, and the main ingredient in the product is water
3. Fat
Vegetable fats are natural polymer compounds made from the combination of fatty acids and glycerol, mainly extracted from the fruits in plants. Plants are mostly unsaturated fatty acids, mostly found in soybeans, peanuts, and tree nuts.
Unsaturated fats can ester cholesterol, lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides, reduce blood viscosity, improve blood microcirculation, etc.
"GB7101-2015 - National Standard for Food Safety Beverages" does not require fat content.
4. Carbohydrates
Plant milk does not contain raw milk, so the carbohydrate content of plant milk has no lactose component, which is suitable for lactose intolerant people. The carbohydrates in plants are rich in dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and prevent constipation; it can lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. The dietary fiber content in plants is very low, and if additional sugars are added to plant milk, the carbohydrate content will increase accordingly.
● The carbohydrate content of these 7 oat milk is not low, especially the wheat Oye is the highest, indicating that the amount of added sugar is high
5. Sodium
Only coconut milk has the highest sodium content in plant-based, and not high sodium in soybeans, oats and badan wood. Some plant milk will add table salt in order to adjust the taste, and edible salt will increase the sodium content of plant milk.
An appropriate amount of sodium can ensure the balance of water in the body, regulate the water and osmotic pressure in the body, and maintain the acid-base balance in the body. Sodium in the human body is not easy to lack, excessive intake is not accumulated, relatively speaking, it is still relatively easy to control.
Dietary fiber
The okara of almond wood and soybeans is rich in dietary fiber, and some plant milk will add fructooligosaccharides, polydextrose, etc., which are also dietary fiber. Dietary fiber promotes intestinal peristalsis, which speeds up bowel movements, prevents constipation and reduces the risk of bowel cancer. Dietary fiber also has the functions of significantly reducing plasma cholesterol, regulating gastrointestinal function and insulin levels.
●The dietary fiber content of plant selection is the highest, which is related to the addition of polydextrose
●Flavored Whole Plant Pure Strength and Vitasoy are not labeled with dietary fiber content
Fourth, ingredients
1. Nutritional supplements
Nutritional supplements, also known as nutritional enhancers, refer to the addition of one or more nutrients or certain natural foods to food according to nutritional needs to improve the nutritional value of food. It can not only supplement the nutritional deficiencies of natural foods, but also improve the nutritional content and proportion of foods to meet consumers' nutritional needs.
Each nutritional supplement has a different function, and the following is analyzed according to the nutritional supplements added to these 7 products.
(1) Rapeseed oil
Rapeseed oil is a kind of edible oil squeezed from rapeseed, the main components are oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, tocopherols and rapeseed sterols. Rapeseed oil contains unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and nutrients such as vitamin E can be well absorbed by the body, and has a certain effect of softening blood vessels and delaying aging.
(2) Calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate, which can be used as an additive in the food industry, belongs to a calcium supplement, with an absorption rate of up to 39%, second only to calcium frucate, which is soluble in gastric acid, and has become the most available and most used calcium supplement.
However, the absorption effect of calcium carbonate in the human body is not very ideal. Adding too much calcium, iron, zinc and other inorganic salts to milk, if it cannot be absorbed, will cause a great burden on the human kidneys and digestive system.
(3) Vegetable oil
Vegetable oil is the oil obtained from the fruits, seeds and germs of plants, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, flax oil, castor oil, rapeseed oil and so on. Vegetable oil mainly contains vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium and other minerals, fatty acids and so on.
(4) Walnut sauce
Walnut sauce is made by breaking up the fried walnut kernels into a blender, adding brown sugar and stirring into a puree, heating it, with a certain sugar content. Walnuts are rich in nutritional value, and have the reputation of "long live seeds", "longevity fruits" and "health treasures". Walnuts are rich in copper, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid and vitamin B1, and also contain fiber, phosphorus, niacin, iron, vitamin B2 and pantothenic acid, as well as a variety of vitamins such as carotene and riboflavin. Each 100 grams contains 15 to 20 grams of protein, more fat, and 10 grams of carbohydrates.
● These 7 kinds of oat milk are all added with vegetable oil to replenish fat elements
●Aqua Plant Pure Strength, OATLY, Vita Milk, and Wheat Oye add calcium carbonate to supplement calcium
2. Sugars
The sugars in this review don't just refer to white sugar as we know it. Sugars are an important class of organic compounds that are widely distributed in nature. Sucrose for daily consumption, starch in grain, cellulose in plants, glucose in human blood, etc. are all sugars.
The following is a detailed description of the sugars added to these 7 products according to the table above.
(1) White sugar
"GB 13104-2014 National Standard for Food Safety Sugar" defines white sugar as sugar crystallization made of sugar cane or sugar beet as raw material, processed by extracting sugar juice, purifying treatment, boiling crystallization and honey sharing. Excessive sucrose intake can lead to excessive calorie intake, which can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and people with diabetes fasting or eating less.
(2) Polydextrose
Polydex is a water-soluble dietary fiber, a low-calorie, low-glycemic index special carbohydrate that has no sweetness and is only 25% of the calories of sucrose. It can regulate lipid metabolism, reduce cholesterol, reduce sugar absorption, prevent constipation, detoxify and nourish the face, and promote the absorption of mineral elements. Polydextrose is also a prebiotic, which has a proliferative effect on probiotics such as Bifidobacterium youth, Bifidobacterium infantus, and Bifidobacterium longum.
(3) Erythritol
Erythritol is fermented from glucose, fructose, etc., has a mild cool feeling when dissolved in the mouth, the sweetness is only 60%-70% of sucrose, zero calorie, does not participate in sugar metabolism and blood sugar changes, does not cause caries, so it is suitable for diabetes and obese patients to eat.
● Vitasoy is added with white sugar, which is a bit too outdated in the Chinese dairy and food and beverage industries that are currently popular with zero sucrose
●FlavorEdure Pure Strength, OATLY, Daily Box, Ozark without additional added sucrose
●The plant selection is added with polydextrose, which is dietary fiber
●Wheat Oye added erythritol, combined with its carbohydrate content, the amount of addition is higher. Although sugar substitutes do not cause blood sugar to rise, they do not mean that they are harmless, and the intake of sugar substitutes should also be taken seriously
3. Food additives
According to the provisions of China's Food Sanitation Law (1995), food additives are artificial synthetic or natural substances added to food to improve the quality of food color, aroma, taste, etc., as well as for the needs of preservatives and processing processes, and food additives in dairy products mainly include thickeners, emulsifiers, stabilizers, colorants, flavors, etc.
Additives in dairy products should be added in accordance with the requirements of GB 2760-2014 National Standard for Food Safety and Standards for the Use of Food Additives.
Most of the dairy products sold on the market are now added with food additives, which are added in the prescribed dose and will not pose a threat to the health of the body, so there is no need to worry about the harm of food additives.
The role of each food additive is different, and the following is analyzed according to the food additives added to these 7 products.
(1) Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate
Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate is mainly used as acidity regulator, anti-caking agent, stabilizer and so on in the food industry.
(2) Microcrystalline cellulose
In the food industry, microcrystalline cellulose, as an ideal food additive for edible fiber, can maintain the stability of emulsification and foaming, is often used as a stabilizer, has almost no potential toxicity, and can cause mild diarrhea when used in large quantities.
(3) Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener. Protein is easy to agglomerate and separate, especially products with low pH value, protein must coagulate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose can effectively solve these problems, which is dissolved in water into a transparent stable colloid, which can stabilize proteins, while reducing the surface tension between fat and water, so that fat is fully emulsified.
(4) Tricalcium phosphate
Tricalcium phosphate is a food additive that can be used as an anti-caking agent, acidity regulator, buffer, moisture retention agent and so on in food. But at the same time, tricalcium phosphate is also a safe nutritional enhancer, which can enhance the intake of calcium and can also be used to prevent or treat symptoms of calcium deficiency.
(5) Mono and diglyceride fatty acid esters
Mono and diglyceride fatty acid esters are mainly used as emulsifiers in food.
(6) Citrus fiber
Citrus fiber is a type of fiber derived from citrus fruits, is a natural source of food raw materials, is a high-quality insoluble dietary fiber. Citrus fiber also has some functional characteristics in food processing, such as water retention, oil retention, viscosity, gel properties and certain emulsification stability, so it is mainly used as thickener, emulsifier and so on in food.
(7) Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda, which is weakly alkaline and can neutralize sourness, and in food processing, it is one of the most widely used loose agents and can be used as a leavening agent.
● The daily box does not add food additives, which is in line with the current trend of zero sucrose in China's dairy and food industry
● Although Wheat Oye has added 6 kinds of food additives, they are all added within the scope of national regulations and will not cause harm to the body
5. Price
For most families, when buying yogurt, not only pay attention to product safety, but also pay attention to product quality, and pay more attention to product price. Spending the least amount of money to buy the best yogurt should be a common desire of all consumers.
Since its inception, Dairy Home has been designed to help Chinese and even global consumers choose dairy products with better quality and fairer prices. Through our objective and professional assessment and comparison, we aim to provide more consumers with valuable, objective and professional decision-making references.
Because the product specifications are different, the "gram unit price" is an indicator of the price of each product. Next, we counted the prices and grams of 7 oat milk products:
Note: The above price data comes from channels such as Jingdong's official flagship store, most of the products are more or less buy-free, so the retail price is not an absolute value, because the promotion time and promotion intensity will change in real time, so it is for reference only.
● The price of these 7 oat milk is not high
Warm tips: there is no inevitable connection between the price level and the quality of good or bad, when purchasing products, consumers should conduct a comprehensive study of product quality according to their own conditions and product quality, and then make the final rational choice.
Sixth, word of mouth
The following table is the reputation of the company that belongs to the 7 oat milk.
● Judging from the word-of-mouth chart, the sampling pass rate of these 7 oat milk enterprises in the past five years is 100%, indicating that the production safety of these 7 enterprises is sufficiently guaranteed, and the production capacity and inspection ability of the enterprises to which the products belong are trustworthy
● This behavior of Vitasoy exposes its low political consciousness and is a complete and wanton violation of the bottom line of principle, which cannot be forgiven by all consumers
● The e-commerce praise rate of Vitasoy is the lowest among these 7 oat milk, and the remaining 6 oat milk is above 96%.
VII. Summary of this issue
There are so many best-selling oat milk brands on the market, which ones are worth choosing and which are not worth choosing? Around this topic, the Dairy Home Liquid Milk Evaluation and Research Center conducted a horizontal comparison evaluation of the above 7 oat milk and made the following recommendations:
Recommended Product 1: Daily Box
Recommended for:
The daily box has a protein content of 1.4g/100ml, the highest of these 7 products
The carbohydrate content of the daily box is 5.9g/100ml, ranking fifth among these 7 products
The daily box does not have added sucrose
The daily box does not contain food additives
Recommended product 2: Ozark
With a carbohydrate content of 5.2g/100ml, Ozark ranks seventh among these 7 products
Ozark has no added sucrose
Ozark added only 1 food additive, a smaller number
Recommended product 3: Plant selection
The content of dietary fiber is 3.2g/100ml, which is the highest among these 7 products
No added sucrose is added to the plant selection
Only 2 kinds of food additives were added to the plant selection, and the number was small
The unit price of Zhixuank ranks sixth among these 7 products, which is cost-effective
Recommended Product 4: Taste Full Plant Pure Power
The pure strength calcium content of Aqua Total Plant is 120mg/100ml, which meets the high calcium standard
Flavor Whole Plant Pure Power without added sucrose
Flavor Whole Plant Pure Strength only added 2 kinds of food additives, and the number is small
Recommended Product 5: OATLY
The OATLY calcium content is 120mg/100ml, which meets the high calcium standard
OATLY has no added sucrose
OATLY only added 2 food additives, a smaller number
Recommended Product 6: Wheat Oye
The calcium content of wheat Oye is 120mg/100ml, which meets the high calcium standard
Wheat Oye used erythritol instead of sucrose
Product 1 is not recommended: Vitasoy
Reasons not to recommend:
Vitasoy plant base is oat flour, which is not as nutritious as oats
Vitasoy has a protein content of 0.7g/100ml, the lowest of the 7 products
Vitasoy is made with sucrose, which is a bit too outdated in China's dairy and food and beverage industries, which are currently popular with zero sucrose
Vitasoy has negative headlines about political positions
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