Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) said on the 20th that a quality comparison and evaluation of plant-based beverages found that the protein content of black soybean soy milk is at a level similar to milk.

Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) on this day released test and evaluation results on the safety, including nutrients, of 11 plant-based beverage products. The results showed that plant-based beverages displayed clear differences in nutrient composition depending on the ingredients used.

Lee Jeong-bin, head of the Food Microbiology Team at the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA), presents the test and evaluation results on nutrient content—including vitamins and minerals—and safety factors such as microorganisms and heavy metals for 11 plant-based beverages at the Korea Fair Trade Commission in the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong on the 20th./Courtesy of News1

In particular, black soybean soy milk was found to have protein and fat contents at levels similar to commercially sold sterilized milk (based on 190 ml). Accordingly, there was an analysis that plant-based beverages could be an alternative for consumers who have difficulty consuming milk due to lactose intolerance. Per pack of black soybean soy milk contained 4–9 g of protein and 4–7 g of fat, higher than other plant-based beverages.

Oat beverages had the highest carbohydrate content, while almond beverages (including oat blends) were assessed to have the lowest calories and macronutrient contents. Sugars and sodium were generally low, with all products among those surveyed coming in at 1–12% of the daily reference intake.

By product, per-pack sugar content was 4–10 g for black soybean soy milk and 1–12 g for almond and oat beverages. Sodium content was tallied at 118–162 mg for black soybean soy milk and 103–159 mg for almond and oat beverages, equivalent to 5–8% of the daily reference intake.

However, it was found that for some products, consumers need to check calcium and vitamin content labels carefully. Of the 11 products among those surveyed, nine had added calcium, with calcium content at 21–153 mg for black soybean soy milk and 128–307 mg for almond and oat beverages, or 3–44% of the daily reference intake. In addition, seven products had added vitamins, containing 8–112% of the daily reference intake, so KCA noted that consumers should be careful about duplicate intake when consuming with other foods or supplements.

Ten plant-based beverage products were assessed to contain 1–4 g of dietary fiber. In terms of safety, all products met relevant standards, and food additives such as heavy metals (lead and cadmium), microorganisms (Listeria), and preservatives were not detected.

Prices varied widely by product type and brand. Black soybean beverages were 558–1050 won per pack, and almond and oat beverages were 663–1717 won, and within the same type, a price gap of up to 2.6 times was found.

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.