Does McDonald’s Have Almond Milk

In this brief article, we will be discussing: does McDonald’s have almond milk, its benefits and nutritional profile.

We’ll also let you in on the vegan options McCafé – the coffee-centric spinoff of McDonald’s – is now offering its customers!

Does McDonald’s Have Almond Milk?

Yes, some franchises of McDonald’s have almond milk. McDonald’s itself offers just three types of milk: whole, skimmed, and fat-free. 

McCafé collaborated with MILKLAB to incorporate almond-based options into selected menus.

What Other Options Does McDonald’s Offer?

McDonald’s also offers Oat Milk, which is now officially available at participating locations of McCafé for an extra charge. McCafé also offers soy milk. 

McDonald’s collaborates with the local brand MILKLAB to add variations to its McCafé menu. MILKLAB is responsible for optimizing dairy and vegan for use by baristas. 

Why is McDonald’s Diversifying its McCafé Menu?

McDonald’s is diversifying its McCafé Menu to attract non-dairy milk consumers. McDonald’s has added almond, oat, and soy milk to selected branches to cater to the increasing interest and shift towards veganism. 

According to studies conducted in over 28 countries, veganism has increased in the last years and 3% of the global adult population identified themselves as vegan. There are about 600,000 vegans in the UK and about 7.5 million adult vegans in the United States (6).

One reason for the recent growth in alternative milk products is the concomitant awareness of food allergy to bovine-based products. The foods most commonly associated with allergies in the United States are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish (1)

What is Almond Milk?

Almond milk is a plant-based beverage that is naturally lactose- and dairy-free. It is a suitable option for people allergic or intolerant to dairy, or those wanting to avoid it.

How is Almond Milk Made?

Almond milk is produced from ground almonds and water. Dehulled almonds are soaked for several hours in cold water (at 40°C to limit microbial growth) and then blended in a nuts to water ratio as 1:3 (w/v) for five minutes. The blended mixture is sieved through a cheesecloth, added with sugar syrup and flavorings, homogenized and pasteurized at 121°C for 15 minutes. Finally, the drink is packed in sterilized plastic bottles and pasteurized before being cooled and stored (1). 

Almond milk may also include other ingredients based on what type of almond milk it is. It can be purchased pre-made, or it can be made very easily at home. Commercial varieties also include preservatives, thickeners, and flavorings to enhance taste, texture, and shelf-life. 

Why is Commercial Almond Milk So Good?

Commercially available versions of almond milk are especially good due to their additives, which improve flavor, texture and color of the drink, in addition to ensuring their maximum shelf life. Commercial almond milks contain additional vitamins, sweeteners, and stabilizers to make it taste and look like cow milk. However, reputable brands of almond milk do not contain added sugars and chemicals, making it a great non-dairy substitute for regulating blood sugar (2). 

Almond milk is also rich in healthy fats, which promote heart health and feelings of satiety. Certain varieties are also fortified with vitamin D and calcium which are essential for bone health. 

What is the Nutritional Profile of Almond Milk?

The nutritional profile of almond milk is similar to the nutritional profile of almonds. 

A 100 gram serving of almonds provides more than 20% of the daily value of riboflavin, niacin, vitamin E, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. It is also a good source of thiamine, vitamin B6 and folate; choline and the essential mineral potassium. 

They are also rich in dietary fiber, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats (2). Almonds contain phytochemicals, such as lauric acid, capric acid and polyphenols that have been shown to possess antimicrobial activities (1).

A single serving (one cup) of almond milk (eight-ounce) of unsweetened almond milk contains: 

  • 40 calories
  • 1 gram of protein
  • 3 grams of fat
  • 3.5 grams of carbohydrates
  • 2 grams of sugar
  • 0.5 grams of fiber
  • 24% of the Daily Value (DV) of calcium
  • 4% of the DV of potassium
  • 18% of the DV of vitamin D
  • 110% of the DV of vitamin E

What are the Benefits of Almond Milk?

The benefits of almond milk are related to the presence of vitamin E in its composition, which is a potent antioxidant. Almond milk provides 50 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin E, the fat-soluble vitamin essential for protecting body cells from damage. 

Vitamin E is essential for other important functions and the development of tissues and organs such as brain and nerves, muscle and bones, skin, bone marrow and blood and is important in preventing inflammatory and degenerative processes in the liver during the exposure to a range of xenobiotics, environmental pollutants and dietary factors (3). 

Vitamin E also boosts skin and eye health and plays an important role in protecting against heart disease. The benefits to ocular health include effects on the expression and activities of molecules and enzymes in immune and inflammatory cells and by inhibiting platelet aggregation and to improve vasodilation (4).

Choosing almond milk naturally low in sugar helps maintain weight and reduces the risk of certain chronic diseases. High intakes of sugars are associated with an increased risk of dental caries, overweight and cardio-metabolic risk factors and mortality (5). 

How Do You Select The Best Almond Milk?

To choose the best almond milk, here are certain things to look out for:

  • choose the unsweetened variety
  • select a brand that doesn’t include additional emulsifiers or gums (if you are concerned about these additives)
  • If you are following a restricted diet to control your nutrient intake or practice veganism or vegetarianism, select almond milk fortified with vitamin D and calcium D.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we discussed: does McDonald’s have almond milk and its benefits and nutritional profile. If you have any questions or comments please let us know.

References

  1. Lee, Janelle, et al. Analysis of the cariogenic potential of various almond milk beverages using a Streptococcus mutans biofilm model in vitro. Caries res, 2018, 52, 51-57.
  2. Alozie Yetunde, E., and Ukpong S. Udofia. Nutritional and sensory properties of almond (Prunus amygdalu Var. Dulcis) seed milk. World J Dairy Food Sci, 2015, 10, 117-121.
  3. Galli, Francesco, et al. Vitamin E: Emerging aspects and new directions. Free Rad Biol Med, 2017, 102, 16-36
  4. .Azaïs-Braesco, Véronique, et al. A review of total & added sugar intakes and dietary sources in Europe. Nutr j, 2017, 16, 1-15.
  5. Rasmussen, Helen M., and Elizabeth J. Johnson. Nutrients for the aging eye. Clin interv aging, 2013, 8, 741.
  6. Loh, Hong Chuan, et al. A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Trends in Vegan-Related Research. Global Trends, 2021, 3.

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