USDA source topicDairy

Plant-based milk: nutrition range, portions, and source records

This wiki page organizes 10 exact USDA Survey Foods records labeled “Plant-based milk.” It shows the median and central spread of reported nutrients per 100 grams, explains the portion and preparation language present in the records, and keeps every underlying profile and citation available for inspection.

What is included?

The exact descriptions define the topic.

USDA places these records in the “Plant-based milk” survey-food category. Within Feast’s broader navigation, they appear under Dairy (10 records). The category label is useful for discovery, but it does not mean every record uses the same recipe, brand, cooking method, or portion.

The current collection includes Almond milk, sweetened; Rice milk; Soy milk, chocolate; Soy milk, sweetened; Almond milk, chocolate; Hot chocolate / cocoa, reduced sugar, made with non-dairy milk. Those examples show why the exact wording matters. The complete alphabetical catalog farther down the page preserves all 10 descriptions instead of replacing them with one generic average.

A robust view of the data

Median and central nutrient ranges per 100 grams

The central range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile of the records on this page. The observed minimum and maximum are included for transparency, but the middle interval is generally more useful for seeing the collection without letting one extreme record dominate.

NutrientMedianCentral 80%Observed spanRecords
Caloriesper 100 g50 kcal29 kcal–65 kcal15 kcal–76 kcal10
Proteinper 100 g1.1 g0.5 g–3.4 g0.3 g–3.6 g10
Carbohydrateper 100 g7.9 g1.2 g–9.8 g0.3 g–15 g10
Total fatper 100 g1.4 g1.2 g–2.1 g1 g–2.1 g10
Dietary fiberper 100 g0.1 g0 g–0.3 g0 g–0.4 g10
Total sugarsper 100 g6.1 g0.5 g–8 g0 g–12.8 g10
Sodiumper 100 g56 mg33 mg–61 mg32 mg–69 mg10
Potassiumper 100 g66 mg30 mg–153 mg27 mg–158 mg10
Calciumper 100 g125 mg97 mg–172 mg94 mg–173 mg10
Ironper 100 g0.3 mg0.3 mg–0.5 mg0.2 mg–0.6 mg10

All rows use the same 100-gram denominator and values from the cited records. The interval is descriptive, not a recommended intake range or statistical confidence interval.

Calories context

50 kcal at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported calories value is 50 kcal per 100 grams. The central records run from 29 kcal to 65 kcal, while the complete observed span is 15 kcal to 76 kcal.

Almond milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Soy milk, chocolate is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Protein context

1.1 g at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported protein value is 1.1 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 0.5 g to 3.4 g, while the complete observed span is 0.3 g to 3.6 g.

Almond milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Soy milk, sweetened is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Carbohydrate context

7.9 g at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported carbohydrate value is 7.9 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 1.2 g to 9.8 g, while the complete observed span is 0.3 g to 15 g.

Soy milk, unsweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Rice milk is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Total fat context

1.4 g at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported total fat value is 1.4 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 1.2 g to 2.1 g, while the complete observed span is 1 g to 2.1 g.

Almond milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Soy milk, sweetened is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Dietary fiber context

0.1 g at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported dietary fiber value is 0.1 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 0 g to 0.3 g, while the complete observed span is 0 g to 0.4 g.

Almond milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Rice milk is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Total sugars context

6.1 g at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported total sugars value is 6.1 g per 100 grams. The central records run from 0.5 g to 8 g, while the complete observed span is 0 g to 12.8 g.

Soy milk, unsweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Soy milk, chocolate is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Sodium context

56 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported sodium value is 56 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 33 mg to 61 mg, while the complete observed span is 32 mg to 69 mg.

Soy milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Almond milk, unsweetened is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Potassium context

66 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported potassium value is 66 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 30 mg to 153 mg, while the complete observed span is 27 mg to 158 mg.

Almond milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Soy milk, sweetened is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Calcium context

125 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported calcium value is 125 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 97 mg to 172 mg, while the complete observed span is 94 mg to 173 mg.

Soy milk, sweetened is nearest the lower central boundary, and Chocolate milk, Nesquik, made with non-dairy milk is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Iron context

0.3 mg at the collection midpoint

Across 10 “Plant-based milk” records, the middle reported iron value is 0.3 mg per 100 grams. The central records run from 0.3 mg to 0.5 mg, while the complete observed span is 0.2 mg to 0.6 mg.

Hot chocolate / cocoa, made with non-dairy milk is nearest the lower central boundary, and Soy milk, unsweetened is nearest the upper central boundary. These are reference positions in this corpus, not labels of overall food quality.

Preparation language in the records

Source descriptions reveal meaningful distinctions.

The counts below report words and phrases that appear explicitly in the 10 USDA descriptions. They can help narrow a search to a closer record. They do not prove that the named preparation caused a nutrient difference, because these survey-food records are not controlled experiments.

sweetened

2 records use this wording, including Almond milk, sweetened; Soy milk, sweetened.

unsweetened

2 records use this wording, including Almond milk, unsweetened; Soy milk, unsweetened.

Portion context

Household measures answer a different question than 100 grams.

10 of 10 records (100%) include at least one named measure in the source data. Together those records provide 20 usable named measures.

Across the pooled named measures, the midpoint gram weight is 138 g. The central 10th-to-90th-percentile interval runs from 31 g to 248 g, while the complete observed span is 31–248 g. This pooled summary mixes different measure types, so it is a navigation aid rather than a suggested portion.

A cup, slice, piece, sandwich, fillet, or fluid ounce can represent a different amount of food. Even two measures with the same label may have different gram weights across records. Open the closest profile and use its listed weight instead of transferring a measure from another record.

USDA’s representative source amount is also not necessarily what a visitor ate. For equal-weight comparison, use the 100-gram table. For meal estimation, match the exact description first, then match the amount, and finally account for additions or preparation details absent from the selected record.

Common named measures in this topic

Choosing a closer record

Use a sequence, not a guess disguised as precision.

  1. 01

    Match the exact description

    Look for the closest food name, preparation, additions, and context. “Plant-based milk” is the collection label; the individual description is the actual reference.

  2. 02

    Compare on equal weight

    Use the per-100-gram values when comparing two records. This keeps the denominator fixed and prevents different source-serving weights from masquerading as a food difference.

  3. 03

    Scale the closest listed measure

    Open the profile, select a named household measure when one fits, or enter a gram estimate. Treat scaled decimals as arithmetic from the source—not greater certainty about the plate.

  4. 04

    Add missing context

    Brand, recipe, cooking fat, sauce, toppings, substitutions, and edible portion can move the result. A current package label or weighed recipe may be more specific than a generic survey-food record.

Complete source catalog

All 10 “Plant-based milk” records

Records are alphabetical, not ranked. Every row links to a complete Feast profile with household measures, all reported nutrients, estimate factors, and methodology, plus the exact USDA FoodData Central source where available.

Exact USDA descriptionCaloriesProteinFiberSodiumSource amountReferences
Almond milk, chocolateFDC 2705408 43 kcalper 100 g 0.6 gper 100 g 0.1 gper 100 g 56 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Almond milk, sweetenedFDC 2705407 30 kcalper 100 g 0.5 gper 100 g 0 gper 100 g 58 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Almond milk, unsweetenedFDC 2705409 15 kcalper 100 g 0.6 gper 100 g 0 gper 100 g 60 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Chocolate milk, Nesquik, made with non-dairy milkFDC 2705478 54 kcalper 100 g 1.4 gper 100 g 0.4 gper 100 g 56 mgper 100 g 248 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Hot chocolate / cocoa, made with non-dairy milkFDC 2705475 76 kcalper 100 g 0.9 gper 100 g 0.1 gper 100 g 69 mgper 100 g 248 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Hot chocolate / cocoa, reduced sugar, made with non-dairy milkFDC 2705490 54 kcalper 100 g 1.2 gper 100 g 0.1 gper 100 g 60 mgper 100 g 248 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Rice milkFDC 2705411 47 kcalper 100 g 0.3 gper 100 g 0.3 gper 100 g 39 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Soy milk, chocolateFDC 2705406 64 kcalper 100 g 3.4 gper 100 g 0.1 gper 100 g 32 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Soy milk, sweetenedFDC 2705404 53 kcalper 100 g 3.4 gper 100 g 0 gper 100 g 33 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗
Soy milk, unsweetenedFDC 2705405 38 kcalper 100 g 3.6 gper 100 g 0 gper 100 g 34 mgper 100 g 244 gUSDA reference amount Full profileUSDA source ↗

Boundaries and provenance

What this collection can—and cannot—tell you.

This page summarizes USDA FoodData Central Survey Foods (FNDDS) records from 2021–2023, published 2024-10-31. FNDDS supplies standardized reference descriptions used to represent foods reported in dietary surveys. Each value on this page remains tied to one exact FDC record; the complete catalog provides direct links so the source can be checked rather than taken on trust.

The records are not laboratory measurements of every possible “Plant-based milk” preparation. Restaurant recipes change, packaged products are reformulated, homemade ingredient ratios vary, and cooking can change water weight. A photo also cannot reliably reveal every hidden ingredient or gram weight. The robust range describes variation among the records selected for this topic, not uncertainty around a single meal.

The median is not a default calorie count. The 10th and 90th percentiles are not lower and upper recommendations. The minimum and maximum are not promises that every real version falls inside the observed span. These statistics are tools for navigating a source collection while keeping the denominator, record name, and normal recipe variation visible.

Nutrient values do not establish whether a food is appropriate for a particular person or condition. This wiki does not diagnose deficiencies, prescribe targets, or replace advice from a qualified professional. If accuracy matters for an allergy, medical diet, or clinician-directed limit, use verified ingredient information and the guidance relevant to that situation.

Why no overall ranking appears.

A record can report more protein and also differ in sodium, fiber, energy, fat, portion weight, or ingredients. Choosing one metric as a universal score would hide those tradeoffs and imply a value judgment the data cannot support. The alphabetical catalog and side-by-side statistics are intentionally descriptive.

For the full import, filtering, portion-scaling, Daily Value, and uncertainty rules, read Feast’s nutrition-page methodology. For an exact item, use its profile and FoodData Central link rather than citing this collection-level summary alone.

Common questions

Using the “Plant-based milk” collection responsibly

Is the median the expected nutrition for my food?

No. It is the middle value among these 10 source records on a 100-gram basis. Your recipe, brand, preparation, and portion may align more closely with one specific record or may fall outside this collection.

Why compare 100 grams instead of one serving?

Source servings can have different gram weights and measure labels. Holding weight at 100 grams makes concentration comparable. After choosing a record, its household measures are more useful for estimating the amount actually eaten.

Does the upper end of a nutrient range mean “better”?

No. The position only describes that nutrient within this source collection. It does not evaluate the whole food, determine an appropriate portion, or account for an individual’s needs.

Which number should I log?

Start with the record whose exact wording most closely matches the food. Use a listed measure or gram estimate, then add missing recipe or preparation context. Keep the result as an estimate unless you have a current label or weighed recipe.