Milk Alternatives
Can I use soy beverage as an alternative to milk?
According to Health Canada, fortified soy
beverage is a nutritionally adequate alternative. It is
a suitable beverage for those who cannot or do not drink
milk.
Unfortified soy beverage is not nutritionally similar to milk and cannot be used as an alternative to milk.
Soy beverage, whether fortified or not, is not suitable for infants under two years of age. (Soy-based formulas, in certain instances, may be used with infants on the advice of your doctor.)
Ideas for Action:
- If you can't or don't use milk products, fortified soy beverage can be an alternative.
- Breast-feeding is the best way to feed your baby. If you are not breast-feeding, use a commercial, iron-fortified cow's milk infant formula.
- Children between the age of one and two years may also drink whole milk. Soy beverage is not an alternative choice for infants under two years of age.
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Did You Know
- Fortification of soy beverage is optional. According to the Food and Drugs Act 1, processors may choose to manufacture soy beverage without any fortification. If they choose to fortify, the level of fortification must be equivalent to the level of these nutrients found in milk. There are two options for fortification:
- To fortify with 6 nutrients - processors must
add vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, riboflavin,
calcium and zinc.
- To fortify up to 15 nutrients - processors
must add vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, riboflavin,
calcium, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin C, thiamin,
niacin, folacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorous,
potassium and magnesium.
- Be sure to read product labels carefully so that you know if the product you are purchasing is what you want.
- Although not identical in terms of micronutrients,
fortified soy beverages can be used as an alternative
to milk by adults and children over the age of
two.
- Unfortified soy beverages may be used as an
alternative to meat in the diet, not milk.
- There are no minimum requirements for total fat or protein in soy beverage. Dietitians of Canada , Health Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Association advise that soy beverages, whether or not they are fortified, should not be given to children under the age of two 2.
- Soy formula is not the same as soy beverage. Soy formula is appropriately used with infants on vegan diets or infants with galactosemia. The use of soy formula for infants with proven milk allergy is controversial, since many infants allergic to cow's milk will also be allergic to soy protein. A casein-hydrolysate formula is the first choice for infants with proven allergy. Soy formula does not prevent or manage colic, nor does it prevent allergy in healthy or high-risk infants.
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