Is Better Half Unsweetened Coconut Cream & Almondmilk Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing the label of Better Half Unsweetened Coconut Cream & Almondmilk, the confusion usually starts with the name. It sounds like a simple mixture of two plant sources. However, the ingredient list tells a different story regarding strict vegan standards.

The primary issue lies in the second ingredient listed: coconut cream. While coconut is a fruit, the term 'cream' in the food industry is often a protected term. In many regions, for a product to be labeled or sold as 'cream,' it must meet a specific butterfat content that usually requires dairy extraction. While some brands use 'coconut cream' to mean the thick part of a coconut, in a blended product like this, the term is often used to describe a dairy-based cream substitute that mimics the mouthfeel of heavy cream. If the 'cream' is derived from dairy, it contains casein or whey, making it non-vegan.

Furthermore, we must look at the emulsifiers. The product contains sunflower lecithin and gellan gum. While these are generally plant-derived (sunflower and bacterial fermentation, respectively), they are processing aids. The deal-breaker remains the ambiguous nature of the 'cream' component in the context of FDA labeling laws versus consumer expectations of veganism.

Nutritional Value

If you are looking for a low-calorie coffee addition, this product is quite dense. Because it relies on coconut cream, the fat content is significantly higher than standard almond milk. A typical serving contains roughly 15-20 calories, but a large portion of that comes from fat rather than protein.

Regarding sugar, the 'Unsweetened' label is a plus; it contains 0g of added sugar, relying on the natural sweetness of the almonds and the richness of the cream. It is fortified with calcium carbonate and potassium citrate, which helps bump up the mineral content to match dairy milk. However, because of the potential dairy content, it does not necessarily fit the limits for a low-fat or heart-healthy diet as well as pure almond milk would.