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Epigamia

Almond Beverage Unsweetened

Name: Almond Beverage Unsweetened
Brand: Epigamia

Use in moderation Not on SafeShelf

NOVA 4zero added sugardairy freefortified vitaminslow calorieno preservativeslactose-freeinfant-safegluten-freediabetic-safepregnancy-safeenjoy in moderation

Serving

200 g

Pack

1000 g

Ingredients

Barcode

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01 — Ingredient mix

What’s in the box, ranked from most concerning.

Each ingredient gets a tier from our researched dossier. The list sorts worst-first; the donut summarises the distribution. Tap any ingredient for its full dossier.

Caution · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 6 ingredients

Mineral (Tricalcium Phosphate)Caution

Emulsifier [INS 322(ii)]Caution

Cleared 4▾

WaterCleared

AlmondsCleared

Stabilizer (INS 418)Cleared

Vitamins (Vit A, Vit B, Vit D)Cleared

02 — Claims audit

Every label claim, fact-checked.

We treat each claim as a question — does what’s inside back it up? Tap a claim for the reasoning.

5/6

claims fully supported

“Source of Protein”true

Per 200 ml serving: 2 g protein contributing 8 kcal out of 48 kcal total = ~16.7% of energy from protein, which clears the typical 'source of protein' threshold (≥12% energy from protein under EU/FSSAI-aligned criteria). Absolute amount is low (2 g) but the claim is technically defensible.

“High in Calcium”misleading

Per 200 ml serving calcium is 80 mg = 8% RDA. 'High in calcium' requires ≥30% RDA per serving under FSSAI/EU standards. 8% RDA qualifies only as 'contains calcium' or 'source of calcium', not 'high in calcium'.

“Dairy Free”true

No milk-derived ingredients are listed. The product is manufactured in a facility that also processes milk (cross-contact risk declared on label), but the product itself contains no dairy ingredients.

“Vitamin A, B, D”true

Nutrition RDA table confirms Vitamin A at 61 mcg/100 ml (12.2% RDA per serving), Vitamin D at 1.77 mcg/100 ml (23.5% RDA per serving), and B vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12 at 11–23% RDA per serving.

“Unsweetened”true

Added sugars: 0 g per 100 ml. Total sugars: 0 g per 100 ml. No hidden sugar aliases (dextrose, glucose syrup, maltodextrin, etc.) appear in the ingredient list.

“Zero Preservatives”true

Ingredient list contains water, almonds, tricalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, gellan gum, and vitamins. None of these function as preservatives. The label caveat also states 'made with zero preservatives'.

03 — The fuller picture

Read the whole thing if a one-line verdict isn’t enough.

What’s in favour, and what’s working against it

In favour

Zero added sugars and zero total sugars — genuinely unsweetened
Fortified with 8 vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, D) at meaningful RDA percentages
Low calorie — only 24 kcal per 100 ml
Dairy-free and suitable for lactose-intolerant consumers
No preservatives in ingredient list
Zero trans fat

Working against

NOVA 4 ultra-processed — contains emulsifier (soy lecithin) and stabilizer (gellan gum)
Almond content is only 4% — very dilute whole-food contribution
Soy lecithin may pose allergen risk for soy-sensitive individuals
Tricalcium phosphate contains nanoparticle fraction under active EFSA safety review
'High in Calcium' claim overstates what 8% RDA per serving represents
No FSSAI licence number present on label as captured

Who should approach with care

Nut Allergy — Almonds are a globally recognized priority tree nut allergen; ingestion can trigger reactions from mild urticaria to life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals.

Other — Individuals with confirmed soy allergy should avoid this product as soy lecithin (INS 322(ii)) can contain residual soy proteins sufficient to elicit allergic reactions in sensitized people.

Kidney Disease — Tricalcium phosphate (E341(iii)) contributes dietary phosphate and EFSA explicitly states its group ADI does not protect individuals with moderate-to-severe renal impairment; additionally, almonds are relatively high in oxalates and phosphorus, and vitamin D3 supplementation can worsen hypercalcemia in compromised kidneys.

Infants — Multiple ingredients raise infant-specific concerns: soy lecithin has unresolved EFSA neurodevelopmental data gaps for infants under 16 weeks; tricalcium phosphate nanoparticle safety in infants is under active EFSA review; preformed vitamin A and supplemental vitamin D have low age-specific upper intake levels; and almonds are a recognized early-sensitization allergen.

Pregnancy — Contains preformed vitamin A (retinyl forms are teratogenic above EFSA's UL of 3,000 µg/day) and supplemental B vitamins including folic acid, which require medically supervised dosing in pregnancy; tricalcium phosphate also showed foetal skeletal effects in rat developmental studies at high doses.

Lactation — High-dose preformed vitamin A above the EFSA UL passes to infant via breast milk, and elevated B vitamin intake (especially B6 and niacin) from fortified foods combined with supplements should be monitored during breastfeeding.

Liver Disease — Preformed vitamin A is stored in hepatic stellate cells and can exacerbate hepatotoxicity in pre-existing liver conditions; high-dose niacin (B3) in the B-complex fortification is contraindicated in liver disease without medical supervision.

Epilepsy — Folic acid (B9) in the B-complex fortification can lower plasma levels of antiepileptic drugs such as phenytoin and valproate, potentially reducing seizure control.

Heart Disease — Vitamin D3 fortification can contribute to hypercalcemia at excessive cumulative intake, which may accelerate arterial calcification in cardiovascular patients; fluid restriction requirements in heart failure patients should also be discussed with a doctor.

Children — Children have lower tolerable upper intake levels for preformed vitamin A and vitamin D than adults; cumulative intake from this fortified beverage plus other fortified foods or supplements should be monitored to stay within age-specific EFSA/FSSAI limits.

The full analysis

This product is aimed at health-conscious Indian consumers seeking a dairy-free milk alternative for everyday uses like coffee, smoothies, and cereal. On the positive side it is genuinely unsweetened, low-calorie, preservative-free, and meaningfully fortified with eight vitamins and calcium. The concern is that only 4% of the product is actually almond — the rest is water and a set of food-grade additives (soy lecithin emulsifier, gellan gum stabilizer, tricalcium phosphate mineral carrier) that push it firmly into NOVA Group 4 ultra-processed territory. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know: this is a well-fortified, genuinely sugar-free beverage, but the 'almond' contribution is minimal and the product is more engineered functional drink than whole-food nut milk.

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Analysis

Independently researched