Milk Alternatives

Prominence in American Culture 

Pizza, nachos, and lasagna. Ice cream, yogurt, and cheesecake. Lattes, frosties, and milkshakes. Milk's role in the American diet is undeniable, its presence is ubiquitous, and its forms are numerous. Milk was the beverage of choice for American families until the last few decades of the 20th century and the increased popularity of soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and bottled water. A large part of milk's prominence as a food item can be attributed to its long-recognized nutritional benefits. For centuries, medical opinion accepted milk as beneficial to the general public's health. However, because of a lack of technology, widespread consumption was not possible until the mid-1800s, when rapid transport, artificial refrigeration, and pasteurization were introduced.1, 2 With the advent of these technologies, along with the discoveries of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D's roles in bone health, milk consumption took off in America.

In more recent times, athletes, celebrities, and cultural icons have publicly praised milk in advertisements for the “Got Milk” campaign, attributing their strong bones and muscle health to regular consumption. Better sleep, mitigated symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and healthier hair, skin, and nails have all been highlighted as possible benefits of regular dairy consumption.3 Aficionados have deemed, and continue to deem, milk as “nature's perfect food.” The government, acknowledging the nutritional benefits that dairy products can exert in the diet, recommends that Americans consume three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk products per day.4

Predicament of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients 

With milk's extensive history and publicity, it is not surprising that many people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) express hesitancy or resistance in limiting their milk intake. The National Kidney Foundation's recommendations of limiting consumption of dairy products to half a cup of milk, or half a cup of yogurt, or 1 ounce of cheese per day for those on dialysis5 may appear too restrictive to some. In the wake of the “Got Milk” campaign and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, those with CKD are often concerned about ingesting inadequate calcium for their bones.

Ironically, today, the medical community knows that excessive phosphorus and calcium consumption in those with CKD actually weakens bones and causes calcification in soft tissues.6 Eight ounces of whole milk, which contains 222 mg of phosphorus, 349 mg of potassium, and 276 mg of calcium,6 may be excessive to those who already struggle with keeping their laboratory values within the National Kidney Foundation's K/DOQI guidelines. Patients are often surprised to learn that lower-fat milks are in fact even less renal-friendly than whole milk, containing higher levels of potassium and phosphorus.7 Patients' concerns regarding bone health are often easily abated by providing them with more in-depth education on calcium and phosphorus dysregulation in kidney disease.

Proliferation of Products 

In recent years, renal dietitians have been able to offer patients a growing number of alternatives to milk. Soy milks and flavored nondairy creamers have increased in popularity in the United States. Products such as rice milk and almond milk have also enjoyed a growing demand in supermarkets. Finding an appropriate dairy alternative in a local supermarket is not as difficult as it used to be.

Table 1 lists the nutritional information of the most popular milk substitutes on the market today (only liquid nondairy creamers were included). Percentages for calcium and phosphorus were converted to milligrams, based on the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of calcium as 1000 mg and phosphorus as 1000 mg.8 Nutritional differences between refrigerated and shelf-stable versions were often negligible. Of the brands listed, notably absent from previous product updates are Dairy Delicious and Vitasoy. Dairy Delicious is no longer available, and Vitasoy, while once active in the United States market, discontinued their American line of soy milks in April 2009. (Their Asian brand of soy milks can still be found in Asian supermarkets.) For Trader Joe's products, the nutritional content may vary in different parts of the country, depending on the supplier. Some products listed in Table 1 may not be available in all states.

Table 1. Nutrition content of Milk Alternatives

	Parent company	Brand	Product	Serving size	Calories	Total fat (g)	Saturated fat (g)	Phosphorus (mg)	Potassium (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Calcium (mg)	Carbohydrate (g)	Protein (g)
			Soy milks
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Original	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	80	350	110	300	9	6
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Unsweetened	1 cup	70	4	0.5	80	350	120	300	4	7
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Vanilla	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	80	350	110	300	10	6
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Chocolate	1 cup	140	3.5	0.5	100	360	110	300	22	7
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Original (refrigerated)	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	80	350	110	300	9	6
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Unsweetened (refrigerated)	1 cup	70	4	0.5	80	350	120	300	4	7
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Vanilla (refrigerated)	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	80	350	110	300	10	6
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Chocolate (refrigerated)	1 cup	140	3.5	0.5	100	640	120	300	23	7
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Original	1 cup	80	2.5	0	250	360	105	300	7	8
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Lite, Original	1 cup	50	2	0	200	380	115	300	2	6
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Fat-Free, Original	1 cup	60	0	0	200	380	100	300	8	6
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Vanilla	1 cup	100	3	0.5	220	380	105	300	11	6
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Light, Vanilla	1 cup	60	2	0	200	390	110	300	5	6
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Fat-Free, Vanilla	1 cup	70	0	0	NA	NA	100	300	11	6
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Chocolate	1 cup	140	3	0.5	320	440	125	300	22	7
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Light, Chocolate	1 cup	90	1.5	0	270	430	120	300	12	7
	Stremicks Heritage Foods	8th Continent	Complete	1 cup	80	3	0.5	NA	380	100	300	7	6
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Edenblend, Organic Rice and Soy Beverage	1 cup	120	3	0.5	100	250	90	33	18	7
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Carob, Organic	1 cup	170	4	0.5	125	350	95	75	28	7
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Chocolate	1 cup	180	3.5	1	143	410	105	97	28	8
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Extra, Originial	1 cup	130	4	0.5	150	440	100	200	13	11
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Extra, Vanilla	1 cup	150	3	0	100	310	90	200	23	7
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Light, Original	1 cup	100	2	0	70	220	90	81	15	5
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Light, Vanilla	1 cup	110	1	0	64	200	110	80	22	4
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Original, Organic	1 cup	140	5	0.5	141	440	105	104	14	11
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Unsweetened Organic	1 cup	120	6	1	137	460	5	49	5	12
	Eden Foods, Inc.	Edensoy	Vanilla, Organic	1 cup	150	3	0	100	320	85	72	24	7
	Organic Valley of Farms	Organic Valley	Original	1 cup	110	4	0.5	60-80	260	100	300	11	7
	Organic Valley of Farms	Organic Valley	Unsweetened	1 cup	80	4	0	60-80	280	110	300	3	7
	Organic Valley of Farms	Organic Valley	Vanilla	1 cup	110	3.5	0	60-80	230	100	300	14	6
	Organic Valley of Farms	Organic Valley	Chocolate	1 cup	130	3	0.5	60-80	160	160	300	20	5
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Soy, Unsweetened, Original	1 cup	90	4.5	0.5	125	400	15	20	4	9
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Select Soy, Low-Fat, Plain	1 cup	70	2.5	0	65	220	115	20	9	5
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Select Soy, Low-Fat, vanilla	1 cup	80	2.5	0	65	220	115	20	11	5
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Ultra Soy, Plain	1 cup	120	4	0.5	250	380	150	300	11	10
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Ultra Soy, Vanilla	1 cup	130	4	0.5	250	380	150	300	14	10
	Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.	Pearl	Original	1 cup	110	3.5	0.5	NA	300	110	300	12	7
	Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.	Pearl	Creamy Vanilla	1 cup	110	3.5	0.5	NA	270	90	300	11	7
	Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.	Pearl	Green Tea	1 cup	110	3.5	0.5	NA	280	95	300	13	7
	Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.	Pearl	Chocolate	1 cup	150	4.5	1	NA	290	180	300	21	8
	Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.	Pearl	Unsweetened	1 cup	90	4.5	1	NA	210	130	200	6	8
	Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc.	Pearl	Coffee	1 cup	150	4	0.5	NA	210	190	300	24	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Plain (refrigerated and aseptic)	1 cup	100	4	0.5	95	300	120	300	8	7
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Vanilla (refrigerated and aseptic)	1 cup	100	3.5	0.5	95	300	95	300	10	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Chocolate (refrigerated)	1 cup	140	3.5	0.5	95	350	100	300	23	5
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Chocolate (aseptic)	1 cup	150	3	0.5	95	350	100	300	25	5
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Unsweetened (refrigerated and aseptic)	1 cup	80	4	0.5	95	300	85	300	4	7
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Silk, Heart Health, Vanilla	1 cup	80	1.5	0	95	300	95	300	10	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Silk Plus DHA Omega-3	1 cup	110	5	0.5	95	350	120	400	8	7
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Organic, Vanilla	1 cup	100	3.5	0.5	95	300	95	300	10	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Organic, Plain	1 cup	100	4	0.5	95	300	120	300	8	7
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Organic, Unsweetened	1 cup	80	4	0.5	95	300	85	300	4	7
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Very Vanilla	1 cup	130	4	0.5	95	300	140	350	19	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Light Silk, Vanilla	1 cup	80	2	0	100	300	95	300	10	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Light Silk, Plain	1 cup	70	2	0	100	300	120	300	8	6
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Light Silk, Chocolate	1 cup	120	1.5	0	100	350	100	300	22	5
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Dream	Classic Vanilla	1 cup	140	4	0.5	100	140	135	40	18	7
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Dream	Enriched Original	1 cup	100	4	0.5	150	250	135	350	8	7
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Dream	Enriched Vanilla	1 cup	120	4	0.5	150	250	135	350	14	7
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Dream	Enriched chocolate	1 cup	150	4	0.5	150	290	125	350	21	7
	Trader Joe's	Soy Essential	Unsweetened	1 cup	90	4	0.5	NA	350	70	350	6	7
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk	Original	1 cup	100	2	0	NA	NA	120	400	13	5
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk	Vanilla	1 cup	100	2	0	NA	NA	120	400	16	5
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk	Chocolate	1 cup	130	2.5	0	NA	NA	110	400	23	5
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk	Organic Unsweetened	1 cup	90	4.5	0.5	NA	NA	15	20	4	9
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk Extra	Organic Original	1 cup	130	3	0	100	NA	120	300	17	7
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk Extra	Organic Vanilla	1 cup	130	3	0	100	NA	125	300	19	7
	Trader Joe's	Soy Milk Extra	Organic Chocolate	1 cup	130	3	0	100	NA	120	300	17	7
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Slender	Plain	1 cup	60	3	0.5	250	210	105	300	3	6
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Slender	Vanilla	1 cup	70	3	0.5	250	210	125	300	4	6
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Slender	Capucchino	1 cup	70	3	0.5	250	210	125	300	4	7
	Hain Celestial Group	Soy Slender	Chocolate	1 cup	70	3	0.5	250	290	125	300	5	7
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Organic, Originial	1 cup	130	4.5	0.5	NA	240	125	40	18	8
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Plus, Plain	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	250	310	125	300	7	7
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Plus, Vanilla	1 cup	100	3.5	0.5	250	310	125	300	10	7
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Organic, Unsweeteneed	1 cup	90	4.5	0.5	NA	300	30	40	5	9
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Unsweetened, Almond	1 cup	90	4.5	0.5	NA	300	30	40	5	9
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Unsweetened Vanilla	1 cup	100	4.5	0.5	NA	300	30	40	5	9
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Low-Fat, Plain	1 cup	90	1.5	0	150	150	90	200	14	4
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Low-Fat, Vanilla	1 cup	120	1.5	0	150	160	90	200	21	4
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Lite Plain	1 cup	60	2	0	150	160	85	300	6	4
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Lite Vanilla	1 cup	90	1.5	0	150	160	75	300	19	5
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Nonfat plain	1 cup	70	0	0	150	210	105	250	10	6
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Nonfat Vanilla	1 cup	80	2	0	150	220	105	250	12	6
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Soy Shake Vanilla	1 cup	170	3	0	150	380	125	300	28	7
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Soy Shake, Chocolate	1 cup	170	3.5	0	150	480	130	300	30	7
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy Longevity	Plain	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	NA	230	125	300	10	6
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy Longevity	Vanilla	1 cup	100	3.5	0.5	NA	230	125	300	13	6
	SuperValu Inc.	Wild Harvest Organic	Original	1 cup	90	3.5	0.5	80	420	160	300	10	6
	SuperValu Inc.	Wild Harvest Organic	Chocolate	1 cup	140	3.5	0.5	100	430	170	300	23	7
	SuperValu Inc.	Wild Harvest Organic	Plain	1 cup	90	4	0.5	NA	NA	150	300	7	7
	SuperValu Inc.	Wild Harvest Organic	Vanilla	1 cup	100	4	0.5	80	420	130	300	9	7
			Nondairy creamers
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	Fat-Free Originial	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	10	0	0	15	0	0	0	2	0
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	Low-Fat Original	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	10	0.5	0	15	0	5	0	1	0
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	Original	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	20	1	0	15	0	0	0	2	0
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	Fat-Free French Vanilla	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	38	0	0	12	0	12	0	11	0
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	French Vanilla	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	35	1.5	0	15	0	10	0	5	0
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	Hazelnut	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	35	1.5	0	15	0	10	0	5	0
	Nestle	CoffeeMate	Sugar-Free Hazelnut	1 tablespoon (15 mL)	15	1	0	15	0	30	0	1	0
	Rich's	Coffee Rich	Regular	1 tablespoon	20	1.5	0	26	5	10	0	2	0
	Rich's	Coffee Rich	Fat-Free	1 tablespoon	15	0	0	26	26	10	0	2	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	French Vanilla	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	6	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Southern Butter pecan	1 tablespoon	40	1.5	1	15	32	5	0	7	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Irish Cream	1 tablespoon	40	1.5	1	15	32	5	0	7	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Dulce de Leche	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	7	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Hershey's Chocolate Caramel	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	7	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Belgian White Chocolate Macademia	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	6	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Amaretto	1 tablespoon	40	1.5	1	15	32	5	0	7	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Carribean Cinnamon Crème	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	6	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	Hazelnut	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	6	0
	White Wave Foods	International Delight	English Almond Toffee	1 tablespoon	45	2	1	15	32	5	0	6	0
	Bay Valley Foods	Mocha Mix	Original	1 tablespoon	20	1.5	0	9	21	7	0	1	0
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Original	1 tablespoon	15	1	0	11	25	10	0	1	0
	White Wave Foods	Silk	French Vanilla	1 tablespoon	20	1	0	11	25	10	0	3	0
	White Wave Foods	Silk	Hazelnut	1 tablespoon	20	1	0	11	25	10	0	3	0
			Other products
	Blue Diamond Growers	Almond Breeze	Original	1 cup	60	2.5	0	100	180	150	200	8	1
	Blue Diamond Growers	Almond Breeze	Original, Unsweetened	1 cup	40	3	0	40	190	180	200	2	1
	Blue Diamond Growers	Almond Breeze	Vanilla	1 cup	90	2.5	0	100	180	150	200	16	1
	Blue Diamond Growers	Almond Breeze	Vanilla, Unsweetened	1 cup	40	3	0	40	190	180	200	2	1
	Blue Diamond Growers	Almond Breeze	Chocolate	1 cup	120	3	0	150	250	150	200	22	2
	Blue Diamond Growers	Almond Breeze	Chocolate, Unsweetened	1 cup	45	3.5	0	40	230	180	200	3	2
	Manitoba Harvest	Hemp Bliss	Original	1 cup	110	7	0.5	NA	NA	95	20	7	5
	Manitoba Harvest	Hemp Bliss	Vanilla	1 cup	150	7	0.5	NA	NA	120	20	14	5
	Manitoba Harvest	Hemp Bliss	Chocolate	1 cup	160	7	0.5	NA	NA	120	40	17	5
	Good Karma Foods, Inc.	Organic Rice Milk	Original	1 cup	80	3	0	150	NA	170	250	12	1
	Good Karma Foods, Inc.	Organic Rice Milk	Vanilla	1 cup	110	3	0	150	NA	170	250	19	1
	Good Karma Foods, Inc.	Organic Rice Milk	Chocolate	1 cup	130	3	0	150	NA	190	250	25	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Rice, Plain	1 cup	130	2	0	175	35	60	300	27	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Rice, Low-Fat, Vanilla	1 cup	130	2	0	175	35	75	300	27	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Oat, Vanilla	1 cup	130	2.5	0	270	120	110	300	25	4
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Oat, Original	1 cup	130	2.5	0	270	120	110	350	24	4
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Almond, Vanilla	1 cup	70	2.5	0	25	140	140	0	11	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Almond,Chocolate	1 cup	100	5	0.5	47	130	140	0	19	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Almond, Original	1 cup	60	2.5	0	29	140	140	0	8	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Unsweetened Almond, Vanilla	1 cup	40	2.5	0	25	0	180	0	3	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Organic Unsweetened Almond, Original	1 cup	35	2.5	0	29	0	180	0	2	1
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	All-Natural Hazelnut, Original	1 cup	110	3.5	0	195	60	120	300	18	2
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Hemp Milk, Original	1 cup	140	5	0.5	300	170	130	500	20	4
	Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.	Pacific	Hemp Milk, Vanilla	1 cup	160	5	0.5	300	170	135	500	24	4
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Carob, Classic	1 cup	150	2.5	0	NA	NA	80	0	30	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Original, Classic	1 cup	120	2.5	0	0	0	100	20	24	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Vanilla, Classic	1 cup	130	2.5	0	NA	NA	105	20	27	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Enriched Original	1 cup	120	2.5	0	150	0	100	300	23	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Enriched Vanilla	1 cup	130	2.5	0	150	0	105	300	26	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Heartwise Original	1 cup	130	2	0	150	30	80	300	27	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream	Heartwise Vanilla	1 cup	140	2	0	150	30	80	300	30	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream Supreme	Vanilla Hazelnut	1 cup	140	2.5	0	150	NA	65	300	29	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Rice Dream Supreme	Chocolate Chai	1 cup	160	3	0	150	NA	70	350	35	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Almond Dream	Original	1 cup	50	2.5	0	150	NA	100	300	6	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Almond Dream	Unsweetened	1 cup	30	2.5	0	150	NA	100	300	1	1
	Hain Celestial Group	Oat Dream	Original	1 cup	120	3	0	NA	NA	20	300	20	4
	Hain Celestial Group	Oat Dream	Maple Brown Sugar	1 cup	120	3	0	NA	NA	20	300	20	4
	Hain Celestial Group	Hemp Dream	Original	1 cup	100	6	0.5	NA	NA	5	300	8	4
	Hain Celestial Group	Hemp Dream	Vanilla	1 cup	110	6	0.5	NA	NA	5	300	11	4
	Trade Joe's	Rice Drink	Organic Original Unsweetened	1 cup	120	2.5	0	150	20	100	300	23	1
	Trade Joe's	Rice Drink	Unsweetened Vanilla	1 cup	130	2.5	0	150	NA	105	300	26	1
	Trade Joe's	Whole Grain Drink	Original	1 cup	70	2.5	0	80	NA	130	150	12	0
	Trade Joe's	Whole Grain Drink	Unsweetened	1 cup	50	3	0	80	NA	135	150	7	0
	Living Harvest Foods, Inc.	Tempt	Hempmilk, Original	1 cup	100	6	0.5	200	NA	25	400	10	2
	Living Harvest Foods, Inc.	Tempt	Hempmilk, Vanilla	1 cup	110	6	0.5	200	NA	25	400	12	2
	Living Harvest Foods, Inc.	Tempt	Hempmilk, Chocolate	1 cup	150	6	0.5	200	NA	35	400	23	1
	Living Harvest Foods, Inc.	Tempt	Hempmilk, Unsweetened Original	1 cup	60	6	0.5	200	NA	25	400	1	1
	Living Harvest Foods, Inc.	Tempt	Hempmilk, Original	1 cup	60	6	0.5	200	NA	25	400	1	1
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Rice Beverage, Plain	1 cup	110	2.5	0	100	65	110	250	20	1
	Hain Celestial Group	WestSoy	Rice Beverage, Vanilla	1 cup	110	2.5	0	100	65	110	250	20	1
	SuperValu, Inc.	Wild Harvest Organic	Rice Milk, Original	1 cup	100	2	0	157	55	90	300	23	0
	SuperValu, Inc.	Wild Harvest Organic	Rice Milk, Vanilla	1 cup	120	2	0	150	60	95	300	26	0
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Rice Milk, Unsweetened	1 cup	45	2	0	150	15	135	200	10	1
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Rice Milk, Original	1 cup	90	2.5	0	150	30	150	250	17	1
	Whole Foods Market	365 Organic	Rice Milk, Vanilla	1 cup	120	2.5	0	150	35	150	250	23	1

As previous authors noted, a challenge for dietitians involves keeping up to date with formulation changes. In the time span of writing this article, many product formulations were modified. Without contacting companies regularly, dietitians would be unaware of such changes. As such, by the time these data are published online, some may very likely be outdated (all nutritional data were current as of July 2009).

The renal dietitian should keep one final consideration in mind regarding alternative dairy products, i.e., these products present their own challenges. Many soy milks on the market are fortified with calcium and phosphorus additives, making them no more renal-friendly than milk. Grain-based and nut-based milks are often low in protein, making them less than ideal for patients lacking high biological value proteins. However, because such a wide array of nondairy substitutes is available, patients can almost certainly find a product suitable for them, as long as they know where to look. This is often where the dietitian's expertise is required. When the dietitian helps a CKD patient make a choice tailored to individual needs and health status, the CKD patient will be spared one more frustration in the management of this difficult disease.

Manufacturer Information 

Eden Foods, Inc.

701 Tecumseh Road

Clinton, MI 49236

888-424-3336

http://www.edenfoods.com/

Good Karma Foods, Inc.

441 Beaver St. , Suite 201

Sewickley, PA 15143

412-749-9805

http://www.goodkarmafoods.com/

Hain Celestial

Consumer Relations

4600 Sleepytime Dr.

Boulder, CO 80301

800-434-4246

http://www.hain-celestial.com/

Living Harvest Foods, Inc.

P.O. Box 4407

Portland, OR 97208

888-690-3958

http://www.livingharvest.com

Manitoba Harvest, Inc.

69 Eagle Drive

Winnipeg, Manitoba R2R 1V4

Canada

http://www.manitobaharvest.com/

Nestle

800 North Brand Boulevard

Glendale, CA 91203

800-225-2270

http://www.nestleusa.com/

Pacific Foods of Oregon, Inc.

19480 SW 97th Ave.

Tualatin, OR 97062

503-692-9666

http://www.pacificfoods.com/

Stremicks Heritage Foods

4002 Westminster Ave.

Santa Ana, CA 92703

800-371-9010

http://www.heritage-foods.com/

Trader Joe's

PO Box 5049

Monrovia, CA 91017

626-599-3700

http://www.traderjoes.com/

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

550 Bowie St.

Austin, TX 78703

512-477-4455

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

White Wave Foods

12002 Airport Way

Broomfield, CO 80021

303-635-4000

http://www.whitewave.com/