Where to Find Calcium-Fortified Milk Alternatives?

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Gaps in the plant drink shelf!

Have you been searching in vain for your favorite plant-based drink? If so, you probably prefer a calcium-fortified organic drink. Because they are only available under certain conditions and many had to leave the market.

Read our article to find out why and what you can do about it.

Fortified Drinks are Recommended

Especially in vegan diets, experts recommend calcium-fortified products. This aspect is also emphasized in our Vegan Food Pyramid. This is because calcium is often consumed only in small amounts in vegan diets and is one of the potentially critical nutrients. An inadequate status can have a negative effect on bone health, among other things. As a result, many food manufacturers add this nutrient to their products: Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is often listed as an ingredient in conventional vegan alternatives, such as plant-based drinks and yogurts.

The problem: According to the EU regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products (EC) No. 834/2007) (European Parliament and Council, 2007), organic foods may not be fortified with vitamins and minerals. This means that the addition of calcium carbonate to organic foods is also prohibited. However, to make their products more attractive, some manufacturers use the calcium-rich red algae Lithothamnium calcareum in organic milk alternatives. The powder used is obtained from purified, ground and dried sediments of this dead algae.

Because algae absorb substances from their environment, they can potentially be contaminated with pollutants. In one study, the aluminum content of red algae in particular was so high that it could cause adverse health effects if consumed on a daily basis (Desideri et al., 2016). However, this is not the reason why the European Court of Justice prohibited the fortification of organic milk alternatives with this algae in April 2021.

Fortification is Prohibited

Simply put, manufacturers violated the law in two ways by adding the calcium-rich seaweed:

As noted above, the use of calcium carbonate as a mineral to fortify organic products with calcium is illegal and cannot be advertised with calcium-related claims.
The seaweed used is (usually) not an organic ingredient. Non-organic ingredients may only be added to organic products under certain conditions, including when the food cannot be produced or preserved without the ingredient. This is not the case with plant-based dairy alternatives. After all, people who buy organic food want it to be 100% organic.

So the law is being broken here. Until 2021, no one has done anything about it, but then the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) started a fine procedure against a manufacturer. The European Court of Justice has now officially declared the use of conventionally produced algae in organic food to be illegal.

What to Do About it

Of course, manufacturers of organic milk alternatives are now looking for alternatives: calcium-rich algae can be organically grown, but they are not yet widely available. However, some companies are working on adding them to their products so they can offer a truly organic product. So if your favorite drink is an organic one, or you just want to support that particular brand, there is hope that you will soon be able to get the fortified variety again.

Fortunately, there are also many conventionally produced fortified beverages that taste great. If you try a few, you are sure to find a tasty alternative. But even if you want to continue to support your favorite organic brand and choose the non-fortified variety for now, that does not mean you cannot get enough calcium to meet your needs.

What you can do to continue to meet your calcium needs:

Increase your intake of calcium-rich plant foods such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, almonds, kale, etc.
Drink calcium-rich mineral water.
Supplement with calcium powder, such as calcium bisglycinate (choose vegan products).
Supplement directly with Lithothamnium calcareum, for example add them to homemade beverages.
Supplement with calcium-rich Sango Coralle (be aware that it also contains magnesium).

Current State

At present, calcium-rich plant “milks” in organic quality can be found on the market again. According to current legislation, calcium-rich algae (extracts) can now be added. Certain conditions apply to the cultivation of these algae (European Commission, 2022). As a rule, organic drinks are not advertised as “calcium-rich” or “calcium-fortified”, but the addition of seaweed is stated on the packaging. The calcium content can be found in the Nutrition Facts panel.

Conclusion

Organic dairy alternatives are no longer allowed to be fortified with the non-organic calcium algae. The reason for this is not that the addition is bad per se, but simply that it is not allowed by law. Until organic manufacturers find other ways to fortify with calcium, you should make sure to meet your needs for this important and potentially critical nutrient in vegan diets in other ways.