This Swiss study from Agroscope and the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office compared the nutritional composition of 27 commercial plant-based drinks (representing 8 plant species) against cow’s milk, including analysis of arsenic as part of a residue panel (alongside glyphosate and AMPA). The arsenic data for plant-based drinks, particularly rice-based drinks, is the primary wiki-relevant finding. The study provides a comprehensive nutritional comparison across diverse plant-based milk alternatives purchased from Swiss retail, offering a European market snapshot of arsenic levels in this growing product category.
Key numbers
n=29 products total (27 plant-based drinks of 8 species + 2 cow’s milk reference samples). Switzerland retail market, 2022. Arsenic measured as total arsenic (tAs) as part of a residue screen. Specific concentration values by drink type are in the full data tables and flagged for extraction during synthesis. Eight plant species represented: oat, soy, almond, rice, coconut, hemp, spelt, cashew.
Methods (brief)
Comprehensive nutritional analysis battery including macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and residues (arsenic, glyphosate, AMPA). Analytical methods for arsenic: ICP-MS (Agroscope/FSVO laboratory). Swiss retail market sample collection. n=29.
Implications
Certification: Plant-based beverages, especially rice-based drinks, are an emerging category for HMT&C certification; this study provides European market baseline data for tAs in this category. Courses: Illustrates the nutritional trade-offs and contaminant differences between cow’s milk and plant-based alternatives; useful for brand QA and consumer education on rice drink arsenic exposure. App: Supports contamination_profile entries for plant-based milk/rice milk ingredients; Swiss retail data provides a European reference point.