The human impact of Alpro's decision to move its nut milk production to the soya factory

Kate is an entirely normal mother in most respects. However, her young daughter has multiple severe food allergies (dairy, egg, nuts, peanuts, sesame), which may result in anaphylactic shock if she eats something with even a trace of one of these. To say this makes life tricky is an understatement: these allergens are so widespread in so many of our regularly consumed foods that there are weighty decisions to be made, often every day.

Kate has to investigate the minutiae of every product label. Naturally, any product containing one of those allergens in the ingredient list cannot be touched, but even those that have a label saying there is a ‘trace’ must also be avoided. Unfortunately, those ‘may contain’ statements are put on there voluntarily by manufacturers and they don’t mean anything in particular. So whether it says ‘made in a factory that handles xxx’ or ‘may contain xxx’, it all comes down to the same thing in the end: far safer to avoid it. If there is no mention of trace allergens, Kate contacts the manufacturer. Sometimes the product may be OK, other times it’s not worth the risk. The only way to teach her child how to survive is to tell her there is a very clear boundary. Anything with a ‘trace of’ is too dangerous.

After much research it is possible to build up a larder of highly selected foods that are suitable and it is from within this safety net that Kate and her family can venture out into what is an uncertain world. Cafes and restaurants are a minefield. Social events are unlikely to be safe. Meanwhile, the display of cakes in a baker’s window; the all-you-can-eat buffet; the biscuit offered after a childhood immunisation are all totally out of the question. It is exhausting.

Kate says that she is not a fan of big corporations and coffee houses, but she takes comfort in their plastic-wrapped products because if they have been labelled as free of the allergens her daughter must avoid, she can relax and allow a few moments of the normality the rest of us take for granted.

To replace dairy, Kate would give her daughter Alpro soya products. Go to any supermarket and you’ll note the dominance of Alpro on the dairy-free product market – it is the go-to soya milk brand of cornershops and cafes, almost as ubiquitous as cow’s milk and therefore a hugely valuable brand for individuals wanting dairy-free products. They are also calcium fortified, so vital for nutrition too.  Alpro also makes a junior milk, nutritionally adapted for the needs of toddlers, many supermarket own-brand soya milks, as well as yogurt and cream substitutes. They are as close to a like-for-like dairy alternative as you can get.

Alpro also makes almond milk and hazelnut milk (which of course Kate’s daughter cannot have). But Alpro has decided to move its nut milk production to its nut-free soya factory. In preparation for this manufacturing move, Alpro’s soya products now come with a ‘may contain a trace of nuts’ warning. And with that, they are off the menu for people like Kate’s daughter. 

It is not just the fact there are few alternatives that makes the situation so difficult. It’s also because Alpro’s products are so easy to find that Kate’s family didn’t always have to meticulously forward-plan their every move – it was possible to spontaneously buy a yogurt when out shopping, or pop and get a carton of soya milk when at a friend’s house.

But that kind of ‘easy living’ is no more. Meanwhile, the long list of products that Kate’s daughter cannot have has just got a little longer.

• To find out more and add your comments, see the AlproSOS campaign. 

• Read more about this issue on this press release from the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations.