OAT MILKS — CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE®

Information updated March 2024

MAKING YOU THE EXPERT

You can easily be your own expert when looking at the ingredients in the products you eat and drink every day. Just ask yourself: “What is in a homemade version of this item?” Any ingredient in a commercial item which is not in the homemade recipe is an ingredient which is Not In Kitchen™ >> there’s no absolute need for it to be included in the manufactured item.

OAT MILKS >> HOMEMADE RECIPES: To easily asses which commercial packaged Oat Milks are Closest To Homemade®, we start with a quick look at what’s in homemade Oat Milk so we have a means of comparison when we look at the manufactured Oat Milks.

Homemade Oat Milk is simple >> it’s just Oats, Water and possibly Salt.

THE MOST POPULAR OAT MILKS ARE NOT CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE: Here’s a look at what’s in some of the leading U.S. brands of Oat Milks >> multiple ingredients which are Not In Kitchen in Hood-owned Planet Oat, Campbell’s-owned Pacific Foods and Oatly. (Sources for ingredients: Brand Web sites 3/24) They all contain added Phosphate and Vitamin(s) functioning as preservatives >> just like Vitamins protect our bodies from oxidation, they are performing the same function when added to our foods + beverages >> they are helping to preserve the product.

Tocopherols — contained in Oatly Oat Milk — are an FDA-recognized Preservative. (Source: U.S. FDA 2024)

According to Statista 2024, the global oat beverages market is forecast to reach a value of about $699 million U.S. dollars by 2027.

In its natural state, Rapeseed is extremely high in Erucic Acid >> too high for human consumption. The Rapeseed Oil in the *Oatly* product has been genetically modified to be lower in this harmful-to-humans-at-high-levels acid.

DANONE-OWNED SILK OAT MILKS ARE FAR FROM HOMEMADE™: The three Silk Oat Milks below have multiple ingredients which are Not In Kitchen when making homemade Oat Milk including Dipotassium Phosphate, Gellan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Palmitate, Sunflower Oil, Vitamin Fortification, Natural Flavor and Locust Bean Gum. (Source: Danone Silk Web site 3/24)

Ascorbic Acid — included in two of these Silk Oat Milks — is an FDA-recognized Chemical Preservative. (Source: U.S. FDA 2024)

Seen below, AMAZON-OWNED WHOLE FOODS 365 BRAND OAT MILKS ARE FAR FROM HOMEMADE WITH MULTIPLE INGREDIENTS Not In Kitchen: There is no Vanilla Extract in the ingredient list in the Whole Foods 365 Vanilla-flavored Oat Milk and they all contain Phosphates Plural, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Sunflower Seed Oil and Vitamin Fortification. The Vanilla Flavored Oat Milk and Chocolate version also contain added Natural Flavor(s). (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 3/24)

Here are some other commercial Oat Milks with ingredients Not In Kitchen when making homemade Oat Milk >> Simple Truth contains High Oleic Sunflower Oil and other ingredients Not In Kitchen, Happy Planet has multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen including Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Gums and Vitamin Fortification/Preservation, and Oatsome with Organic Sunflower Oil and added Calcium and Vitamins. (Sources: Brand Web sites 3/24)

VANILLA OAT MILK COMPARISON: Organic Rise Oat Milk Vanilla with 7 ingredients vs. Chobani Oat Milk Vanilla with 12 ingredients. They both have real Vanilla Extract but they both also contain added commercial Natural Flavor(s) and added oil. (Sources: Force Brands Rise Brewing Company Web site 3/24; Chobani Web site 3/24)

Below, these two “Vanilla” Oat Milks — Pacific Foods Oat and Whole Foods 365 Oatmilk Vanilla — contain multiple ingredients Not In Kitchen and no Vanilla Extract is in their ingredient lists, just the flavor of Vanilla. (Sources: Campbell’s Pacific Web site 3/24; Amazon Whole Foods Web site 3/24)

CLOSEST TO HOMEMADE UNSWEETENED OAT MILKS: Following are some Oat Milks which are Closest To Homemade with no Sweeteners, Gums, Stabilizers, Vitamins, Preservatives, Emulsifiers, Oils, Flavors or Colors. These include Thrive Market Organic Oat Original; Forager Project Organic Oat Milk; Organic and certified Kosher and Glyphosate Residue Free MALK; Elmhurst Milked Oats; Willa’s Original Organic Oat Milk which is verified Non-GMO and Vegan, and Califia Farms Original Organic Oatmilk. (Sources: Brand Web sites 3/24)

*Neither money nor products are ever accepted to appear on the Closest To Homemade list*

Seen below, LOCAL NEW YORK CITY NUTHATCH: Nuthatch Oat Milks are all Closest To Homemade® made with Organic New York State Oats and a variety of delicious flavor options created with excellent ingredients.