Almond Breeze® FAQs

Can Almond Breeze® be used for baking and in recipes?

Almond Breeze can be used in just about any recipe calling for traditional cow's milk. It can be used in baking, soups and sauces, as well as heated up for hot drinks, etc. We do not however, recommend Almond Breeze for use in making yogurt or puddings.

Can I use Almond Breeze® as an infant formula?

No. Almond Breeze is not designed for the replacement of breast milk or infant formula.

How should I store Almond Breeze®?

Unopened REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze should be stored at a temperature of 35 to 45°F up until the “Use By” date printed on top of the carton. Keep REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze in the middle of your refrigerator to prevent possible freezing.  Avoid refrigerator door storage as it tends to have the biggest temperature change than any other part of the refrigerator. REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze is perishable and will spoil if not refrigerated.

UNOPENED SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze can be stored in your pantry unrefrigerated up until the “Best Before” date printed on top of the carton.  Once opened, SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze® must be refrigerated or it will spoil.

Why is the “Use By” date on refrigerated Almond Breeze® longer than some dairy milks?

Refrigerated Almond Breeze is made using sophisticated equipment in an Ultra Pasteurization process utilizing very high heat for a very short period of time. Ultrapasteurized product when packed in a specially designed protective carton results in an extended shelf life.

How soon should I use Almond Breeze® after I open it?

After opening, REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze should be used within 7 days. SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze should be used within 7-10 days of opening. Because Almond Breeze does not contain preservatives, it is susceptible to spoilage after being opened for a prolonged period of time. Do not leave opened Almond Breeze unrefrigerated for an extended period of time. Storage at room temperature will shorten the shelf life and just like regular dairy milk and will spoil if left unrefrigerated too long. Blue Diamond does not recommend trying to extend the Refrigerated “Use By” or Shelf Stable “Best Before” time frame of Almond Breeze and Blue Diamond will not guarantee the quality of the product beyond this recommended time frame.

Can I drink Almond Breeze® beyond the ‘’Use By” or “Best Before” date?

No, for best quality we recommend consuming REFRIGERATED Almond Breeze before the “Use By” date and SHELF STABLE Almond Breeze before the “Best Before” date.

How can I tell if the product turns bad?

Almond Breeze® products have mild and pleasant odors. If your Almond Breeze does not look, smell or taste the way it should, it may be spoiled. Signs of spoilage include:
The carton looks abnormally bloated 
When opened, product appears to be moldy, curdled and/or slimy 
The color has changed 
The product has an off odor or smells like sour milk 
The product texture has changed and is not smooth and creamy

Can I freeze Almond Breeze®?

No. It is not recommended. Freezing Almond Breeze causes the product to separate irregularly and this greatly reduces the visual quality and consistency of the product upon thawing.

Why do I need to shake the product?

Shaking Almond Breeze® before serving helps to maintain product consistency. Over time, solids in Almond Breeze such as cocoa powder and calcium may settle to the bottom of the carton.

Are Almond Breeze® cartons recyclable?

Both shelf stable and refrigerated cartons along with milk and juice cartons are recycled through a simple, well-established process called ‘hydrapulping.’ The high-quality fiber used in the production of paper products such as tissue and paper towels and fine writing paper. In some cases, the plastic / foil residual is being recycled into high-end plastic lumber products. Nearly 12 million households in 26 states in the US have the ability to recycle shelf stable packages and milk and juice cartons curbside and the numbers keep growing. Check with your local recycling center to confirm that the container is recycled in your area. Almond Breeze cartons can be recycled after removing plastic screw caps or plastic spout.


Is the carton microwavable?

No. Almond Breeze® cartons are not microwave safe.

What is the carton made of?

Refrigerated Almond Breeze® is packaged in gable-top 64 fl oz cartons with a white plastic pour spout fitment. All container boards are made from FDA approved virgin materials with a multi-layer structure and an oxygen barrier designed for extended shelf life applications.

Shelf-stable Almond Breeze cartons are a laminate of three materials: high-quality paperboard, polyethylene, and aluminum. Paperboard provides stiffness and strength to the product. Polyethylene provides a tight seal for the innermost and outermost layer of the carton. Aluminum forms a barrier against oxygen and light which helps preserve product without refrigeration and/or added preservatives. There is no leaching of aluminum or aluminum components through the plastic layer.

Does the carton contain Bisphenol A (BPA)?

No. We have confirmation on file from the supplier of our shelf stable cartons for Almond Breeze® that they do not contain any BPA (Bisphenol A) in any part of the carton’s construction.

In what country is Almond Breeze® produced?

USA

Can I order refrigerated Almond Breeze® directly from Blue Diamond Growers?

No, the refrigerated gable top Almond Breeze® products are not available directly from Blue Diamond Growers.

Where are the almonds used in Almond Breeze® grown?

The almonds are grown in orchards by our grower co-operative members in California.

Are Almond Breeze® products pasteurized?

Yes.Shelf stable Almond Breeze is produced via a process called ‘aseptic’. The aseptic process is a closed process and is a form of pasteurization and commercial sterilization which utilizes a very high temperature that is regulated by the process authority and/or the FDA.

Refrigerated Almond Breeze® is produced via ultra-pasteurized HTST (High Temperature, Short Time) process. Ultra high heat eliminates all viable pathogens to ensure product is safe. The Ultrapasteurized product when packed in a specially designed protective carton results in an extended shelf life (ESL).

How do you make the Almond Breeze® so creamy without adding dairy ingredients?

Almonds naturally contain a high content of good fat that provides for a naturally creamy texture. Blue Diamond has developed and patented product formulas that deliver a mild tasting almondmilk with a smooth and creamy texture. Almond Breeze is made with carefully selected almonds and quality ingredients which when combined and processed in the proper ratios results in truly unique product.

Is Almond Breeze® kosher?

Refrigerated Almond Breeze is certified Kosher OU-D. They are dairy free products made on heated equipment also used for dairy products. Blue Diamond uses stringent equipment cleaning and testing procedures to ensure that products made on dairy equipment are dairy-free.  For individuals following orthodox kosher rules, dairy-free products processed on heated equipment also used for dairy may not be eaten together with a meat product.  Refrigerated Almond Breeze is safe for individuals with dairy allergies.

All Shelf Stable Almond Breeze products are certified Kosher OU meaning that all ingredients are kosher certified containing neither meat nor dairy ingredients or derivatives.

Does Almond Breeze® contain any dairy ingredients?

No.  All Almond Breeze products are dairy-free.  They do not contain lactose or casein.

Does Almond Breeze® contain any soy?

No. All Almond Breeze products are soy-free.  They do not contain soy ingredient.

Does Almond Breeze® contain any eggs?

No, Almond Breeze does not contain any egg ingredients.

Does Almond Breeze® contain any peanuts?

No, Almond Breeze does not contain peanuts.

Is Almond Breeze® made in a peanut free plant?

Yes, Almond Breeze is made in a peanut free plant.

Does Almond Breeze® contain wheat or gluten?

No.  Almond Breeze products are wheat and gluten free.

Does Almond Breeze® contain any animal products or by-products?

Almond Breeze is vegan and does not contain any animal products, by-products or derivatives.

Does Almond Breeze® contain MSG?

The ingredient MSG (monosodium glutamate) is not added to Almond Breeze or present in any of the ingredients including flavors.

Does Almond Breeze® contain any preservatives?

It is required by law for food manufacturers that use preservatives in their foods to declare them in the ingredient statement. Blue Diamond does not use any preservatives in Almond Breeze products.

Is the water in Almond Breeze® fluorinated?

No, the potable water used in Almond Breeze is not fluorinated.

Does Almond Breeze® contain genetically engineered (GMO) almonds?

No.  Blue Diamond uses only California almonds grown by our grower co-operative members without the use of genetic engineering or gene manipulation. The varieties of almonds used in Almond Breeze were developed using traditional agricultural breeding techniques.

What is the source of fat in Almond Breeze®?

The fat found in Almond Breeze comes primarily from the natural almond oil found in almonds with small traceable amounts from vegetable oil found in the vitamin and sunflower lecithin ingredients.

What type of sweetener is used in Almond Breeze®?

For sweetened Almond Breeze products, Blue Diamond uses natural evaporated cane juice which is the crystallized juice from the first pressing of sugar cane. It is unbleached and made with minimal processing. It has a unique naturally sweet flavor.  Unsweetened Almond Breeze products have no sugar or sweetener added.

What is “Dutch Process Cocoa”?

Blue Diamond uses “Dutch Process” cocoa in Almond Breeze Chocolate products. The term “Dutch Process” refers to cocoa beans that have been treated with alkali to neutralize acidity, improve color and enhance flavor.

Does the cocoa used in Almond Breeze® chocolate contain dairy?

No. It does not contain dairy.

Does Almond Breeze® contain caffeine?

Original and Vanilla Almond Breeze flavors contain no caffeine. Chocolate Almond Breeze contains ~1.5 mg of caffeine per 8 fl oz serving. For comparison the USDA Nutrition Database Release 24 lists an 8 fl oz serving of regular brewed coffee with 95 mg of caffeine.

Do the natural flavors in Almond Breeze® contain any artificial ingredients or colors?

All flavors listed in our ingredient statement are derived from natural sources as defined by FDA.  No artificial flavors are used nor are alcohol contained in any of our natural flavorings.  In addition there is no added MSG in our flavors.

Why does Almond Breeze® contain Carageenan?


Carrageenan is used to stabilize Almond Breeze. It is naturally extracted from seaweed and approved for use in foods as an emulsifier and thickener. The Carrageenan that is used in the Almond Breeze formula is not to be confused with the degraded version that is chemically different and used solely for industrial applications.

What is the coconutmilk blend used in the new Almond Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blends?

We use all natural coconut cream to make the new Almond Breeze blends. Coconut Cream is the emulsion of water and coconut oil extracted from the coconut meat by physical pressing. The coconut cream is physically pressed from the coconut
meat without chemicals.

Where does the coconutmilk used in Almond Breeze Almondmilk Coconutmilk Blends come from?

Indonesia

What are MCFA’s?

MCFA’s stand for Medium Chain Fatty Acids, a type of fat in coconut. More information about MCFA’s can be found here.