It is free of lactose and cholesterol and can be helpful for people on restricted diets, but as it has a distinct vegetal flavour some find unpleasant (at least at first), you need to try several brands to see which one you prefer.

Soya milk is available fresh chilled and packed in UHT cartons. Some varieties are sweetened with apple juice, others are unsweetened and/or enriched with calcium.

Soya milk can be used in place of cows' milk in drinks and some forms of cooking, however the results produced by different brands vary. It can curdle if added to very hot mixtures.

Choose a carton with a resealable lid and store in the fridge according to the manufacturer's instructions. Kept this way, soya milk normally lasts for several days, but depending on the size of your household, it may be best to favour small containers.