365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Oat Milk — OKAY

Name: 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Oat Milk
Brand: 365 by Whole Foods Market

Munch or Dump rates 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Oat Milk by 365 by Whole Foods Market OKAY — score 58/90.

Organic oat milk made from oats and water with a little sunflower oil and gellan gum for body, then fortified. No sugar is added, but oat milk is naturally higher in carbohydrate and free sugars than other plant milks because the oat starch breaks down into sugars during processing. Clean label for the category, NOVA 4 from the oil, gum, and fortification.

Why this verdict

No added sugar, though enzymatic breakdown of oat starch yields natural free sugars
Base is oatmilk (water and oats) plus a small amount of sunflower oil
Gellan gum and phosphates added for texture and mineral fortification
Fortified with calcium and vitamins A, D2, B2, and B12
Higher carbohydrate load than almond or soy milk

Ingredients (11)

Oatmilk (filtered water, oats) (safe) — Oats blended with water and enzyme-treated so the starch releases natural sugars. This is why oat milk tastes slightly sweet without added sugar.
sunflower seed oil (safe) — Refined oil in the dough; small amount, not a concern here.
calcium carbonate (safe) — Added calcium — a mineral fortificant.
Tricalcium Phosphate (safe) — Added calcium source for fortification.
Sea Salt (moderate) — Sodium source; no nutritional edge over regular salt.
gellan gum (moderate) — Stabilizer that keeps almond solids suspended; generally well tolerated.
POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE (safe) — pH buffer and mineral fortificant used in small amounts.
Vitamin A palmitate (safe) — Standard fortification to replace vitamin A lost when fat is removed. A nutrient, not an additive of concern.
Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) (safe) — Plant-source vitamin D fortification.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) (safe) — Added B vitamin at trace level.
Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) (safe) — Added B12, valuable in a plant-based beverage.