CaloDrink Vanilla is the alternative to Fortimel®, Fresubin® and Resource®: also ready-to-drink and nutritionally complete, with 1.5 kcal/ml (300 kcal per 200-ml bottle) and available on prescription with statutory health insurance (§ 31 SGB V). Without a prescription, CaloVital powder provides 194 to 354 kcal per serving from approx. €1.67. This type of medical food is used under medical supervision.
Contents
5 products compared · Manufacturer information checked on 23.08 and 18.10.2026 · Sources at the bottom of the page
All four are balanced diets (food for special medical purposes, FSMP) with all vitamins and minerals in balanced amounts: The standard products ("Energy") provide 1.5 kcal per milliliter, around 300 kcal and 11 to 12 g of protein per 200-ml bottle.
Energy per bottle
1.5 kcal/ml in 200 ml. Resource Energy: 303 kcal.
Protein per bottle
CaloDrink Vanilla and Fortimel Energy: 12 g. Fresubin Energy DRINK and Resource Energy: 11.2 g.
§ 31 SGB V
Balanced diet in the Lauer-Taxe, available on prescription with statutory health insurance under Muster 16.
Can be substituted
One bottle of CaloDrink replaces one bottle of Fortimel Energy or Fresubin Energy DRINK.
CaloShop offers three alternatives: CaloDrink Vanilla (ready-to-drink, 300 kcal per bottle, available on prescription with statutory health insurance), CaloVital (powder, 194 to 354 kcal per serving) and CaloVital Vegan (vegan and lactose-free).
Fortimel Energy, Fresubin Energy DRINK, Resource Energy and CaloDrink Vanilla provide around 300 kcal and 11.2 to 12 g of protein per 200-ml bottle; CaloVital is a powder and not a substitute for a balanced diet.
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| Feature | CaloDrink Vanilla | Fortimel Energy | Fresubin Energy DRINK | Resource Energy | CaloVital (Powder) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Provider | CaloShop (KAP3, Mainz), manufactured in Germany | Nutricia (Danone) | Fresenius Kabi | Nestlé Health Science | CaloShop, manufactured in Germany |
| Form | ready-to-drink, 200-ml bottle | ready-to-drink, 200-ml bottle | ready-to-drink, 200-ml bottle | ready-to-drink, 200-ml bottle | Powder to mix, 500 g = 10 servings |
| Energy density | 1.5 kcal/ml | 1.5 kcal/ml | 1.5 kcal/ml | 1.5 kcal/ml | 388 kcal per 100 g of powder |
| Energy per serving | 300 kcal per bottle | 300 kcal per bottle | 300 kcal per bottle | 303 kcal per bottle | 194 kcal (50 g with water) or approx. 354 kcal with whole milk |
| Protein per serving | 12 g | 12 g | 11.2 g | 11.2 g | 8 g (50 g of powder) or approx. 16 g with whole milk |
| Fully balanced (all nutrients) | yes, 14 vitamins, 14 minerals | yes | yes | yes | no, food with 12 vitamins and 9 minerals, not a substitute for a balanced diet |
| Legal category | balanced diet (FSMP) | balanced diet (FSMP) | balanced diet (FSMP) | balanced diet (FSMP) | food (high-calorie drink powder) |
| Prescription with statutory health insurance | yes, § 31 designation in the Lauer-Taxe, 4 PZNs | yes | yes | yes | no (not covered by prescription), orderable in any pharmacy via PZN |
| Lactose / Gluten / Fiber | low lactose (0.19 g/100 ml), gluten-free, fiber-free | lactose- and gluten-free according to manufacturer, without added fiber | low lactose, gluten-free, fiber-free (chocolate flavor low in fiber) | Follow manufacturer information | gluten-free, contains milk; vegan/lactose-free as CaloVital Vegan |
| Flavors | Vanilla | several | 6 varieties + Neutral | several | 20 |
| Price per serving at CaloShop | from €2.71 (24-pack), approx. €0.90 per 100 kcal | Pharmacy price, varies | Pharmacy price, varies | Pharmacy price, varies | from approx. €1.67 (3-kg bag), approx. €1.90 to €2.40 (500 g) |
| Price per 100 kcal (as of 18.10.2026) | approx. €0.90 | Pharmacy price, varies | Pharmacy price, varies | Pharmacy price, varies | approx. €0.86 with water, approx. €0.47 with whole milk plus milk |
| Purchase | calo-shop.com, free shipping in Germany; any pharmacy via PZN | Pharmacy, medical supply store, online pharmacy | Pharmacy, medical supply store, online pharmacy | Pharmacy, medical supply store, online pharmacy | calo-shop.com; pharmacy via PZN; Shop-Apotheke, DocMorris, etc. |
Sources of competitor information: manufacturer websites nutricia.de (Fortimel Energy, now "Fortimel 1.5 kcal": 300 kcal and 12 g of protein per 200 ml, lactose- and gluten-free, 4 varieties), fresubin.com (Fresubin ENERGY Drink: 300 kcal, 11.2 g of protein per 200 ml, 6 varieties + Neutral, low lactose and gluten-free), nestlehealthscience (Resource Energy: 303 kcal, 11.2 g of protein per 200 ml); accessed on 23.08.2026, Fortimel and Fresubin information re-checked on 18.10.2026. Fortimel®, Fresubin® and Resource® are registered trademarks of the respective manufacturers; their mention is solely for objective comparison. Competitor prices are subject to pharmacy pricing and are therefore not stated as fixed prices.
With a prescription with statutory health insurance, CaloDrink Vanilla (300 kcal per bottle) is suitable; without a prescription, the CaloVital powder (from approx. €1.67 per serving); for a vegan diet and in case of taste fatigue, there are dedicated solutions.
Then CaloDrink Vanilla is the equivalent alternative: same energy density, comparable protein content, complete micronutrient profile, ready-to-drink, and billable in the pharmacy without questions using the § 31 designation in the Lauer-Taxe.
The doctor enters the product name, package size, and PZN on the prescription with statutory health insurance under Muster 16, for example CaloDrink Vanilla 24 × 200 ml, PZN 20366080.
The co-payment is 10% of the price, as with all medical foods, at least €5 and at most €10.
For those who do not have medical malnutrition but want to supplement calories, for example after an illness, with little appetite, as hardgainers, or as seniors with a small appetite, the CaloVital powder is more affordable: A 50-g serving in 250 ml whole milk provides around 354 kcal and costs from approx. €1.67.
With 20 flavors and the sample pack (€4.49 per serving pouch), almost everyone will find a flavor they will enjoy drinking for weeks.
Taste fatigue is the most common reason why medical food is discontinued.
The savory CaloSoup (113 kcal per serving with water, 275 kcal with whole milk) and the CaloCake bar (up to 592 kcal) complement the day without it having to be another sweet shake.
CaloVital Vegan (pea protein, lactose-free, gluten-free) and CaloDrink+ (25.1 g of protein and only 4.7 g of sugar per 100 g, with creatine) meet needs for which there are only a few variants among the classic clinic brands.
CaloDrink Vanilla costs around €0.90 per 100 kcal, CaloVital with water around €0.86, and CaloVital with whole milk around €0.47 plus milk (as of 18.10.2026).
With an additional requirement of 500 kcal per day: around €2.35 to €4.50 per day
All four are available on prescription with statutory health insurance under Muster 16 for malnutrition; the co-payment is 10% of the dispensing price, at least €5 and at most €10 per package.
The doctor determines that there is existing or imminent disease-related malnutrition and that normal nutrition, even with enriched food, is insufficient (§§ 18 to 26 of the German Medicines Act, chapter "Enteral Nutrition").
As a rule, this is a normo- or hypercaloric standard product suitable for exclusive nutrition ("drinkable food"). The brand is freely selectable. The key is that the product is listed in the Lauer-Taxe as a prescribable balanced diet.
Standard prescription form 16 with product name, package size, and PZN. No application or health insurance approval is required.
CaloDrink Vanilla, PZN: 4-pack 20363609 · 8-pack 20593746 · 12-pack 20366074 · 24-pack 20366080
10% of the dispensing price, at least €5 and at most €10 per package (§ 61 SGB V); exemption according to the usual rules.
Switching from Fortimel or Fresubin to CaloDrink is possible at any time on the next prescription; pharmacies order CaloDrink through the pharmaceutical wholesaler, usually by the next business day.
One bottle of CaloDrink Vanilla (300 kcal) replaces one bottle of Fortimel Energy or Fresubin Energy DRINK one-to-one; additionally, check tolerance, taste, and cost.
Anyone who needs a prescribed, fully balanced drinkable food will find CaloDrink Vanilla (1.5 kcal/ml, 300 kcal per bottle) to be a prescribable alternative that can be substituted one-to-one for Fortimel or Fresubin.
Anyone who only wants more calories without a prescription will find the CaloVital powder cheaper by approximately €1.67 per serving; CaloVital Vegan is available for a vegan diet.
Ultimately, what matters is what you enjoy drinking for weeks and tolerate well, and drinkable food should be used under medical supervision.
Yes. CaloDrink Vanilla (ready-to-drink, 300 kcal per bottle) and CaloVital powder (194 to 354 kcal per serving) can be ordered directly from calo-shop.com without a prescription and are also available in any pharmacy using the PZN. Furthermore, like Fortimel and Fresubin, CaloDrink can be prescribed on a standard prescription.
Yes. All three provide 1.5 kcal per milliliter, and thus 300 kcal per 200-ml bottle. CaloDrink contains 12 g of protein per bottle (Fortimel Energy 12 g, Fresubin Energy DRINK 11.2 g), as well as 14 vitamins and 14 minerals.
Yes, under the same conditions as Fortimel or Fresubin: In cases of existing or imminent disease-related malnutrition, the doctor prescribes CaloDrink Vanilla on standard prescription form 16 with the PZN (4-pack 20363609, 8-pack 20593746, 12-pack 20366074, 24-pack 20366080). CaloDrink is listed in the Lauer-Taxe as a balanced diet according to § 31 SGB V. The co-payment is €5 to €10 per package.
Without a prescription, CaloVital powder is the cheapest: from approximately €1.67 per serving (194 kcal with water, around 354 kcal with whole milk), or about €0.47 to €0.86 per 100 kcal. Ready-to-drink balanced diets such as CaloDrink (approximately €0.90 per 100 kcal in a 24-pack), Fortimel, or Fresubin cost more, but provide a complete nutrient profile without preparation. Pharmacy prices for the clinic brands vary.
Yes, one-to-one: same energy density, same bottle size, comparable protein content. On the next prescription, the doctor will enter CaloDrink Vanilla with the PZN; without a prescription, you can order directly from the shop. If you have diabetes or swallowing difficulties, speak with your doctor beforehand.
CaloVital Vegan is vegan, lactose-free, and gluten-free (pea protein). CaloDrink is low in lactose (0.19 g per 100 ml) and gluten-free, but not vegan. According to the manufacturer, Fresubin Energy DRINK is lactose-free; for Fortimel and Resource, check the respective manufacturer's information.
There is hardly any difference in energy and protein. Fortimel Energy and Fresubin Energy DRINK are both fully balanced drinkable foods with 1.5 kcal per milliliter, or 300 kcal per 200-ml bottle. Fortimel provides 12 g of protein per bottle, Fresubin provides 11.2 g. Both can be prescribed on a standard prescription, and the brand is freely selectable. "Better" is therefore the product you enjoy drinking for weeks and tolerate well: taste, sweetness, consistency, and availability in your pharmacy are the deciding factors. CaloDrink Vanilla offers a third option with the same energy density (1.5 kcal/ml, 300 kcal per bottle) and comparable protein content (12 g), which is also prescribable. Drinkable food of this type should be used under medical supervision.
The drug guidelines (§ 21) do not state a fixed BMI limit. The prescription is based on whether the ability to maintain adequate normal nutrition is lacking or impaired and whether enriched food or other measures are insufficient. A low BMI or unintentional weight loss may be indicators, but the doctor makes the decision on an individual basis.
Nutilis is not an alternative to Fresubin Energy DRINK, but rather a product line from Nutricia for people with swallowing difficulties. Fresenius Kabi also offers its own products for swallowing difficulties. Nutilis Clear is a flavor-neutral thickening powder for drinks and food, while Nutilis Complete is available as pre-thickened drinkable food and creams in three consistency levels. In contrast, Fresubin Energy DRINK, Fortimel Energy, and CaloDrink are liquid drinkable foods without thickening. Whether drinkable food may be thickened or a pre-thickened version is necessary is decided by the doctor or speech therapist.
Five products were compared based on public manufacturer information and CaloShop's own product data.
CaloShop Editorial Team · Last content check on 18.10.2026
Legal notice: This comparison is based on publicly available manufacturer information (as of 23.08.2026) and CaloShop's own product data. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Food for special medical purposes must be used under medical supervision. Whether and which drinkable food is covered by health insurance is decided based on the indication according to § 31 SGB V and the G-BA drug guidelines.
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