nonsoup

Nonsoup is a label used to describe foods that imitate soup in appearance or consumption but do not fit standard culinary definitions of soup. In practice, nonsoup products are usually ready-to-drink liquids or semi-liquid foods that lack traditional stock-based broth, chunky ingredients, or both. They are often marketed as meal replacements or dietary beverages and may rely on vegetable or fruit purée bases, dairy or plant-based milks, and seasonings to evoke a soup-like flavor.

Origin and usage: The term is informal, appearing in food-writing and marketing discussions since the early 2000s. It has no formal regulatory status and varies by region. Some makers label products as "soup" or "soup drink" to signal familiarity, while others choose "broth," "beverage," or "meal shake" to avoid mislabeling.

Market and reception: Nonsoup products occupy niches in health-food, convenience food, and weight-management markets. They are evaluated on nutritional content, caloric density, and consumer tolerance for texture and temperature. Critics argue that nonsoup labeling can mislead consumers about ingredients and traditional soup characteristics.

Examples: Veggie-purée beverages marketed as soup alternatives; dairy-based or plant-based “soup drinks” with no solids; liquid meals marketed as "soup substitutes." Some recipes and home experiments produce nonsoup by blending vegetables and non-stock liquids into a smooth drink.