<P> Non-dairy creamers or coffee whiteners are liquid or granular substances intended to substitute for milk or cream as an additive to coffee, tea, hot chocolate or other beverages . They do not contain lactose and therefore are commonly described as not being dairy products, although many contain casein, a milk - derived protein . Dry granular products do not need to be refrigerated and can be used and stored in locations which do not have a refrigerator . Liquid non-dairy creamers should be tightly capped and refrigerated after opening . Some non-dairy creamers contain sweeteners and flavours, such as vanilla, hazelnut or Irish cream . As with other processed food products, low calorie and low fat versions are available for non-dairy creamers . </P> <P> Holton "Rex" Diamond, an employee of Rich Products, did experiments from 1943 to 1945 with using a "(g) elationous form of soybean protein" to make a "soy cream" that would not form curds when mixed with coffee . Diamond's experiments are the first English - language reference to a non-dairy creamer for coffee . Frank S. Mitchell, another Rich Products Corp employee, and Diamond developed a non-dairy whip topping for their employer in 1946 . Mitchell also developed a non-dairy coffee creamer, Perx, which was successful in the market . </P>

Does non dairy creamer need to be refrigerated