Roskontrol experts tested yogurts of the most popular brands and found that most of them contain 100 times less good bacteria, but significantly more sugar than indicated on the label, according to a report of the organization on its website.

The experts of the non-profit partnership Roscontrol conducted a study of the most popular brands of yoghurt on the subject of safety, naturalness, utility and taste. For the examination they selected seven products: Danone, BioMax, Landliebe, Miracle, Frugurt, Svalia Organic and Valio.

As for the beneficial lactic acid bacteria, they were contained in sufficient quantities only in the “Svalya Organic” yoghurt. The products of the remaining brands contained bacteria 100 times less than the norm indicated on the label (at the end of the shelf life of the product, the number of lactic acid microorganisms should be at least 1 * 10 ^ 7 CFU / g). Most likely, part of the bacteria died during the heat treatment, which manufacturers subjected to yoghurt in order to increase their shelf life, experts say.

Manufacturers compensated for the lack of bacteria with dyes, thickeners, stabilizers and flavors. Most of them were found in Danone yogurt, including E1442 modified starch, E407 carrageenan stabilizers and E415 xanthan gum, as well as acidity regulators, dyes and flavorings. In BioMax and “Miracle” yogurts, four to five thickeners are used, and “Stallion Organic” and Valio only starch is used as a stabilizer.

Flavors found in all brands without exception. Natural dyes are available in all yoghurts, except Valio. The experts did not find any synthetic dyes.

According to the experts, all these additives are considered safe, but they do not add any benefit to the product, since its caloric content increases due to the addition of starch.

But the amount of sugar in all samples exceeds all permissible norms. The sweetest was BioMax yoghurt (14.6%), one serving of which contains more than three teaspoons of sugar — about a quarter of the child’s daily need for easily digestible carbohydrates. The lowest amount of sugar contains Danone yoghurt - 3.25%. At the same time, experts found that the information on the label does not correspond to reality, for example, on the packaging of “Dumping Organic”. it is indicated that 100 g of the product contains 10 g of sugar, and in fact - almost 40% more.

According to the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union TR CU 033/2013 - Milk and dairy products, it is allowed that the discrepancy and the actual rate (mass fraction of sugar) does not exceed 15%, the lawyer says Alexander Borisov. “In this case, the manufacturer of Yoghurt“ Dumping Organic ”for violation of the requirements of the Technical Regulations may face under Art. 14.43 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation is an administrative fine in the amount of 100 thousand to 300 thousand rubles, ”he summarized.

In this article we will look at yogurts and advise on which brand to opt for. In this case, you will be completely confident in the naturalness of the product.

Dairy products, including yogurt, play an important role in human health. By the way, yogurts have the greatest popularity and demand for children age category and for the elderly. But often the composition calls into question the “usefulness” of such a product. Therefore, this article will provide information about the brands that deservedly receive the title of "useful."

What are the most useful yogurts: names, list, brands, rating

The main merit of any yogurt is the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms of the intestine and the activation of beneficial microflora. And yogurts suspend the process of aging and decay. And, in general, improve the work of the intestine and its entire system. Especially if it is weak or has some aggravations. That is, the susceptible flora of the infant or of the adult gastrointestinal tract disease.

Miss a moment with a detailed analysis of the composition of each known yogurt. But arm yourself with some recommendations to consider when buying yogurt.

What you notice when reading the composition:

What are the yogurts are on top:

Important! None of the producers of yogurt has an ideal composition. That is, it is impossible to name the perfect or the best yogurt. But you can select the most close to natural indicators of certain brands.

The lowest score scored "Danone" falls into the forbidden group. Among the advantages can be identified only good taste and rich aroma.

• But it is a merit of a large number of preservatives and stabilizers, which are of chemical origin. A high percentage of dyes can cause allergies, and acidity regulator is also observed. Therefore, the safety and naturalness of yogurt is beyond the scale of acceptable values.
• But the main drawback is the low content of lactic acid organisms (almost 100 times lower than permissible).
  • Of the positive qualities can be noted a high content of milk protein, but the above data. But sugar, on the contrary, is lower. On the one hand, this is good, but it looks like a buyer's deception.

What drinking yoghurt, bioyoghurt is most useful: names, brands, list

It is necessary to dispel the myth that lactobacilli somehow depend on the density of yogurt. Regardless of the consistency, whether it is a thick or liquid product, the bacteria in its composition will be in the same quantity.

Natural yogurt without additives - how to choose which one to buy: the best brands

Natural yogurts are the most beneficial for the body. They have a number of requirements that will be provided below.

What you should know when buying a natural yogurt:

• Shelf life  - This is the first indicator. Healthy yogurt retains its properties for no more than 1-2 weeks. Some manufacturers extend the time to a month. If you compare with other common yogurts, then, most often, this period takes as much as 3 months, or even a year.
• Composition  in natural yogurt is pleasantly small. Ideally, there should be only milk and bacteria, but this is extremely rare to be found. Remember that a long lineup is a bad sign.
• Also note -   sugar should not be a part of natural yogurt!
• The content of lactic acid bacteria (not less than 10 * 7 CFU / g) and bifidobacteria (minimum 10 * 6 CFU / g) must be indicated. By the way, their number should be kept until the end of the shelf life.

What is to provide natural yoghurts:

Fat-free, low-calorie yogurts: which company is better?

It is also worth noting that fermented milk products help the body to self-clean. Therefore, when used systematically, yogurt dissolves body fat, corrects the shape of the body, removes excessive fecal matter and fights with excess weight.

• "Valio"  with a fat content of 0.4%. Excellent quality, which is expressed in the absence of preservatives and high rates of lactic acid bacteria. Very moderate sucrose content, which is important for low-fat yogurt.
  • But the protein and SOMO content is several times less than the required content according to the regulations and GOST. Taste and aroma faint.
• Sour-milk drink It belongs to the category of low-calorie yogurt, has a fat content of 1.5%. It really has few calories and milk fat. Lactic acid organisms are normal.
  • But the taste and aroma of yogurt is very weak, but dyes are taken in abundance. And there are no berries, that is, there is no filler or it is very weakly expressed.
  • And take a note - yogurt has a little too high sugar content! Even for yogurt with high calorie content.

Important! Sometimes manufacturers use potassium chloride instead of milk fat. It creates a salty and bitter taste, so they have to include more sugar in the composition.

• Yogurt Slavushkin  from Optimal. Far "stepped" from previous representatives on the indicator of naturalness. But loses only in terms of nutritional value and taste.
  • Bifidobacteria are present in the right amount. It is worth noting that sucrose is used for sweet taste (in permissible doses). There are no preservatives, which is an undoubted positive quality.
  • But the taste of yogurt was not so expressive and slightly mealy, and this indicates the starch content.
• Please note!  Low-calorie foods can be called useless, because they do not carry any energy value for the body. And to reduce the caloric content of the product, often use water and sugar. Water destroys the consistency of yogurt and becomes the cause of pathogen flora. And in order to somehow "adjust" the taste of such yogurt, manufacturers add a huge amount of sugar. Its content exceeds even the dose of fatty yogurt.

Live yogurt: brands, manufacturers

Live yogurt is a product that does not undergo heat treatment. That is, it has live lactobacilli or probiotics. In such a fermented milk product, there are always live bacteria. The shelf life of such products is not more than 7 days. By the way, they also call it bioyogurt.

• Live yogurt, natural. It has only milk and leaven. Stored only 4 days after opening the banks.
• "Asenyevskaya farm", classic yogurt. The same pleasant composition - only two components and can be stored only 4-6 days.
• "Kozelsky live" yogrut. Again, only two components with a period of not more than 5 days.
• "Milk culture". This, by the way, is drinking yoghurt, which also makes you happy with the composition.

• "Bifidus Nature"
• "Activia"
• "Bio Balance"

And best of all to make your own, homemade live yogurt. Here in its composition can be absolutely no doubt. The choice of starter is abundant today. Moreover, in such yogurt you can add pieces of your favorite fruits. By the way, due to the lack of heat treatment, it retains the maximum utility. It will be really natural, because only you are watching the components. And it will also be fresh, and this is an important criterion for the viability of beneficial bacteria.

Video: Which yoghurt to choose?

Yogurt is a good treat, isn't it?

This wonderful product has conquered all world markets.

But is it as useful as girls claim in commercials?

Tasty medicine or a storehouse of harmful additives?

The article will discuss the beneficial and harmful properties of yogurt.

Yogurt is a product of fermented milk origin, obtained by fermenting milk with special yogurt bacteria.

Pure yogurt is known to mankind for more than 3 thousand years since the time of ancient Babylon. The word "yogurt" is of Turkish origin, but its birthplace is Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria, its composition imposes the most stringent requirements. All that contains dyes, additives, sugar, thickeners and powdered milk - in Bulgaria can not be called traditional natural yogurt. In Russia and other countries, the laws are softer, and manufacturers supply the market with yoghurt with a variety of fillings. Approaching the window, eyes run up from such a rich assortment.

Today, there are 3 types of yogurt:

Flavored yogurts (natural yoghurt, consists solely of milk and sourdough)

Fruit yogurts (with the addition of fruit, syrups)

Flavored yogurts (contain sugar and various flavors)

Of interest is the classification of yoghurts into the following 2 types:

Alive  - contain live bacteria without the addition of preservatives, the shelf life can not exceed 1 month.

Inanimate  - amenable to heat treatment and preservation, stored up to 1 year.

Yogurt: what is the benefit for the body?

The high nutritional value of yogurt makes it a product of therapeutic and health food. It is difficult to overestimate their benefits, because yogurts are rich in a whole range of nutrients:

Milk proteins

Vitamins (B2, B12)

Calcium

Carbohydrates

Living microorganisms

What are the benefits of yogurt for health? Doctors recommend replacing heavy dinner with light yogurt. It is necessary for the normalization of intestinal activity and improve the process of digestion. It has been proven that yogurt is the best prevention of bowel cancer. Yoghurt effectively relieves the body and helps to feel the lightness and get rid of bad breath.

Its beneficial microflora stimulates the immune system, causing the body to attack various kinds of viruses and bacteria. Taking 300 grams of yogurt daily, you will feel that the disease bypasses you.

Yogurt stops aging!  Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria of the dairy product clean the intestinal walls from harmful slags. As you know, putrefactive processes pollute our body from the inside and contribute to accelerated aging.

Yogurt helps fight thrush. The body reduces the number of bacteria responsible for the appearance of such an unpleasant disease. Therefore, girls of reproductive age are especially advised to add yogurt to their diet and take care of their health.

Yogurt supports the necessary level of cholesterol in the blood and improves brain function. American scientists in their studies provided evidence of the dependence of the development of mental abilities on the intestinal microflora.

Products of dairy origin affect the activity of brain areas responsible for the emotional component of intellectual activity. Bad mood and depression? Another useful property of yogurt: pure organism and, as a result, pure thoughts.

Lactic acid bacteria help calcium absorption. Interestingly, 100 grams of the product contains more than 25% of the daily calcium requirement. And calcium is shiny hair, healthy teeth, clean skin, strong bones and muscles.

Yogurts - dietary aide! Studies by American scientists prove that yogurt helps to lose weight faster. And this is not surprising, because the basis of any diet - improving metabolism and proper bowel work.

Yogurt is an easily digestible, non-allergenic product. People who are allergic to milk protein and lactose intolerant may include yogurt in their diet and compensate for the lack of calcium.

Another useful property of yogurt: yogurt - excellent cosmetic tool. Yogurt masks are great against skin peeling.

Who will yogurt benefit?

Pregnant women and girls preparing for pregnancy

Drug medication (especially antibiotics)

Living in areas of unfavorable environmental situation, where intestinal infections are likely to become infected

Eating in crowded places (cafes, restaurants, canteens)

Working in hazardous industries

Immunocompromised People

Teenagers and the elderly.

Any product has both indications for consumption and contraindications.

Natural yogurt should not be consumed if you have:

Gastritis of high acidity

Gastric or duodenal ulcer

Kidney disease

Diseases of the urinary tract

Yogurt: what is the harm to health?

Bright packaging of yogurt, screaming advertising slogan, exotic supplements - this is certainly a successful marketing policy of companies. But, as a rule, buyers pay attention to this. And few people think about what harm can cause such a seemingly harmless product to the body. From the lessons of chemistry it is known that fresh vegetables, fruits and berries upset the balance of the fermented milk environment. Unfortunately, thousands of chemical additives give themselves off as natural ingredients. Manufacturers love to save and buy cheap raw materials. It is much more profitable for them to give a flavored non-natural taste to a cheap product, rather than to buy expensive tropical fruits. Just think what harm they can do, because many of them are used even in the manufacture of paints and varnishes!

But this is not the worst. Manufacturers often use flavor enhancers, which are the strongest and most dangerous carcinogens. Doctors associate the incidence of pancreatitis with the ever-increasing use of preservatives in the manufacture of food.

Dentists have a negative attitude to yogurt, as they, like chocolate, caramel and juice, destroy tooth enamel. But in order to avoid harming the mouth, it is enough just to rinse your mouth after eating and do not forget to brush your teeth 2 times a day.

Excessive consumption of yoghurts containing sugar is 3 times more than the norm, can cause serious harm to the body and lead to the development of diabetes. Due to the fact that the portability of each product is different, long-term use of yogurt can lead to the formation of kidney stones, flatulence and spasms in the colon. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor if you should use this product, will it be useful or harmful for you, and whether your body has a predisposition to develop the above mentioned diseases.

Calorie yogurt

The energy value of the product is called its calorie content. This is the amount of energy that is released in the human body from food in the process of eating. Nutritionists of many countries include yoghurts in the list of products that help lose those extra pounds. Therefore, they are often called dietary. So, how many calories in yogurt? The calorie content of yogurt is determined by the fat content of milk, which is its basis. The calorie content of the finished product ranges from 100 to 250 kcal per 100 g. The caloric content of store yoghurts varies from 50 to 100 kcal. The more fillers contains yogurt, the greater its energy value. For example, the caloric content of natural yogurt with a fat content of 3.2% is 58 kcal per 100 g, and that of yogurt with fillers is 100 kcal. And this is 2 times more!

Yogurt for children: good or bad?

Children under 9 months are not recommended to enter into the diet of yogurt. The first year of life a baby should receive only breast milk or formula. When choosing a yoghurt for a child in the store, be sure to pay attention to the shelf life of the product.

For a child, it is better to choose foods with a fat content up to 5% without fillers. Supplements are harmful to the not yet formed gastrointestinal tract of children. The most useful yogurt is stored no more than 3-4 days and is sold in stores specialized in dairy products. Such yogurts are made from natural cow's milk, so they can be given even to the smallest. Each child is individual, so you should still consult with a pediatrician.

To this day, the question remains controversial: "Yogurt - what's more: good or harm?".

Some argue that the use of yogurt brings tangible benefits to health, while others exclude it from their diet.

But remember a truly healthy product is one that consists entirely of natural ingredients.. The fewer components contained in yogurt, the more useful it is. In order to avoid harm to your body and provide it with extremely useful, carefully study the composition, check the expiration date, the presence of dyes and preservatives contained in it. Or try to find a simple recipe for homemade yogurt, in which you will be completely sure. Take kefir, add jam, honey, muesli and your favorite fresh fruit. And your dessert is ready!

Sourdough for yogurt is intended for the preparation of live yogurt at home. This yogurt contains a high number of live and beneficial bacteria. Does not contain any harmful additives and sugar. Starter yogurt can be used every day for adults and children.

Possible application
no fermentation

Application without fermentation is possible.

This starter can be taken in its pure form, as a probiotic, to restore the intestinal microflora and normalize digestion.

Dilute the contents of the bag in a small amount of boiled water at room temperature. Take 1 sachet 1-2 times a day, directly after meals for 1-3 weeks.

detailed information

VIVO yogurt - a starter for making homemade yogurt with your own hands.

Yoghurt is perhaps one of the most well-known dairy products, which has a very delicate and pleasant sour-milk taste. Homemade yoghurt is recommended for daily nutrition, as it has a number of useful and nutritional properties, especially if you use dry bacterial starter VIVO for cooking.

VIVO yoghurt ferment does not just skim milk into yogurt, but gives it very useful features, because it includes a high number of live probiotic bacteria. This yogurt helps to normalize the intestinal microflora and improve digestion, strengthen the immune system, restore strength and normalize weight. Regular consumption helps to compensate for the lack of protein, calcium, vitamins, amino acids, minerals and trace elements in the body.

Natural yogurt on sourdough does not contain harmful additives, such as sugar, preservatives, dyes, flavors, etc. It is guaranteed fresh and safe, because it is ideal for people of different ages, children, athletes, pregnant and lactating, the elderly and everyone monitors healthy eating.

VIVO starter yoghurt is a great and natural alternative to store-bought yoghurt that will appeal to the whole family.

Cooking

Homemade yogurt is very simple to cook. For this preparation, it will take quite a bit of your personal time, a VIVO bacterial starter, pan or jar, a blanket or a large towel.

Sourdough should be added to milk at a temperature of +37 .. + 40 ° С (slightly warmer than body temperature) and mix well. After that, the container with milk must be wrapped in a blanket or a large towel to ensure that the temperature remains and left for souring for 6-8 hours. After the yogurt is ready, it should be put in the fridge to cool. But you can eat immediately after cooking.

And if you have a yoghurt maker or a slow cooker with a regime for making yogurt, then the fermentation process will be even easier.

Bacterial composition

Composition   Lactose
   Streptococcus thermophilus
   Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus
   Lactobacillus acidophilus
   Bifidobacterium lactis

The amount of bacteria in the bag is enough to ensure the fermentation of 3 liters of milk (at the end of the expiration date of the leaven).

Storage conditions and shelf life

In the refrigerator (at a temperature of +2 .. + 8)  - 12 months.

Payment to current account:   You can pay the order to our account using your online banking, through the cash desk of any bank in Russia, as well as through the payment terminal.

It so happened that yogurt and cottage cheese are considered correct, light and healthy food. On the question of what is more useful - a piece of bacon or a jar of low-fat fruit yogurt, 99 out of 100 people will answer: "Of course, yogurt." No wonder, because marketing actively uses references to "live dairy culture" and "lightness", the packages are decorated with berries, fruits and whole grains, and even in the names there are hints of health benefits, "activity" and "immunity."

However, if you offer the same person to choose between a slice of bacon and seven teaspoons of sugar, the choice will not be so straightforward. It is just that much or even more sugar and other carbohydrates can be contained in one package of fruit yogurt, or cottage cheese. And if the data on the mass fraction of fat is placed on the package so that everyone can see them, then the percentage of carbohydrates is hidden on the back of the package and printed in the smallest font.

To find out how much sugar yogurt and cottage cheese consumers get, we conducted a study: we bought samples of all sweet cottage cheese and yogurt with fruit and cereals in one of Moscow supermarkets to see what they contain. If the same product was available in several variations with the same indicators (for example, curd desserts with different types of berries), then we were limited to one sample. Natural products without added sugar and fruit fillers, we did not take.

In the process of research, a lot of interesting things turned out, and not only about carbohydrates. For example, if the packaging shows beautiful fruits and berries, this does not mean that they necessarily are in the composition of the ingredients, instead of them there may be “flavors identical to natural”. Not only sugar is added to the majority of yoghurts, but also starch - as a thickener. There are a lot of unknowns in the long lists of ingredients, but one would like to highlight one component in particular - it is a milk fat substitute in the “Blagoda” curd and cheese curds with raisins from the Dmitrov Dairy Factory. "Milk fat substitute" - or ZMZh - is a product of vegetable oils, primarily palm and coconut. These oils are useful, but do not be in a hurry to rejoice - ZMZH contains refined oils that have undergone serious chemical treatment, often hydrogenated, that is, contain toxic trans fats (about how dangerous trans fats are and how to recognize them on the labels, we will write soon separately). Whether ZMZh contains curd in trans fat, according to the data on the packaging can not be determined, but the likelihood of this is very high. Taking into account the fact that both of these products are almost a third (!) Of pure sugar, we very strongly recommend to avoid them not only to followers of the method, but also to everyone who has a little expensive personal health.

We have compiled a table in which you can see the amount of carbohydrates, including sugar, in the packaging of each of the products and their equivalent in teaspoons of sugar. For calculations, we took the weight of a teaspoon of sugar for 6 grams and rounded the “spoon equivalent” to half a spoon. Strictly speaking, sucrose is not the entire carbohydrate mass, but only 70-80%, the rest is starch, fructose syrup and lactose milk sugar. However, all these carbohydrates in the body are easily converted into glucose (and then into visceral fat).

Our conclusion: forget about all these sweet yoghurts, cheese curds, cottage cheese and "light" desserts. They contain too much sugar and other carbohydrates. Buy whole and natural dairy products instead. And if you want to add to them the fruit and berry taste and aroma, then it is better to mix them with fruits and berries. All other ingredients, including sugar and starch, neither you nor your children are definitely not needed.