A yoghurt investigation by consumer watchdog CHOICE has found many brands that market themnselves as low fat, healthy and calcium-rich are actually no better than a dairy-based dessert. Some breakfast yoghurts contains as much as eight teaspoons of sugar and over 1300 kilojoules of energy.
Yoghurt picture from Shutterstock
CHOICE analysed the nutritional information of a range of yoghurt products marketed at both children and adults. It discovered that so-called “healthy” yoghurts often contain a worrying amount of sugars, with unrealistic serving sizes used to mask the full amount.
The worst offender in the investigation was Bulla Yoghurt Crunch Summer Berry, which packed in 1339kJ of energy and 42g of sugars. This is 50 per cent more sugar than a Magnum Almond ice cream.
Somewhat sneakily, the same product’s nutritional label claimed to contain 2.25 serves per pot; despite the fact that it has a peel-off lid and is clearly intended to be eaten on-the-go.
”Serving sizes can be confusing and you often have to resort to the fine print in a bid to work out if you’re consuming more kilojoules and sugar than you bargained for,” CHOICE warned in a statement.
“Packaged breakfast pots, particularly yoghurts with muesli, can be an easy option on-the-go, but the convenience can come at the cost of high kilojoule and sugar levels.”
According to CHOICE, health-conscious consumers should stick to 200g tubs of low- or no-fat plain yoghurt, with fresh fruit or a teaspoon of honey for sweetness. Kilojoules should also be calculated per 100g, rather than the alleged serving size.
[Via CHOICE]
Comments
3 responses to “Why Yoghurt Often Isn’t A Healthy Choice”
Most of the 200g ” low- or no-fat” yoghurts have 28g of sugar, not to mention a whole lot of unspeakable fillers to replace the mouth feel of fats.
Just have nice fatty yoghurt.
Good point memeweaver.
As a general rule, “low fat” or “lite products” are bad for you – they compensate fat for sugar.. What’s worse is that many of the “fats” taken out are good for you.
Tell everyone you know that low fat is one big con.
I get a lite type option which has around half the number of calories (78 vs. 168 per tub). It probably has more junk sugars and less good fats in it, but does that make it a con? I reckon the lite option in this case is the better one.
Fat in yoghurt is not the enemy, refined sugar is far worse for you in every way. Sure if you are eating hot chips every day for Lunch you are going to be running into issues. I eat 2-3kg of Greek yoghurt a week and I am as healthy as a horse.
Huzzah for Greek yoghurt! I nearly live on that stuff, it is so full of win. I avoid all sugars though, not just refined. Sugar screws up your insulin resistance whether it comes in white crystals, brown crystals, syrup, fruit, or organically produced honey (whatever the hell that means).
I’m not sure which yoghurts people are looking at, but I don’t find low fat yogurt to have any major difference in sugar compared to full-fat, despite that fact the everyone says low fat options are full of sugar. BOTH options are full of sugar, often to the same degree. It’s like an urban myth that keeps being circulated.