The Yoghurt Aisle: A Sugar Minefield
Yoghurt is often marketed as the ultimate health food, packed with probiotics and calcium. However, a quick scan of the yoghurt aisle at Coles or Woolworths reveals a different story. Many popular flavored yoghurts contain more sugar than a scoop of ice cream.
We used the KnowYourFood app to analyze hundreds of yoghurts across Australian supermarkets. Here are the healthiest choices and the ones you should leave on the shelf.
The Top 3 Healthiest Yoghurts
1. Jalna Biodynamic Whole Milk Yoghurt
Health Score: 95/100
This is as close to perfect as yoghurt gets. It's pot-set, meaning it ferments in the tub, preserving the probiotics. It contains only milk and cultures—no thickeners, no added sugar, and no artificial flavors.
Why it wins: Zero additives, excellent probiotic profile, and a creamy texture without the need for gums or starches.
2. Chobani Greek Yoghurt Plain (No Fat)
Health Score: 92/100
If you're looking for a high-protein, low-calorie option, Chobani's plain Greek yoghurt is a standout. The straining process removes excess whey, resulting in a thick yoghurt with double the protein of regular natural yoghurt.
Why it wins: 16g of protein per serve, zero added sugar, and a Nutri-Score of A.
3. Farmers Union Greek Style Natural Yoghurt
Health Score: 88/100
A staple in many Australian fridges, Farmers Union offers a great balance of taste and nutrition. While it contains a bit more natural fat than Chobani, it's an excellent source of calcium and contains no added sugars.
Why it wins: Simple ingredients, great taste, and widely available.
The "Healthy" Yoghurts to Avoid
Flavored Greek Yoghurts
Many people buy flavored Greek yoghurt thinking they are making a healthy choice. However, brands often add fruit purees heavily sweetened with cane sugar or syrups. A single tub can contain up to 20g of sugar (5 teaspoons).
The Swap: Buy plain Greek yoghurt and add your own fresh berries or a drizzle of honey. You'll cut the sugar content by more than half.
"Diet" or "Low Fat" Flavored Yoghurts
When manufacturers remove fat, they often add sugar or artificial sweeteners and thickeners (like modified starch) to compensate for the loss of texture and flavor. These products often score poorly on the NOVA processing scale (Class 4: Ultra-processed).
The Swap: Opt for a full-fat or naturally low-fat plain yoghurt. The natural fats help keep you full and aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Kids' Yoghurt Pouches
Convenient? Yes. Healthy? Rarely. Many kids' yoghurt pouches are loaded with sugar and use fruit juice concentrate instead of real fruit.
The Swap: Look for pouches with no added sugar, or better yet, buy a large tub of plain yoghurt and use reusable pouches mixed with mashed banana or berries.
How to Choose the Best Yoghurt
Next time you're at Coles or Woolworths, keep these three rules in mind:
- 1.Check the Ingredients: The list should be short: milk, cream, and live cultures. Avoid products with long lists of thickeners, gums, and artificial sweeteners.
- 2.Look at the Sugar: Aim for yoghurts with less than 6g of sugar per 100g. (Note: Plain yoghurt naturally contains about 4-5g of sugar from lactose, which is fine).
- 3.Scan It: Use the KnowYourFood app to instantly see the health score, processing level, and hidden additives in any yoghurt.