Photo exposes quiet change to yoghurt tub

A popular brand of Greek yoghurt has made a quiet change to their packaging, causing some consumers to turn on the company.

Aussie shoppers have been left confused after noticing that popular yoghurt brand Jalna has quietly altered the name of its product – switching from “Greek Yoghurt” to “Greek Style Yoghurt” along with a minor change in nutrition to match.

A viral Reddit post, which has amassed thousands of upvotes and comments, shows two tubs of Jalna’s Sweet & Creamy Greek yoghurt side-by-side.

One is labelled “Greek,” while the other reads “Greek Style”.

The original poster claims that after years of buying the product, they noticed a difference in taste, only to later realise the change on the packaging.

“Been buying this yoghurt for years, so know its taste well. Always get the 2kg tub, and it tasted different. I went back to the store and noticed it now says ‘Greek Style’ instead, along with different ingredients. Damn them all to hell,” the user wrote.

Jalna yoghurt has made a change to its packaging. Picture: Reddit

What’s changed?

While the tubs appear nearly identical and are priced the same, there are a few key differences beyond just the name tweak.

The first ingredient has changed from “pasteurised whole milk” to simply “whole milk”.

The probiotic claims have also shifted. Previously, the label stated: “Over 1 billion probiotic count per 100g”.

In comparison, the new version now reads “At least 1 billion live cultures per 100g” and is positioned differently on the label.

The new nutrition label also no longer says the yoghurt is free from emulsifiers like the old one did.

The calorie content has also decreased, going from 540kJ to 480kJ per 100 grams, with slight reductions in both fat and protein content.

The amount of sugar has also lowered, with the “Greek Style” yoghurt containing 3 grams of sugar per 100g, compared to 4.8 grams in the original Greek version.

Jalna responds

A spokesperson for Jalna told news.com.au, “Jalna Greek Style Natural Yoghurt has been made the traditional pot-set way for over 60 years.

“We have recently updated our packaging to say Greek Style, our recipe remains the same, same live cultures, same ingredients and we make it in the same pot.”

The old packaging just says Greek Natural Yoghurt. Picture: Tomen Supermarket

The new tub says Greek Style Natural Yoghurt. Picture: Woolworths

‘Wouldn’t even check’

However, what has really angered consumers is the perceived “sneakiness” of the change.

The tub lid in the Redditor’s photo still states “Greek Yoghurt” potentially misleading those who don’t check the side of the tub.

“I imagine they did some market research which says most just check the lid, or most just blindly trust Jalna (I did) and wouldn’t even check,” the original poster said.

The product image on the Woolworths website does show the name change on the lid, so this may suggest that the new lid rollout has been gradual.

The old nutrition label. Picture: Tomen Supermarkets

Is the term ‘Greek Yoghurt’ protected?

There was speculation about why this shift occurred.

One Redditor suggested it could be due to a law protecting certain product names, similar to how only sparkling wine from France’s Champagne region can legally be called “Champagne”.

However, Greek yoghurt does not have a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), which connects it to Greece and limits imitation, according to The Greek Herald.

Others believe it simply comes down to cheaper production methods.

“I’d put my money on cheaper productions causing the name change,” one user wrote.

The new nutrition label. Picture: Woolworths

What’s the difference between Greek and Greek Style?

The distinction between “Greek Yoghurt” and “Greek Style Yoghurt” has long been a point of contention in the dairy world.

Traditional Greek yoghurt is strained, giving it a thick and creamy texture without needing additives like emulsifiers. It also has more kilojoules and fat due to it being more natural.

On the other hand, Greek style products often mimic the consistency but may use more preservatives and contain fewer calories.

Consumers lose trust in the brand

For many Aussies, Jalna was one of the few brands offering genuinely thick and natural yoghurt without unnecessary fillers.

Now, some feel they’ve lost trust in the brand.

“I really liked Jalna because it was one of the few Greek yoghurts that was actually set thick,” said one.

“Ugh, thanks for the heads up,” someone else lamented.

“Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I’ve been buying it for years as well. I guess I’ll have to find something else now,” said a third.

Consumers are already on the lookout for alternatives, with many reminiscing about when Woolworths stocked Icelandic Skyr brand, Siggis, or when other supermarkets carried more authentic options.

Originally published as Photo exposes quiet change to yoghurt tub