Dietitians warn on yoghurts packed with hidden sugars

YOGHURT is becoming so packed with sugar most brands should be considered a dessert rather than a healthy snack, obesity experts warn.

Dietitians are urging people to avoid yoghurts packed with excess sugar or cream.

YOGHURT is becoming so packed with sugar most brands should be considered a dessert rather than a healthy snack, obesity experts warn.

With some small tubs of flavoured yoghurt now containing up to 7.5 teaspoons of hidden sugar, the Cancer Council and Heart Foundation are releasing new research to help families choose the best options.

An analysis of almost 200 flavoured yoghurts sold at Coles and Woolworths found more than half contained at least three teaspoons of sugar per 100g and some were more unhealthy than ice cream.

Dietitian Alison McAleese, who is program manager for the health groups’ joint LiveLighter program, said yoghurt is a nutritious, calcium-rich snack — provided people avoided those packed with excess sugar or cream.

“Our research has found that some manufacturers are turning yoghurt — which is a healthy food — into a dessert by adding excessive amounts of sugar or cream. Some yoghurts contain a whopping 7.5 teaspoons of sugar in just one small 160g tub, or 4.5 teaspoons of sugar per 100g, which is almost as much sugar as ice cream 2, while other yoghurts contained added cream,” Ms McAleese said.

Think your yoghurt is a healthy snack? Think again, dietitians say.

“What’s more, manufacturers are promoting these yoghurts as low in fat, diet, natural and high in probiotics, so it can be really confusing for shoppers to know which ones are genuinely good and which are desserts in disguise.”

LiveLighter surveyed the nutritional content of 265 yoghurts sold in Coles and Woolworths in supermarkets last month, finding that 108 of the 197 flavoured or sweetened varieties contained more than 12g of sugar per 100g.

The researchers also examined 39 unsweetened yoghurts, including Greek, plain and natural varieties, and 29 children’s yoghurts.

Those with the highest sugar hits were Gippsland Dairy Choc Cherry Twist with 7.5 teaspoons of sugar in a 160g tub and Tamar Valley Dairy’s Greek style yoghurt raspberry flavour with 7 teaspoons of sugar in a 170g tub.

At the other end of the scale for flavoured snacks, Rokeby Farms whole protein Swedish style quark yoghurt coconut with had 2.8 teaspoons of sugar per 170g tub and Ski DLite real yoghurt 25% less sugar strawberry with 3.4 teaspoons of sugar in a 150g tub.

While yoghurt contains naturally occurring sugar in lactose Ms McAleese said it is the added sugar be wary of, although Australian regulations do not require manufacturers to specify how much added sugar is in their products.

Heart Foundation Victoria CEO Kellie-Ann Jolly said reduced-fat Greek, natural or plain yoghurts tended to have less sugar and saturated fat than flavoured varieties, and could be enhanced by adding your own fresh or frozen fruit, a sprinkle of cinnamon or some chopped nuts and seeds.

Brand	Serving size	Energy (kJ)	Sugar (g)	Sugar (teaspoons)
		per 100g	per 100g	Per 100g
Gippsland Dairy Choc Cherry Twist	160g	647	18.8	4.7
Gippsland Dairy Boysenberry Twist	160g	626	17.7	4.4
Tasmanian Tamar Valley Dairy Greek Style Raspberry	170g	569	16.4	4.1
Vaalia 3x Probiotics Lemon Crème	150g	445	17.5	4.4
Dairy Farmers Thick & Creamy Lemon Cream	150g	583	15.7	3.9
Gippsland Dairy Passionfruit Twist	160g	610	15.6	3.9
Vaalia 3x Probiotics Passionfruit	150g	421	15.4	3.9
Dairy Farmers Thick & Creamy Caramelised Fig	150g	575	15.2	3.8
Pauls Athentikos Greek Juicy Mango	140g	567	14.9	3.7
Moo Banana Caramel Sundae	160g	456	14.1	3.5

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