February 1, 2025, 4:06 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Although it is unsweetened, natural yogurt always contains sugar. The ingredients table reveals this. But where does the sweetness come from? Consumer advocates explain.
Too sweet, too much sugar: nutritionists and consumer advocates repeatedly praise natural yogurt as a healthy alternative to ready-made fruit yogurts. But even natural yogurt is not free from sugar. There is a reason for this, which the Bavarian Consumer Advice Center explained to dpa.
Overview
Production of Natural Yogurt
The milk from which yogurt is made naturally contains lactose. It serves as food for the added bacterial cultures in the fermentation process. However, only part of the lactose is converted into lactic acid. This is an important step, as it gives natural yogurt its typical consistency and sour taste, according to the consumer advocates.
Where Does the Sugar in Natural Yogurt Come From?
However, there is always some residual lactose in the yogurt. In addition, the milk used to make yogurt is thickened or mixed with milk powder. This has a positive effect on the consistency of the end product. It becomes creamier and more pleasant. However, this also increases the protein and sugar content because the water content is reduced.
How Many Grams of Sugar a Large/Small Cup Contains
The exact amount of sugar contained in natural yogurt can be found in the nutritional table on the packaging. Depending on the manufacturing process, the sugar content is between 3.7 and 6 grams per 100 grams. For a small container (250 grams), this is 9.25 to 15 grams; a large 500-gram container can, therefore, contain 18.5 to 30 grams of sugar. For comparison, a banana also contains around 30 grams of sugar.
Compared to Fruit Yogurts, the Sugar Content Is Very Low
Compared to fruit yogurts, this is, of course, extremely low, according to the nutrition experts. This is because, in addition to lactose, it usually also contains table sugar or other types of sugar such as glucose-fructose syrup – as well as flavorings and colorings.
Expert clarifies Is Greek yogurt healthier than natural yogurt?
Nutrition tips from an expert 5 healthy snack recipes that keep blood sugar levels down
Expert reveals Is honey healthier than sugar?
Soy Yogurt and Greek Yogurt – Difference in Sugar Content
Interestingly, Greek yogurt contains slightly fewer carbohydrates (and therefore sugar) on average than regular natural yogurt. However, because more lactic acid bacteria are added, the acidity is slightly higher. However, it is not the healthier alternative due to its high fat content.
Soy yogurt, on the other hand, does not contain lactose. This does not mean that it does not contain other sugars; many soy yogurts are enriched with sweeteners, for example. Due to the excellent bioavailability of soybeans, soy yogurt is ideal for strength athletes during the bulking phase.
*with material from dpa