To choose a fruit yoghurt for a child with diabetes, compare the carbohydrate and sugar values per 100 g, then work out how they relate to the amount in the pot they actually eat. A smooth texture or a ‘no added sugar’ claim isn’t enough to distinguish between recipes. Check the ingredients and any sweeteners, too. How yoghurt fits into your child’s meals will depend on the care plan agreed with their healthcare team.
They’re looking for a fruity flavour and a texture their child will enjoy, while taking the carbohydrates in each pot into account when planning meals. French Health Insurance advises discussing a child’s diet and, where relevant, insulin adjustments with their healthcare team.
The per-100 g values help them compare recipes, but the pot’s weight determines how much is actually eaten. They check the ‘carbohydrate’ and ‘of which sugars’ lines rather than relying on the product name alone.
They may consider a recipe labelled ‘0%’, without assuming this also tells them anything about its sugar or sweetener content. The flavour and ingredients of the specific product are still worth comparing.
When shopping for a child with diabetes, start with the label and the pot’s weight, then look at the texture and ingredients of recipes they might enjoy.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per pot | ‘Carbohydrate’ and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; weight of the portion eaten. | If I need to include this yoghurt in my child’s meals, the amount in the pot matters just as much as the per-100 g value. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this per-portion calculation. |
| Flavour and texture | Described texture, whether it contains pieces and its flavour; sugar content of the chosen recipe. | A yoghurt my child refuses because it has pieces doesn’t meet my needs, but flavour is no substitute for checking the label. An acceptable texture comes before other criteria for around 29% of consumers. |
| Fat | Fat per 100 g; carbohydrates and sugars in the same product. | I want to compare ‘0%’ recipes without assuming they contain less sugar. Limiting fat is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Sweeteners | Ingredients list and any ‘with sweeteners’ statement. | Before choosing a product for my family, I prefer to know whether its sweet flavour comes from a recipe containing sweeteners. Their presence or absence is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Sugars naturally present in milk and fruit still need to be taken into account. The claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in the pot.
Compare the ‘carbohydrate’ and ‘of which sugars’ values per 100 g, then factor in the amount actually eaten, as advised by French Health Insurance.
The claim refers to fat, not the product’s overall composition. Some fruit recipes contain sweeteners; ANSES has found no evidence that intense sweeteners benefit blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.
Check the carbohydrates, sugars and ingredients for the specific product before deciding whether its composition suits your preferences.
Yoplait’s Frulos Goût panaché product information lists 16.7 g of sugars per 100 g, while Panier L’Original lists 7.8 g per 100 g. These values apply to those specific products and don’t represent every recipe in either range.
Start by comparing the labels of the flavours you’re considering. For advice on how a portion fits into your child’s meals, speak to their healthcare team.
A different pack size, flavour or recipe may change the information that matters when comparing products.
When you buy, check the pack for the weight, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information of the product you’ve chosen.
The Panier range includes fruit yoghurts whose ingredients vary from one product to another.
Carrefour lists an Activia fruit yoghurt with peach, grape and chia, labelled ‘no added sugar’.
E.Leclerc lists an ECO+ fruit yoghurt in a pack of 12 x 125 g pots.
Auchan lists a low-fat ‘0%’ fruit yoghurt in a pack of 16 x 125 g pots.
Frulos is a Yoplait range of fruit-flavoured yoghurts available in several flavours.
No. Milk and fruit naturally contain sugars. Check the ‘carbohydrate’ and ‘of which sugars’ values, then adjust the per-100 g figures to match the weight of the pot eaten.
No. The ‘0%’ claim refers to fat and doesn’t tell you enough about carbohydrates or ingredients. Some recipes contain sweeteners; ANSES has found no evidence that intense sweeteners benefit blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.
Start with the carbohydrate value per 100 g and adjust it to the amount actually eaten. French Health Insurance advises that meal balance and any adjustments to a child’s insulin should be discussed with their doctor, paediatrician or diabetes specialist.
Check the ingredients list on the packaging of the product you buy. The French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) says that allergens in prepacked foods must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Check the exact recipe, especially if the product or flavour changes.