Who is this choice for?

Couples who like to choose how sweet their dessert is

For a dessert for two, you want a base that lets you add fruit, honey or jam to each portion, rather than a recipe that’s already sweetened.

People who are also serving dessert to a child

You want to take their tastes into account without assuming they’ll like a fruit flavour or the word ‘mild’. Remember to check the ingredients and allergens on the pot you choose.

People choosing between different pack sizes

You want to choose between individual pots and a larger tub, depending on how many portions you’re serving. E.Leclerc, for example, lists Delisse plain Greek-style yoghurt in several pack sizes.

What should you look for?

For a dessert for two, first decide whether you’d prefer a base you can customise or a ready-to-serve recipe. Then check the product description, ingredients and nutritional information for the specific product. A single claim on the packaging won’t tell you whether you’ll find it mild.

Plain Greek-style yoghurt

Choose this if: you want to prepare two portions with different toppings.

Bear in mind: adding fruit, honey or jam means a little preparation at the table, and changes the make-up of the dessert you serve.

Fruit-flavoured recipe

Choose this if: you’d rather serve Greek-style yoghurt with fruit straight from the pot.

Check: ingredients vary by recipe. The Delisse mango-on-the-bottom version listed by E.Leclerc includes sugar in its ingredients.

Creamy plain stirred yoghurt

Consider this if: texture matters more to you than the ‘Greek-style’ description.

Keep in mind: Yoplait describes Perle de Lait Nature as plain stirred yoghurt. Its recipe includes ingredients such as modified rice starch.

What matters What to check Who is it for?
Adjustable sweetness Ingredients and sugars per 100 g; whether you can add a topping separately. If our tastes differ, I’d rather customise each portion than serve the same flavour to both of us. Around 40% of consumers put this at the top of their list of priorities.
Texture Product description and fat per 100 g; ‘creamy’ is a subjective description used by the brand. To finish a meal, I’m mainly looking for a texture I enjoy, without assuming that stirred yoghurt and Greek-style yoghurt are the same. Around 30% of consumers are said to share this priority.
Portions and labelling Number and size of pots, allergens, date and storage instructions for the product you buy. If I’m also serving the dessert to a child, I want portions that are right for serving and a label I can check beforehand. Around 30% of consumers are said to make these checks their priority.

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • Assuming ‘mild-tasting’ means ‘low in sugars’

    Taste is personal. Anses points out that lactose occurs naturally in dairy products, so the ‘of which sugars’ figure doesn’t refer only to added sugar. The Delisse mango-on-the-bottom recipe listed by E.Leclerc also includes sugar in its ingredients.

    Before comparing a fruit-flavoured recipe with a plain one, check the ingredients as well as the sugars per 100 g.

  • Assuming all plain Greek-style yoghurts have the same recipe

    Carrefour’s listings show 7 g of fat per 100 g for Danone and 8.5 g for Carrefour Extra. Auchan’s listing gives 10% fat for its plain version. These figures apply to the products mentioned, not the whole category.

    Compare the fat content, ingredients and portion sizes of the products you’re considering.

  • Confusing creamy stirred yoghurt with Greek-style yoghurt

    Yoplait describes Perle de Lait Nature as plain stirred yoghurt, and lists modified rice starch in its recipe. Describing a product as creamy doesn’t make it the same type as another product.

    Check the product description and full ingredients list if the distinction matters for your dessert.

  • Overlooking milk as an allergen and storage instructions

    The plain versions mentioned contain milk. For pre-packed food sold in France, the DGCCRF states that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Storage instructions vary by product.

    Check the pot you’ve actually bought before serving it to someone with an allergy, and follow the storage instructions on its label.

Brands worth knowing

These examples relate to the specific products listed, not every product from each brand. They’re a useful way to compare recipes and pack sizes without assuming that everyone will find them equally sweet.

Danone

The plain Greek-style yoghurt listed by Carrefour comes in four 110 g pots.

  • Its recipe lists skimmed milk, cream and lactic cultures: a plain base you can top to suit each portion.
  • Carrefour lists 7 g of fat per 100 g; this figure doesn’t tell you how sweet it will taste.

Yoplait

Yoplait describes Perle de Lait Nature as plain stirred yoghurt, rather than Greek-style yoghurt.

  • Yoplait describes its taste as ‘very mild’ and its texture as creamy; these are the brand’s own descriptions.
  • The recipe listed contains modified rice starch. The product listing shows 8.1 g of fat and 2.8 g of sugars per 100 g.

Carrefour

Carrefour Extra offers plain Greek-style yoghurt in four 150 g pots.

  • The listing gives the ingredients as whole milk, cream, skimmed milk powder and lactic cultures.
  • It shows 8.5 g of fat per 100 g. Carrefour’s description of its ‘delicate taste’ won’t guarantee that everyone perceives it in the same way.

Leclerc

E.Leclerc sells Delisse plain Greek-style yoghurt in several pack sizes, as well as fruit-flavoured recipes.

  • The plain versions mentioned come in four 150 g pots, eight 125 g pots and a 1 kg tub.
  • The Delisse mango-on-the-bottom version lists 7.3% sugar in its ingredients and 11.1 g of sugars per 100 g. These figures don’t apply to other Delisse recipes.

Auchan

Auchan’s plain Greek-style yoghurt comes in four 125 g pots.

  • Auchan describes this product as thick and creamy, which can help you identify the texture the brand has in mind.
  • The product listing gives 10% fat and storage between 0 °C and +6 °C; check the instructions on the pot you buy.

Lidl

Lidl presents Eridanous Greek-style yoghurt for sweet and savoury dishes.

  • Lidl’s description highlights its creamy texture and suggests toppings such as honey or fruit.
  • To compare it with a specific product, check the ingredients and nutritional information on its label.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do you choose a mild-tasting Greek-style yoghurt?

No wording on the packaging can guarantee that you’ll find it mild. Plain yoghurt lets you control the toppings, while a fruit-flavoured recipe may already contain sugar. Compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g. Anses points out that dairy products naturally contain lactose, which shouldn’t be confused with all added sugars.

Is plain Greek-style yoghurt automatically suitable for a child?

No. The word ‘plain’ isn’t enough to decide. Check the ingredients, allergens, date and portion you plan to serve; the plain products mentioned here contain milk. If there are specific dietary needs, don’t assume a product is suitable just because of its category.

Where can you find milk listed as an allergen?

For pre-packed food sold in France, look for milk in the ingredients list of the product you’ve chosen. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the list. Check the label on the pot you’re actually serving rather than relying on another recipe in the range.

How should you store yoghurt after buying it?

Follow the temperature and date shown on the pot you’ve bought. For example, the listing for this particular Auchan plain Greek-style yoghurt says to store it between 0 °C and +6 °C. Don’t assume the same temperature range applies to other products.