Who is this guide for?

Parents who pay attention to ingredients

When choosing a dessert for children, you want to distinguish a taste described as mild from a sweetened recipe, then decide for yourself what to serve with a plain product.

Those getting the Christmas table ready

You’re looking for a format that suits the number of guests and how you plan to use it: individual pots to serve, or a large tub to portion out for desserts and savoury dishes.

Those comparing recipes

You want to check the fat and sugar content per 100 g, rather than assume what a product contains based on the words ‘Greek-style’, ‘mild’ or ‘light’ alone.

What should you look for in store?

First decide whether you specifically want a Greek-style product or are mainly looking for a mild taste. Then choose the recipe and format to suit your Christmas dessert or other planned dishes.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Mild taste and sugars Read the ingredients, then check the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g. Also check the product description: a mild taste doesn’t mean it’s Greek-style. For a dessert for children, I want to know whether the sweetness comes from the recipe or from what I add when serving; around 33% of consumers rank this distinction as a priority.
Serving and cooking Choose between individual pots and a large tub depending on how you plan to serve it. Check that the plain recipe is suitable for the dishes you have in mind. If I’m making both dessert and accompaniments for the Christmas table, I’m looking for a product I can use for both; this versatility comes first for around 27% of consumers.
Fat content Compare the fat content per 100 g of the specific products, including those labelled as lighter. Consider taste and texture separately. I want to stick with a product described as ‘Greek-style’ while choosing its fat content; around 20% of consumers make this trade-off first.
Quantity and storage Check the weight of each pot, the use-by date and the storage instructions after opening. When I’m organising several meals, I prefer a quantity I can realistically use in line with the instructions on the packaging; this is the priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mix-ups to avoid

  • Assuming ‘mild’ means ‘no added sugar’

    ‘Mild’ describes the taste, not the ingredients. Yoplait states that its Nature Sucré recipe contains 8.2% cane sugar, while the ingredients listed by Carrefour for its plain Carrefour Extra Greek-style yoghurt don’t include added sugar.

    To choose, read the ingredients and compare the sugar content per 100 g separately. Don’t confuse sugars naturally present in the product with sugar added to the recipe.

  • Assuming fat content from the term ‘Greek-style’

    The products listed by Auchan don’t all have the same fat content: its plain version has 10 g of fat per 100 g, compared with 2 g for YAOS Plaisir Léger.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the specific product, then choose a recipe to suit your intended use and preferred taste.

  • Choosing a large tub without planning how to use it

    A 1 kg tub, such as the one sold by Carrefour Extra, won’t suit the same needs as individual pots. Plan the portions you’ll serve and take the after-opening instructions into account.

    Before choosing a format, estimate how much you’ll need for dessert and any other dishes for the meal.

    Any quantity you can’t use in accordance with the after-opening instructions could go to waste.

  • Forgetting to keep it chilled while shopping

    For products with a use-by date, the Ministry of the Economy warns that a break in the cold chain can make a product unsafe to eat.

    Pick up the yoghurts at the end of your shop, transport them chilled and follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging.

Brands to compare

Danone

Auchan’s Danone plain Greek-style yoghurt comes in a pack of 4 x 110 g pots.

  • Individual portions are worth considering when serving dessert.
  • The Auchan product listing gives milk and cream as ingredients, and states 7 g of fat per 100 g. Its legal name is ‘plain dairy speciality’: ‘Greek-style’ doesn’t mean it’s made in Greece.

Yoplait

Perle de Lait Nature is an option if a taste described as mild matters more to you than the ‘Greek-style’ category.

  • Yoplait describes Perle de Lait Nature as having a very mild taste.
  • It isn’t presented as Greek-style yoghurt. Yoplait says its separate Nature Sucré recipe contains 8.2% cane sugar, so check each product individually.

Carrefour

Carrefour Extra offers plain Greek-style yoghurt in packs of 4 x 150 g pots and in a 1 kg tub.

  • These two formats let you choose between individual servings and a larger quantity to use in a recipe.
  • Carrefour’s product listings include whole milk and cream. Check the ingredients and after-opening instructions for the format you choose.

E.Leclerc

Eco+ and Delisse products are worth including when comparing plain or sweetened recipes in the chilled aisle.

  • Compare the product description and ingredients for each option available.
  • Check the nutritional values, format and storage instructions on the packaging of the product you choose.

Auchan

Auchan’s range includes plain Greek-style yoghurt in a pack of 8 x 125 g pots.

  • This format is handy for serving individual portions at a family meal.
  • The Auchan listing states that this plain product contains 10 g of fat per 100 g; this figure doesn’t apply to the retailer’s other Greek-style products.

Lidl

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

  • Worth considering if you want to use the same product in several Christmas dishes.
  • To compare this product with another, check the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging available in store.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a yoghurt described as ‘mild’ necessarily low in sugar?

No: a description of the taste doesn’t tell you what the product contains. Yoplait describes Perle de Lait Nature as mild, without presenting it as Greek-style yoghurt; its separate Nature Sucré recipe contains 8.2% cane sugar. For the product you’re interested in, read the ingredients and check the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g.

How should I compare a multipack of pots with a family-size tub?

Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the total weight and how much you plan to serve. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that nutrition information is given per 100 g or 100 ml. For a large tub, also take the after-opening instructions into account.

Do the Greek-style products mentioned contain milk?

Yes, the ingredient lists shown by Auchan and Carrefour for the products mentioned include milk and cream. Always check the label for the exact product: the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control states that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted.

How should I store the yoghurts I buy for Christmas?

Follow the temperature instructions on the packaging, keep the products chilled during transport and observe their use-by dates. Once opened, follow the manufacturer’s instructions rather than relying solely on the date printed on the pot.

Is the Nutri-Score enough to choose a mild-tasting product?

No: a score on its own doesn’t tell you what a product tastes like or how you’ll use it. When comparing products for dessert, also check the product description, ingredients, sugar and fat content per 100 g, as well as the format and use-by date.