People cooking for a group
You’re planning to make sauces, tzatziki, desserts or breakfasts to share, and would rather spoon the amount you need from a tub of plain yoghurt than open several individual portions.
For making sauces, desserts or breakfasts for a group during the October half-term, a 1 kg tub of plain yoghurt can be a good choice if you can transport it and keep it chilled, then use it within the stated time after opening. If everyone needs their own portion, compare multipacks instead, and don’t assume that a product labelled ‘Greek-style’ is necessarily sold as yoghurt.
You’re planning to make sauces, tzatziki, desserts or breakfasts to share, and would rather spoon the amount you need from a tub of plain yoghurt than open several individual portions.
You want to check the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g before choosing between Greek yoghurt, Greek-style products and dairy specialities.
You need to plan the journey to your holiday destination, check the use-by date and make sure there’s a suitable fridge when you arrive.
First, work out how much you’ll use and whether you can keep it chilled. Then compare the product descriptions and nutritional information for options that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Size for shared meals | Net weight and how much you’ll use before the stated time limit after opening. | If I’m making several recipes without opening individual pots, I’d choose a size I can use up; around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Ingredients and nutritional values | Ingredients, fat, protein and sugars per 100 g for the specific product. | If ingredients matter to my choice, I want to compare recipes on a like-for-like basis; this would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Transport and storage | The temperature stated on the packaging, the use-by date and access to a fridge during your stay. | If the journey is long or it’s difficult to keep food chilled, I’d choose according to my storage options; around 21% of consumers would make this their top criterion. |
| Product category | The product description, ingredients list and size, rather than relying on the words ‘Greek’ or ‘Greek-style’. | If a recipe calls for yoghurt, I want to check what’s actually in the tub; around 14% of consumers would put this distinction first. |
The wording on the front of the pack doesn’t replace the product description: for example, Auchan describes Danone’s plain Greek-style product as a ‘plain dairy speciality’.
Check the product description on the packaging. If your recipe calls for cheese to grate, a tub of yoghurt won’t do the job.
Instructions vary by product: Auchan says to use its 1 kg tub of plain Greek yoghurt within four days of opening, while Lynos says to use its 1 kg tub within three days.
Plan how much you’ll need around the meals you have planned, and follow the instructions on the product you buy.
Products don’t all come in the same size or have the same nutritional values. Carrefour Extra lists 8.6 g of fat per 100 g for its 1 kg Greek-style tub; Auchan lists 10% for its 1 kg tub of plain Greek yoghurt.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients list, while keeping each product’s description in mind.
The DGCCRF advises against leaving chilled products out of the fridge and recommends taking a cool box on a picnic.
Pick up chilled products at the end of your shop, transport them in a cool box and put them away promptly, following the temperature stated on the packaging.
Carrefour offers a 1 kg tub of plain Greek-style yoghurt, made in France.
Auchan offers a 1 kg tub of plain Greek yoghurt, labelled as made in Greece.
Danone’s plain Greek-style range includes multipacks of 4 × 110 g and 8 × 110 g, listed by Auchan.
Lidl offers a Greek-style Eridanous product for savoury or sweet recipes, including tzatziki.
No. Auchan describes Danone’s plain Greek-style product as a ‘plain dairy speciality’. To find out what category you’re buying, check the product description on the packaging, rather than relying only on the words highlighted on the front.
Keep it chilled during transport and follow the temperature stated on the packaging. The DGCCRF advises against leaving chilled products out of the fridge and recommends using a cool box for transport or picnics.
No, if the product has a use-by date: Anses advises not to eat it after the date shown. Once opened, also follow the instructions for that specific tub, as they may give a shorter time limit.
Compare their product descriptions, ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g, followed by their storage instructions. Carrefour Extra and Auchan’s product information shows that two 1 kg products can have different fat levels; check the values on the tubs you’re thinking of buying.