For a child over 3 who does not need to avoid milk, choose a fruit yoghurt by comparing the product description, ingredients, sugars per 100 g and per pot, and texture. For children under 3, Manger Bouger guidance recommends plain, unflavoured dairy products instead; if milk needs to be avoided, simply choosing a different flavour is not enough. Fresh yoghurt and filtered long-life milk are different products: the criteria below apply to fresh fruit yoghurts and fromage frais.
When serving a dairy product at dinner during early childhood, age affects the choice. Manger Bouger guidance recommends plain, unflavoured dairy products and states that 0%, skimmed and semi-skimmed products are not suitable for children under 3.
For a child over 3, the serving size, sugars, fruit content and texture can help you choose between two products. Compare the nutritional information for the flavour and pack size you plan to serve, rather than relying on the range name alone.
When milk needs to be avoided, it is essential to check the ingredients of the exact product. As ameli explains, lactose intolerance and an allergy to milk proteins are not the same thing. If an allergy is known or suspected, ask the healthcare professional looking after your child for advice.
Start with your child’s age and whether they need to avoid milk. Then compare the recipes on the same 100 g basis and consider how much a pot actually provides at dinner.
| Criterion | What to check | Consumers concerned |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sugars | The product description, ingredients, fruit content and sugars per 100 g, then per pot. Compare the exact product and flavour. | If I’m serving a fruity dessert, I want to know what the recipe contains rather than guessing from the word ‘fruit’. Around 33% of consumers say ingredients and sugars are their main concern. |
| Age and texture | The type of product, its texture and any age or pieces-related warnings; for children under 3, take Manger Bouger guidance into account. | With a very young child, I first look for a product that’s suitable for their age and the texture they can manage. Age and texture are the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Milk content | The ingredients and milk information on the specific pack; if an allergy is known or suspected, follow medical advice. | If my child needs to avoid milk or has a reaction after consuming it, I need to clarify their situation before choosing a dairy dessert. This check comes before other criteria for around 20% of consumers. |
| Pack size and storage | The weight of the pots, how many there are, the use-by date and the storage temperature shown on the pack. | When I’m planning several dinners, I want a pack size my household can use while keeping the product chilled as directed. Pack size and storage are the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Recipes vary: Auchan’s product listing for Danonino with a straw gives 9.6 g of sugars per 100 g, while Yoplait gives 16.7 g per 100 g for Frulos mixed fruit. These figures apply to these specific products, not every range or flavour.
Check sugars per 100 g to compare recipes, then look at the amount per pot to assess the serving you’ll be giving your child.
E.Leclerc’s listing for DELISSE yoghurt with large pieces warns that it may contain cherry stones or fragments of stones and states that this product is not suitable for children under 36 months.
Check the texture and warnings for each recipe before offering it to a young child.
Ameli distinguishes lactose digestion problems from food allergies, which can cause skin, digestive or respiratory symptoms, among others. So information about lactose alone is not enough to determine whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy to milk proteins.
If an allergy is known or suspected, don’t try a dairy yoghurt as a substitute: check the ingredients and follow the advice of the healthcare professional looking after your child.
The Auchan listings consulted state that mixed fruit yoghurt should be stored between 0 °C and +6 °C, and Danonino with a straw between +1 °C and +6 °C. These instructions apply to fresh products, not filtered long-life milk.
Plan how many pots you need for the meals ahead and follow the storage temperature and use-by date shown on the pack you buy.
A single brand can offer several product categories and recipes. The details below apply to the products mentioned, not everything in each brand’s range.
Danonino includes a fruit fromage frais in small pots; Velouté fraise is another fruity product from the brand.
Yoplait describes Petits Filous fruits mixés as a fromage frais for children; Frulos mixed fruit is a fruit-flavoured yoghurt.
La Laitière offers, among other products, an assortment of fruit yoghurts listed by Carrefour.
The retailer lists fruit and fruit-flavoured yoghurts from different brands, as well as products under its own brand.
DELISSE offers stirred yoghurts with blended fruit and a product with large pieces.
The retailer offers a mixed fruit stirred yoghurt under its own brand, as well as children’s products from other brands.
Manger Bouger guidance recommends plain, unflavoured dairy products for children up to the age of 3. It also states that 0%, skimmed and semi-skimmed products are not suitable for children under 3, so don’t choose a fruit yoghurt solely because it comes in a children’s pack.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the exact product. The dairy products mentioned here declare milk or dairy ingredients. If your child needs to avoid milk, don’t rely on the product name or flavour alone.
No. Ameli describes lactose intolerance as a digestion problem, whereas a food allergy involves an immune reaction. If an allergy to milk proteins is known or suspected, ask the healthcare professional looking after your child for advice before choosing a substitute.
Yes, for the fresh products mentioned: Auchan states that its mixed fruit yoghurt should be stored between 0 °C and +6 °C, and the Danonino with a straw consulted between +1 °C and +6 °C. Always follow the storage temperature and use-by date shown on the pack you buy.