What is YoGo? A Custard, Not a Probiotic Yogurt
YoGo, the popular Australian dairy dessert, is often mistaken for a probiotic yogurt due to its dairy base and packaging. However, this is a misconception. YoGo is fundamentally a custard, not a fermented yogurt. A key difference lies in its production process. Unlike yogurt, which is made by fermenting milk with live bacterial cultures, custard is typically heat-treated to create its smooth, thick consistency. This pasteurization process kills any beneficial bacteria that might have been present, meaning the finished product, including varieties like YoGo Chocolate Flavoured Custard, contains no live cultures. Consumers should not expect YoGo to contribute to their probiotic intake.
The Difference Between Yogurt and Custard
While both start with milk, the paths of yogurt and custard diverge significantly during processing:
- Yogurt: Made by introducing live bacteria, like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, to milk. These cultures ferment the milk, consuming lactose and producing lactic acid, which gives yogurt its characteristic tangy flavor and thickens it naturally. Some yogurts are then heated, killing the probiotics, but true probiotic yogurts are not.
- Custard: A dessert made by thickening a sweetened milk and egg yolk mixture with heat. The purpose is a smooth, rich texture, not fermentation. While some yogurts contain stabilizers, custard relies on heat and thickeners like starch to set.
How to Spot a True Probiotic Product
For those specifically looking for probiotics, simply buying a dairy dessert is not enough. You need to be a savvy label reader. The presence of probiotics is indicated by specific phrases and details on the product's packaging.
- Look for the seal: In many regions, the "Live and Active Cultures" seal from regulatory bodies is a clear indicator that the product contains a significant amount of beneficial bacteria.
- Check the ingredients list: A true probiotic product will often list the specific bacterial strains it contains, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium lactis.
- Review the CFU count: Probiotic effectiveness is often measured in Colony-Forming Units (CFUs). The label may indicate the CFU count at the time of manufacture or at the expiration date, with the latter being more reliable.
- Understand processing: Know that heat-treating a product after fermentation, as with YoGo, destroys the live cultures.
YoGo vs. True Probiotic Yogurt: A Comparison
| Feature | YoGo (Bega Custard) | Typical Probiotic Yogurt (e.g., Plain Greek Yogurt) |
|---|---|---|
| Contains Probiotics? | No | Yes, typically in high counts |
| Live Cultures? | No, heat-treated | Yes, contains specific live and active cultures |
| Ingredients | Skim milk, water, sugar, thickeners, cocoa | Milk, live and active cultures |
| Primary Purpose | Dessert or sweet snack | Fermented dairy product for nutrition and gut health |
| Sugar Content | High in added sugars | Varies; plain varieties have little to no added sugar |
| Gut Health | None | Helps promote a healthy gut microbiome |
Not All Brands are the Same
Confusion arises because the name "Yogo" is used by different companies for various products around the world. While the famous Australian YoGo is a custard dessert, other brands might offer genuine probiotic products using a similar name.
- Yogo (Australia): Bega's YoGo is a custard dessert with no probiotics.
- IÖGO (Canada): This Canadian brand offers a range of yogurts, some of which contain probiotic cultures.
- One Yogo (Ghana): A Ghanaian brand offers a yoghurt with probiotics.
This highlights the importance of checking the product label for the specific brand and ingredients, rather than relying on the product name alone. The term "YoGo" does not automatically mean a probiotic product.
Conclusion: A Delicious Dessert, But Not a Probiotic Source
To definitively answer the question, "Does YoGo have probiotics?" the answer is no. The original and most widely recognized YoGo, the Australian custard-based dessert, does not contain live or active bacterial cultures. While it can be a satisfying snack, it is not a source of beneficial probiotics for gut health. Consumers looking to add probiotics to their diet should seek out products with the "Live and Active Cultures" seal and check the ingredients for specific bacterial strains. Always read labels carefully to distinguish between a fermented probiotic yogurt and a simple dairy dessert like YoGo. For more information on identifying probiotics, consult resources from authoritative health organizations like Harvard Health on Probiotics.
For Consumers Seeking Probiotics:
- Check the ingredient list: Look for the specific names of probiotic strains like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium.
- Find the seal: The 'Live and Active Cultures' seal is a reliable marker for genuine probiotic content.
- Beware of heat-treated products: The pasteurization process kills probiotics, so products labeled as 'heat-treated' will not offer the desired gut health benefits.
- Consider kefir: Kefir is a fermented milk drink often containing a wider variety of probiotic strains than yogurt.
- Don't rely on brand names: As the YoGo example shows, similar names can represent very different products. Always check the specifics.
Sources for Further Reading
For more detailed information on probiotics and their health effects, reputable health organizations provide valuable resources.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Provides a comprehensive fact sheet on probiotics for health professionals and consumers alike, detailing their function and sources.
- The Nutrition Source (Harvard University): Offers guidance on how to increase probiotic intake and what to look for on labels.
Remember, a healthy gut microbiome can be supported through various food sources, but simply choosing a dairy-based product without verifying its probiotic status is an unreliable approach.
