Core Ingredients in Most GoGurt Varieties
GoGurt is a popular, portable snack with kid-friendly flavors and a squeezable tube design. A look at the ingredients of standard varieties shows a consistent base.
GoGurt is made with a few primary components:
- Cultured Grade A Nonfat Milk: Forms the yogurt's base. Live and active cultures are added during culturing.
- Sugar: A key ingredient that provides the sweet taste. Sugar is the second ingredient listed in many flavors.
- Modified Food Starch: A thickener that gives the yogurt its signature squeezable consistency and texture, setting it apart from regular yogurt.
Most standard GoGurt varieties also contain these ingredients in small amounts (less than 1%):
- Kosher Gelatin: Acts as a stabilizer and texturizer, which ensures the yogurt holds its shape and doesn't separate.
- Tricalcium Phosphate: A source of calcium, added back into the product.
- Corn Starch: Another thickener used to improve texture and stability.
- Natural Flavor: Provides the characteristic fruit or other flavor of the specific variety.
- Potassium Sorbate: A preservative that helps to maintain freshness and extends the shelf life.
- Vitamins A Acetate and D3: Added to fortify the yogurt, these vitamins provide nutritional benefits. After the fat is removed for nonfat varieties, Vitamin A is added back in.
- Color (e.g., Vegetable Juice): Natural vegetable and fruit juices give the yogurt its color in standard fruit flavors.
Ingredient Variations in GoGurt Products
While the basic ingredient list is the same in many standard flavors, there are differences in some varieties. For example, GoGurt Protein Berry includes both Grade A Reduced Fat Milk and Ultrafiltered Skim Milk to increase the protein content. Simply GoGurt aims for a simpler ingredient list, often without added colors or artificial flavors. Always check the specific packaging, as ingredients vary depending on flavor and product line.
GoGurt vs. Traditional Spoonable Yogurt: Comparing Ingredients
A comparison of the ingredients in a squeezable GoGurt tube and traditional, plain yogurt reveals distinctions in added sugars, thickeners, and fortifying ingredients.
| Feature | GoGurt Squeeze Yogurt (e.g., Strawberry) | Traditional Plain Yogurt (e.g., Regular or Greek) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Dairy Base | Cultured Grade A Nonfat Milk | Cultured Milk (whole, low-fat, or nonfat) |
| Sweeteners | Contains Added Sugar (e.g., 6g added sugar per tube) | Little to no added sugar; natural milk sugar (lactose) is present |
| Thickeners/Stabilizers | Includes Modified Food Starch, Corn Starch, and Gelatin for a thick, squeezable consistency | Often has a naturally thick consistency (especially Greek); may contain minimal stabilizers or none at all |
| Flavoring | Contains Natural Flavorings to create specific fruit or dessert flavors | Flavor comes from fermentation; fruit or flavorings are not added unless purchased in a flavored variety |
| Coloring | Uses Vegetable and Fruit Juice for color in standard varieties | Typically a plain white color, unless fruit is included or it is artificially colored |
| Fortification | Fortified with Vitamin A and D | Vitamin and mineral content varies; may or may not be fortified |
Key Additives and Their Functions
Several additives play a crucial role in giving GoGurt its distinctive qualities, beyond the main ingredients. The use of modified food starch, corn starch, and kosher gelatin contribute to its texture and stability, ensuring the product is consistent, easy to squeeze, and eat. Potassium sorbate is a key preservative that helps keep the yogurt fresh, which is important for a product that often sits in lunchboxes before being consumed. The addition of vitamins A and D ensures that nonfat varieties provide important nutrients lost when milkfat is removed.
For coloring, Yoplait uses natural alternatives like fruit and vegetable juices. This change follows the trend toward cleaner and more transparent labeling. The specific natural colors used vary by flavor, giving the vibrant hues children expect from their GoGurt.
Conclusion
GoGurt squeeze products use cultured milk, added sugar, thickeners, and fortifying vitamins. Although similar to traditional yogurt, GoGurt is formulated for its squeezable format, with starches and gelatin giving it its distinct consistency. Ingredients vary based on flavor and product line, with options like "Protein" or "Simply" offering modified formulas. Consumers concerned about sugar or additives can compare labels to plain yogurt, but GoGurt is a popular, fortified, and portable snack option.
For more information on the health benefits of yogurt, see this article.
