What Brand of Yogurt Has L. Reuteri In It?

October 16, 2025 •

3 min read

According to scientific literature, specific probiotic strains like L. reuteri are valued for their potential to support gut health and other bodily functions. For consumers seeking this beneficial microbe, finding a commercially available yogurt containing L. reuteri is challenging, with many health-conscious individuals turning to specialized alternatives to secure this specific strain.

Quick Summary

Commercially available yogurts rarely contain L. reuteri due to specific fermentation requirements. Most brands rely on different strains, making homemade yogurt using targeted starter cultures or probiotic tablets the most reliable method for obtaining this specific probiotic.

Key Points

Homemade is Best: The most reliable way to obtain high-potency L. reuteri yogurt is to make it yourself using a specific starter culture.
Commercial Brands are Unreliable: Most major yogurt brands, including Activia and Stonyfield, do not reliably contain L. reuteri due to differing fermentation processes and formula changes.
Use a Quality Starter Culture: To make L. reuteri yogurt at home, you need specific starters like LR Superfood Starter Culture or crushed BioGaia Gastrus tablets.
Requires Special Fermentation: The process involves a low-and-slow, 36-hour fermentation at a stable temperature of around 100°F (37°C), which requires specialized equipment.
Prebiotics are Necessary: Adding a prebiotic fiber, such as inulin, to the milk is crucial for feeding the L. reuteri bacteria and achieving high probiotic counts.
Maximum Potency: The homemade method produces a yogurt with a significantly higher concentration of L. reuteri than typically found in any commercial product.

The Elusive Nature of L. Reuteri in Store-Bought Yogurt

For those invested in microbiome health, finding a store-bought yogurt with L. reuteri is a frequent but often fruitless search. Most mainstream yogurt brands, such as Activia and Oikos, use standard yogurt cultures like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, along with other common probiotic strains, but they do not contain L. reuteri. This is because creating high-potency L. reuteri yogurt requires a unique fermentation process, which includes a longer fermentation time (up to 36 hours) and a lower temperature (around 100°F or 37°C), a process not suited for large-scale commercial production.

Why Older Sources Are No Longer Reliable

Historical reports from sources like the Center for Science in the Public Interest mentioned that Stonyfield Farm was one of the only U.S. yogurt brands to once contain L. reuteri. However, product formulations change over time. Current Stonyfield product listings show different probiotic blends, including Bifidobacterium BB-12®, L. acidophilus, and L. paracasei, but no longer list L. reuteri. Therefore, relying on past information or outdated brand reputation is not an effective strategy for acquiring this probiotic.

The Rise of Homemade L. Reuteri Yogurt

Given the limitations of the commercial market, creating homemade L. reuteri yogurt is the most reliable and effective method. By using specific starter cultures, you can control the potency and quality, achieving much higher bacterial counts than any store-bought product. The typical process involves a low-and-slow, 36-hour fermentation period using a yogurt maker, an Instant Pot with a yogurt function, or a sous-vide device. This method ensures the strains multiply to significant levels, resulting in a thick, potent product.

Popular L. Reuteri Starter Options

Several starter cultures are available for those who want to take control of their probiotic intake. These options offer different ways to begin your fermentation process.

LR Superfood Starter Culture: This is a widely used starter kit for making homemade L. reuteri yogurt. It includes sachets of the necessary culture and is often sold with a prebiotic fiber to feed the bacteria during fermentation.
BioGaia Gastrus Tablets: These chewable tablets contain two patented strains of L. reuteri, DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 6475, and can be crushed and used as a starter culture for fermentation.
Coolinario L. Reuteri Yogurt Starter: This brand offers sachets of live cultures specifically for making homemade L. reuteri yogurt.
Custom Formulations: Some dedicated home fermenters might experiment with specific combinations of probiotic capsules containing L. reuteri along with other strains and prebiotics to create a custom blend.

A Note on Prebiotics and Equipment

To successfully ferment L. reuteri yogurt, prebiotic fiber like inulin is often added to the milk. This provides the bacteria with the food they need for the extended fermentation period, enabling them to reach high concentrations. A yogurt maker that can hold a consistent temperature for 36 hours, such as a Luvele brand, is highly recommended for best results.

Comparison: Commercial vs. Homemade L. Reuteri Yogurt


Feature	Commercial Yogurt (e.g., Stonyfield)	Homemade L. Reuteri Yogurt
Presence of L. reuteri	Not consistently present; formulations have changed.	Yes, guaranteed with the right starter culture.
Probiotic Potency	Lower, designed for standard yogurt fermentation.	Significantly higher due to longer, lower-temperature fermentation.
Fermentation Time	Standard, a few hours.	Extended, typically 36 hours.
Control	None. Dependent on manufacturer's formula.	Full control over ingredients, potency, and strains.
Freshness	Weeks-long shelf life; potentially lower live culture count over time.	Made fresh at home for maximum live culture benefits.
Flavor	Varies by brand, typically less tart.	Distinctly tangy, pleasant flavor from the long fermentation process.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Probiotic Intake

Ultimately, the quest to find a specific brand of yogurt with L. reuteri at the local grocery store is a journey of diminishing returns. The reality is that commercial production methods for most brands are not designed to cultivate this particular strain to the high levels desired by gut health enthusiasts. The most reliable and powerful source of L. reuteri yogurt is not a brand, but a process: making it yourself at home. By investing in a quality starter culture and the right equipment, you gain complete control over your probiotic intake and can ensure a consistent, potent, and fresh supply for your gut health needs. For those willing to put in the effort, the reward is a uniquely powerful and beneficial addition to their diet.

Learn more about the science behind Lactobacillus reuteri at this research article.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Activia contains its proprietary probiotic culture, Bifidobacterium animalis lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494, not L. reuteri.

While historical sources mentioned Stonyfield as carrying L. reuteri, product formulations frequently change. The current probiotic blend listed on their products does not include this specific strain.

The most effective method is to make your own yogurt at home using a specialized starter culture and a 36-hour, low-temperature fermentation process.

Yes, crushed BioGaia Gastrus tablets are a popular starter culture option for creating homemade L. reuteri yogurt, along with prebiotic fiber and milk.

Yes, a yogurt maker, Instant Pot with a yogurt function, or a sous-vide device that can maintain a stable temperature of around 100°F (37°C) for 36 hours is necessary.

The long, 36-hour fermentation period used for homemade L. reuteri yogurt allows the bacterial cultures to multiply to a much higher density than the shorter fermentations used for standard commercial yogurts.

While L. reuteri has been isolated from some fermented foods, their concentration and presence are inconsistent. Making yogurt with a specific starter is the most reliable way to obtain it.

Prebiotic fiber, such as inulin, acts as food for the L. reuteri bacteria during the long fermentation process, which is essential for them to multiply and create a high-potency product.