What brand of yogurts have live cultures? Your guide to finding probiotics

December 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Yogurt Association (NYA), a yogurt bearing its 'Live & Active Cultures' seal contains at least 100 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture. For consumers aiming to support their digestive health, knowing which brands meet this standard is crucial for an informed choice. The presence of these beneficial bacteria is what elevates yogurt from a simple dairy product to a functional food with potential health benefits.

Quick Summary

This guide identifies popular yogurt brands with live and active cultures, explains how to interpret product labels and the NYA seal, and compares options to help consumers make the best choice for their gut health.

Key Points

Read the Label: Check for the 'Live & Active Cultures' (LAC) seal from the National Yogurt Association or look for specific culture names in the ingredients list.
Not All Yogurt is Equal: All yogurt starts with live cultures, but some are heat-treated after fermentation, which kills the beneficial bacteria.
Popular Brands to Consider: Leading brands like Chobani, Activia, Stonyfield, Fage, and Siggi's are known to contain live cultures.
Greek vs. Traditional vs. Kefir: Greek yogurt maintains high probiotic levels despite straining, while kefir generally contains a higher diversity of strains; traditional yogurt can also be rich in live cultures.
Avoid Heat-Treated Products: If the label mentions "heat-treated after culturing," the product does not contain active live bacteria.
Plain is Preferred: For the most health benefits and to avoid excess sugar, opt for plain yogurt and add your own fruit or sweeteners.

Understanding Live and Active Cultures

All yogurt starts with live cultures, specifically Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which are responsible for fermenting milk into yogurt. However, not all yogurts retain these cultures by the time they reach your spoon. Post-fermentation heat treatment, sometimes used to prolong shelf life, can kill these beneficial microorganisms. When live cultures are present in adequate amounts, they are considered probiotics, which are defined as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host".

The Importance of the NYA 'Live & Active Cultures' Seal

The National Yogurt Association (NYA) offers a voluntary 'Live & Active Cultures (LAC)' seal for yogurt manufacturers. This seal provides a clear indicator that the yogurt contained a significant amount of live bacteria at the time of production. While the seal is a reliable marker, its absence does not necessarily mean a yogurt lacks live cultures, as some brands may choose not to participate in the program. The best practice is always to check the ingredients list for mentions of specific culture strains like L. acidophilus or Bifidus.

Popular Yogurt Brands with Live Cultures

Several well-known brands consistently offer products containing live cultures. The key is to look for the LAC seal or read the ingredients carefully. Below is a list of popular brands known for their live cultures:

Activia: Owned by Danone, Activia is one of the most prominent brands in the probiotic yogurt market. It's specifically marketed for digestive health and contains a proprietary strain, Bifidobacterium animalis DN 173-010.
Chobani: A popular Greek yogurt brand, Chobani lists multiple live and active cultures, including S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei, and L. Rhamnosus. Many of their products bear the LAC seal.
Stonyfield Organic: This brand is known for its organic dairy products and includes multiple live cultures in its offerings, such as Bifidobacterium BB-12®, L. acidophilus, and L. paracasei.
Fage: An authentic Greek yogurt brand, Fage contains a rich blend of live cultures, including L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, and L. Casei, offering a thick, creamy product.
Siggi's: Makers of Icelandic-style skyr, Siggi's features a high-protein, low-sugar product with a tart flavor profile. Its live cultures include S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, B. lactis, and L. acidophilus.
Wallaby Organic: This Aussie Greek-style yogurt is slow-crafted and lists live and active probiotic cultures such as L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, and S. thermophilus.
Yoplait: Many Yoplait products, including their original and Go-Gurt lines, are made with live and active cultures. Consumers should verify the specific strains on the label.
Noosa: Known for its velvety texture and real fruit purees, Noosa yogurt contains live active cultures, including L. acidophilus and L. bulgaricus.
Kefir (e.g., Lifeway): Kefir is a distinct fermented milk product that typically contains an even greater diversity of probiotic strains than yogurt. Brands like Lifeway are specifically known for their high probiotic content.

Comparing Top Brands with Live Cultures

To help you decide, here is a comparison of some popular brands with live cultures:


Feature	Chobani	Stonyfield Organic	Fage Total	Activia	Siggi's	Wallaby Organic
Culture Strains	S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei, L. Rhamnosus	S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium BB-12®, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, L. rhamnosus	L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei	Bifidobacterium animalis DN 173-010, S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus	S. thermophilus, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, B. lactis, L. acidophilus	L. Acidophilus, L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus, Bifidus, L. Paracasei
Style	Greek	Traditional / Greek	Strained Greek	Traditional	Icelandic Skyr	Aussie Greek
Texture	Thick and creamy	Smooth and creamy	Unbelievably thick	Smooth	Very thick	Creamy and mild
Noted Benefit	Gut health, high protein	Gut health, organic	High protein, natural	Digestive regularity	High protein, low sugar	Organic, slow-crafted
Special Note	Wide variety of flavors and products (Zero Sugar, Less Sugar, etc.)	Organic milk from pasture-raised cows	Made with only milk and cultures, no additives	Focuses on digestive regularity	Less sweet, authentic Icelandic recipe	Pasteurized, slow-crafted process

How to Find Live Cultures in Yogurt

Check the label for the LAC seal: The NYA seal is an easy visual cue that the product has a verified high level of live cultures.
Read the ingredients: The ingredients list will often explicitly name the bacterial cultures used, such as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium strains.
Opt for refrigerated over frozen: The live cultures in refrigerated yogurt are more active than those in frozen yogurt, although freezing doesn't necessarily kill them. Heat-treated frozen yogurt, however, will have no live cultures. Always check the label on frozen varieties.
Avoid heat-treated products: The label may state "heat-treated after culturing," which means the beneficial bacteria have been killed off. This is more common in yogurts with a longer shelf life.
Choose plain, unsweetened varieties: Adding your own fruit, honey, or granola allows you to control the sugar content. Many sweetened yogurts have high sugar content, which can be counterproductive to health goals.

Conclusion

For consumers seeking yogurts with live cultures, a wide variety of excellent options are available, ranging from traditional and Greek-style yogurts to Icelandic skyr and probiotic drinks like kefir. The key is to be an attentive shopper and read labels carefully. Look for the NYA 'Live & Active Cultures' seal or check the ingredients list for specific bacterial names. Brands like Chobani, Activia, Stonyfield Organic, Fage, Siggi's, and Wallaby are reliable choices for their probiotic content. By choosing the right yogurt, you can easily incorporate beneficial bacteria into your daily diet to support your overall gut health.

International Dairy Foods Association: Live & Active Cultures Seal

Frequently Asked Questions

Look for the National Yogurt Association's (NYA) "Live & Active Cultures" (LAC) seal on the container or read the ingredients list for names of bacterial cultures like L. acidophilus or Bifidobacterium.

Not all Greek yogurt is guaranteed to have the same amount of probiotics, but many popular brands like Chobani and Fage contain high levels of live cultures. The straining process does not remove the majority of the beneficial bacteria.

No, heat-treated yogurts have undergone a process that kills the live cultures to extend shelf life. These are not a source of probiotics.

Kefir is a fermented milk drink that often contains a greater diversity of probiotic strains and yeasts compared to yogurt, making it an excellent source of beneficial bacteria.

Chobani yogurts contain live and active cultures including S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei, and L. Rhamnosus.

Yes, many dairy-free yogurts made from bases like coconut or cashews are cultured and contain live bacteria. However, it is essential to check the label, as some are not fermented.

All probiotics are live cultures, but not all live cultures in fermented foods are considered probiotics. A live culture must be present in adequate amounts and offer a scientifically proven health benefit to be a probiotic.