Seoul, South Korea – A recent evaluation of 17 Greek yogurt products sold in South Korea has revealed significant variations in nutritional content and price, prompting consumer advocacy groups to urge shoppers to carefully examine product labels. The findings, released Tuesday by the Consumers Citizens’ Association (CCA), show discrepancies in protein, fat, sugar and caloric content, even among products marketed as “plain.”
The CCA’s assessment, conducted over several weeks, found protein levels ranging from 5.9 grams to 13.1 grams per 100 grams, a difference of 2.2 times. This translates to 10.7% to 23.8% of the recommended daily protein intake of 55 grams. Calorie counts varied even more dramatically, from 55.6 calories to 199.7 calories per 100 grams – a 3.6-fold difference. Fat content in non-fat and low-fat varieties ranged from 3.4 grams to 14.0 grams, with some products exceeding 25% of the daily recommended fat intake of 54 grams.
The study highlighted that even “plain” Greek yogurt varieties can contain added sugars or sweeteners. Sugar content varied significantly, from 1.2 grams to 12.3 grams per 100 grams, a tenfold difference between the lowest and highest levels. The CCA noted that some products included sugar, refined sugar, or sweeteners in their ingredient lists, despite being labeled as “plain,” emphasizing the need for consumers to scrutinize nutritional information.
On average, the tested Greek yogurts contained 8.3 grams of protein and 6.0 grams of fat per 100 grams, exceeding the levels found in standard yogurt (4.5 grams of protein and 1.9 grams of fat). The average caloric content was also higher, at 114 calories compared to 86 calories in regular yogurt.
The CCA also assessed the products for probiotic content, safety, labeling accuracy, and price. All products met the minimum standards for probiotic levels, containing between 7.6 billion and 50 billion CFU (colony-forming units) per gram, exceeding the requirement of 1 billion CFU per gram for fermented dairy products. Microbial testing revealed no presence of harmful bacteria, and aflatoxin levels were within acceptable limits.
However, two products – Koukakiss Greek Yogurt 0% and Yojeum Plain Greek Yogurt – were found to have discrepancies between the stated nutritional values on the label and the actual measured amounts of calories, sodium, and saturated fat.
Price variations were also substantial, ranging from 826 won to 3333 won per 100 grams, a fourfold difference. Products with higher solid content – a measure of yogurt density and texture – tended to be more expensive, likely due to the increased amount of milk required to remove additional water.
The CCA recommends that consumers select Greek yogurt based on their individual health goals, considering factors such as protein intake, weight management, and sugar consumption. The organization also advises consumers to be mindful of added sugars, even in “plain” varieties, and to supplement sweetness with healthy additions like nuts rather than honey or fruit syrups. The full comparison data is available on the CCA’s “Compare & Empathize” platform.
