What should yogurt contain?
Milk and live lactic acid cultures. These convert the lactose in milk to lactase, thickening it in the process. The acid also restricts the growth of bacteria that could spoil the milk or cause food poisoning. What else is added? Yogurt is a food that inspires the most ardent imaginings of food technologists. Gelling agents are added to very low-fat yogurt to set it, as are stabilisers, starches or extra powdered skimmed milk, which give bulk. Some children’s yogurts contain long lists of ingredients, including sugar, syrups and sweeteners. Reading labels is the only way to check for unwanted additives. Watch for certain colourings in yogurts or yogurt-based puddings that may be allergens, such as sunset yellow (E110), tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124) and carmoisine (E122). Must cows suffer to make it? Intensive dairy farming can mean poor welfare for cows. Buy organic yogurt to ensure higher welfare standards and because greater care will have been taken not to pollute the environ
