From MadeForMums · · 1m 50s
Children's yoghurts hide up to 4 teaspoons of sugar
New research reveals sugar levels in kids' yoghurts vary wildly, with some containing as much as a dessert.
In brief
New research reveals sugar levels in kids' yoghurts vary wildly, with some containing as much as a dessert. Check nutrition labels on children's yoghurts rather than trusting child-friendly packaging, as sugar content varies dramatically between brands. Originally reported by MadeForMums.
Most kids' yoghurts are sugar bombs
A new study of 104 children's yoghurts found only 2 were low in sugar. Sugar levels ranged from 4.7g to 14.1g per 100g, with some single servings containing nearly 4 teaspoons of sugar.
“just two were low in total sugars, equivalent to one in 40 products surveyed”
Nestlé Smarties yoghurt tops the list
Nestlé Smarties Vanilla Split Pot contained the highest sugar at 14.1g per 100g, delivering 15.1g of total sugars in a single serving. The lowest options were The Collective Great Dairy and Yoplait Petits Filous at 4.7g per 100g.
“Nestlé Smarties Vanilla Split Pot had the highest total sugar content in the survey, at 14.1g per 100g”
Nestlé leads in average sugar content
Among companies with multiple products, Nestlé averaged 10.7g sugar per 100g, followed by Lidl at 9.4g and Aldi at 9g. Sainsbury's had the lowest average at 6.2g per 100g.
Some progress since 2021, but slow
Average sugar content fell 11% from 9.2g per 100g in 2021 to 8.2g in 2026. Some products improved dramatically, like Lidl's Milbona pouches dropping 43%, but only 2 of 104 products are now low in sugar.
Cartoon packaging misleads parents
All 104 yoghurts featured child-appealing packaging with bright colours, cartoons, and characters. Yet restrictions on high-sugar food advertising don't cover packaging design, allowing unhealthy products to look kid-friendly.
“All of the products included in the survey featured child-appealing packaging, including bright colours, cartoons, fun text, characters or other features designed to attract children”
Campaigners demand mandatory action
Action on Salt & Sugar and Sustain are calling for mandatory reformulation policies and rules reserving child-appealing packaging for healthier products. They argue parents shouldn't have to study labels to find genuinely suitable yoghurts.
“parents should not have to study the small print to identify products genuinely suitable for children”
Check the label, not the packaging
Parents can identify lower-sugar yoghurts by reading nutrition information rather than trusting bright packaging and characters. Yoghurt remains nutritious, but sugar content varies dramatically between brands.
The bottom line
Check nutrition labels on children's yoghurts rather than trusting child-friendly packaging, as sugar content varies dramatically between brands.
