LONDONDERRY, N.H. — Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt maker and subsidiary of Groupe Danone, has unveiled a comprehensive plan to reduce added sugar across its portfolio.
The company spent more than two years researching to achieve a formula that reduces tartness and balanced the sweetness of yogurt, Stonyfield said, which allows for sugar reduction without sacrificing taste.
“The commitment to reducing sugar across the product portfolio was born from Stonyfield’s mission to continually provide healthier food both for our consumers and the planet,” said Nichole Cirillo, Stonyfield’s newly appointed mission director. “We are achieving a lower amount of added sugar in all Stonyfield yogurt without compromising taste or organic standards and are working towards purchasing 25% less sugar as a company this year.”
By the end of fall 2017, Stonyfield’s Smooth & Creamy varieties in cups and quarts and its low-fat smoothies will have at least 25% less sugar than previous recipes. The company’s Stonyfield YoKids yogurt is already available with 40% less sugar than the leading low-fat children’s yogurt, Stonyfield said. Available in cups, squeezers and smoothies, Stonyfield YoKids now features 9 grams or less of sugar per serving.
Stonyfield already offers a plain, unsweetened formulation in its Stonyfield YoBaby line, and the company is working to remove added sugar from the rest of the YoBaby line as well.
“Consumers want to limit the amount of added sugar in their diets, without sacrificing taste and the great benefits of yogurt like calcium, protein and added vitamin D,” said Linda Lee, chief marketing officer for Stonyfield. “We’re accomplishing reductions across the portfolio through a committed team who is finding a better way to deliver all of the nutrition and taste benefits of Stonyfield yogurts with less sugar. Stonyfield remains steadfast in our commitment to providing the very best yogurts, using sustainable practices, that consumers can feel good about feeding their entire family.”
All Stonyfield yogurts will continue to be made with certified organic ingredients and without artificial flavors, hormones, preservatives, toxic persistent pesticides or G.M.O.s.