Protecting, maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans

Memo
To: WIC Coordinators

From: WIC State Staff

Date: March 18, 2015

Subject: Yogurt: Information for Helping Participants Select Yogurt

The New Food Package Rule indicates that:

• Lowfat or nonfat yogurts are the only types of yogurt authorized for children > 24 months
of age and women.
• Whole milk yogurt is the standard yogurt for issuance to 1-year-old children (12 through 23
months of age). However, low fat or nonfat yogurt may be appropriate for 1-year- old
children for whom overweight and obesity is a concern, based on individual nutrition
assessment and consultation with the child’s health care provider, if necessary. Risk factors
for overweight include parental overweight/obesity.

The voucher will read:

• For women and children > 2 years: (32 oz.) container Lowfat or Nonfat Yogurt
• For children < 2 years: (32 oz.) container WIC-allowed Yogurt
Determining fat content of yogurt:
• Lowfat and Nonfat: The yogurt name and ingredient list will include “low fat” (or “reduced
fat”) or “nonfat” (or “fat free”).
• Whole milk: The yogurt name and ingredient list generally does not refer to the fat content
of the milk. For example, the ingredient list will say something like “Cultured Grade A milk”.

What should I tell parents of 1 year olds about selecting yogurt?

• Look for yogurts that do not state “low fat” or “nonfat” on the front label.

What about the sugar content of yogurt?

• The Food Package Rule limits sugar to < 40 g of total sugars per 1 cup of yogurt.
Remember, yogurt has natural sugars from milk and any added fruits. Flavors usually add
additional sugar.
• Plain yogurt has the least amount sugar since it has no added flavor or fruit.

What’s the difference between Greek yogurt and other yogurts?

• Greek yogurt is strained to remove the whey (liquid), making the yogurt thicker and
creamier.
• Due to the straining process, Greek yogurts tend to have lower carbohydrate content, and
higher protein content than other yogurts.
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• Some Greek yogurts will be WIC-allowed.

What about Vitamin D?

• Most yogurts do not have Vitamin D added. Check the label.

Let’s compare some WIC allowed yogurts!

Ingredient Label Comments / Comparison
Name: Dannon Natural
Flavor: Plain Yogurt All Natural
Fat Content: Whole. No description of
fat content in the name or the
ingredient list. This is an example of a
whole milk yogurt allowed for 1-year-
olds.
Sugar Content: 11 grams. Sugar
content is low since this is a plain
flavor.
Vitamin D: not added
 Ingredient Label Comments / Comparison
Name: Oikos Greek NonFat Yogurt
Flavor: Plain 0% Fat
Fat Content: Non Fat. See
description in the name and on the
ingredient list.
Sugar Content: 9 grams. Sugar
content is low since this is a plain
flavor.
Vitamin D: not added
Protein: 22grams. This Greek yogurt
has a much higher amount of protein
than the Dannon Natural, Plain flavor
which has 8 grams.

Name: Oikos Greek NonFat Yogurt

Flavor: Vanilla 0% Fat
Fat Content: Non Fat. See
description in the name and on the
ingredient list.
Sugar Content: 27 grams. Sugar
content of this flavored yogurt is
higher than the Plain version which
only has 9 grams.
Vitamin D: Is added. See Vitamin D in
the ingredient list and in the Nutrition
Facts.

See table on next page.

Summary of milk and milk substitution foods (using the child’s food package as an
example)

Milk package Amounts provided

Milk only 4 gallons milk

Milk + cheese 1st month: 3 gallons milk + 1 lb cheese

2nd month: 3 gallons milk + ½ gallon milk + 1 lb cheese
Milk + yogurt 1st month: 3 gallons milk + ½ gallon + 1 quart yogurt
2nd month: 4 gallons milk + 1 quart yogurt
Milk + cheese + yogurt 3 gallons milk + 1 lb cheese + 1 quart yogurt

Note: 1 lb cheese = 3 quarts milk; 1 quart yogurt = 1 quart milk