French yogurt labeling contains hidden sugars and aromas

An investigation by 60 Millions de consommateurs has identified several labeling pitfalls in the yogurt and fresh food aisles that can mislead French consumers.

Key issues include the use of natural fruit aromas instead of actual fruit pieces, despite suggestive imagery on packaging. While packaging may feature illustrations of strawberries or apricots, the actual content may only contain laboratory-made aromas. Consumers are advised to check the ingredient list for the actual percentage of fruit.

Additionally, the report highlights the presence of hidden sugars. Many products use various names such as glucose-fructose syrup, fruit juice concentrate, or cane sugar to mask high sugar content. Some fruit yogurts were found to contain more than 15 grams of sugar per 100 grams.