Soy yogurt facts for kids
 |
|
| Alternative names | Soya yogurt, soygurt, yofu |
|---|---|
| Type | Yogurt |
| Main ingredients | Soy milk, culture |
Soy yogurt is a creamy food that tastes a lot like regular yogurt. But instead of being made from cow's milk, it's made from soy milk. People also call it soya yogurt, soygurt, or yofu. The name "yofu" is a mix of the words "yogurt" and "tofu."
Contents
What's in Soy Yogurt?
Soy yogurt is made from soy milk. Sometimes, if it's made from fresh soy milk, it might have a slight "beany" taste. This taste is usually less noticeable in soy yogurt you buy in stores.
Comparing Soy and Dairy Yogurt
Soy yogurt has a similar amount of protein as regular dairy yogurt. It usually has less sugar and more fat.
However, soy yogurt doesn't naturally contain vitamin B12 or vitamin D. Some brands add these vitamins to their soy yogurt to make it more nutritious. This is called "fortifying" the food.
How Soy Yogurt Is Made
Regular yogurt is made using special bacteria that eat lactose, a sugar found in dairy milk. Since plant-based milks like soy milk don't have lactose, soy yogurt uses different types of friendly bacteria. These can include Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium bifidum.
Soy yogurt and other plant-based yogurts might feel and taste a bit different from dairy yogurt. This is because plant milks have different structures. Also, some plant-based yogurts might have extra ingredients like thickeners or colors to make them look and feel more like traditional yogurt.
Rules for Food Names
In some places, there are rules about what you can call certain foods.
Rules in Europe
In Europe, companies usually cannot call plant-based products "yogurt." This is because the word "yogurt" is officially saved for products made from animal milk. This rule comes from the European Union regulation 1308/2013 and a court decision in 2017.
Rules in the USA
In the USA, the FDA also has rules about food names. For a long time, the word "yogurt" was only for products made from milk. The FDA has been looking into how plant-based products should be labeled. They updated their rules in 2021, and they plan to give more guidance on how to label plant-based milk alternatives.
