Is Total 2% Milkfat with Strawberry Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

To understand why this yogurt fails the vegan test, we have to look at the very first ingredient listed: pasteurized skimmed milk. This is the foundation of the product. Yogurt, by definition, is the result of milk fermenting with specific bacteria. Without the milk, you simply don't have yogurt.

The fermentation process relies on live active yogurt cultures. While the bacteria themselves are microscopic organisms, the medium they feed on to grow is the milk. Therefore, the entire product is biologically derived from an animal source.

Looking at the strawberry component, the strawberry fruit preparation (20%) is technically vegan. It consists of strawberries, cane sugar, water, and corn starch. However, there is a nuance to watch out for in similar products: natural flavors. While the natural flavors here are likely derived from fruit or plants to enhance the strawberry taste, in other dairy products, 'natural flavors' can sometimes hide dairy derivatives like casein. In this specific case, the milk is already declared, so the natural flavors are likely safe, but the milk makes the product non-vegan regardless.

Finally, the product uses xanthan gum as a thickener. This is a common food additive produced by fermentation of sugar by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. It is widely used in vegan products to improve texture and is perfectly acceptable for a plant-based diet. Unfortunately, it cannot save this product from its milk content.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Total 2% Milkfat with Strawberry offers a standard profile for a flavored yogurt. The 2% milkfat indicates that it is a reduced-fat option compared to whole milk yogurts, which typically contain 3.25% fat. This makes it a middle-ground choice for those monitoring their fat intake but who still want some creaminess.

The main concern for health-conscious consumers is the cane sugar in the strawberry preparation. Flavored yogurts often contain significant added sugars to balance the tartness of the fermentation. If you are strictly monitoring sugar intake, this product may not fit well into a low-sugar diet. However, it does provide a decent source of protein and calcium thanks to the milk base.