La Yogurt Probiotic: A Buyer’s Guide
What La Yogurt Probiotic is
La Yogurt Probiotic is a line of everyday cup and quart yogurts made by Johanna Foods, Inc., the brand owner listed in USDA FoodData Central. Every style carries a culture blend that includes Bifidobacterium BB-12, one of the better-studied probiotic strains. It is a reasonable live-culture yogurt, but the label does not say how many probiotic bacteria are in a cup, and the flavored cups carry about 12 grams of added sugar.
Ultimate Gut is published by Ultimate Health Solutions, which sells a yogurt maker, probiotic capsules and an inulin fiber supplement. None of the products reviewed here are ours, and these brands don’t pay us.
The brand site lists five styles: Original Lowfat, Light Nonfat, Rich & Creamy Lowfat, Sabor Latino Lowfat, and Family Style Quarts. USDA’s database also lists La Yogurt drinkable yogurts, Greek yogurts and kefir. All facts below come from the brand’s pages and published label data; labels checked October 2026.
Which cultures are in it
The culture statement on La Yogurt Probiotic packaging, as reproduced on a ShopRite product listing, reads: L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, Bifidobacterium BB-12, L. acidophilus and L. casei. The package also says it meets National Yogurt Association criteria for live and active culture yogurt.
The first two are the cultures every product sold as yogurt in the U.S. must be made with under the federal yogurt standard. The other three are the probiotic additions. Here is what can and can’t be said about each:
| Culture on the label | Strain named? | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus | Species only | The standard yogurt-making pair; they turn milk into yogurt. |
| Bifidobacterium BB-12 | Yes (BB-12) | A 2014 review written by scientists at Chr. Hansen, the company that supplies BB-12, counts more than 130 human studies. In a 4-week trial of 1,248 adults with infrequent bowel movements, BB-12 capsules (1 or 10 billion CFU a day) modestly raised bowel movement frequency but did not improve overall digestive comfort versus placebo. |
| L. acidophilus | Species only | No strain code, so it can’t be matched to a specific trial. |
| L. casei | Species only | Same issue: effects are strain-specific and the strain isn’t named. |
Two limits matter. First, the label gives no count for any of these cultures, so you can’t compare a cup with the doses used in studies. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that probiotic effects can be specific to certain strains. Second, the live-culture seal measures counts only at the start: IDFA, which now offers the Live & Active Cultures seal, requires at least 100 million cultures per gram at the time of manufacture and sets no level for the end of shelf life.
Nutrition: plain versus flavored
These figures come from label data the brand published in USDA FoodData Central in 2023, per 6-ounce (170 g) cup:
| La Yogurt product | Calories | Total sugars | Added sugars | Protein | Calcium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Probiotic Plain Lowfat | 100 | 12 g | 0 g | 8 g | 296 mg |
| Probiotic Unsweetened Plain Whole Milk | 120 | 10 g | 0 g | 7 g | 253 mg |
| Probiotic Strawberry Blended Lowfat | 140 | 19 g | 12 g | 6 g | 201 mg |
| Probiotic Vanilla Blended Whole Milk | 160 | 19 g | 12 g | 6 g | 185 mg |
Twelve grams of added sugar is about a quarter of the 50-gram Daily Value for added sugars. The sugar in the plain cups is the milk’s own lactose. Plain also gives you the most protein and calcium per cup.
One caution about the numbers: the nutrition panels on La Yogurt’s own Original Lowfat page appear to be older. Its strawberry panel lists 160 calories and 26 grams of sugar per 170-gram cup, more than the 2023 label data above. Go by the package in your hand.
What the brand says versus what the evidence shows
The brand’s Healthy Living page says its probiotics support digestive health and immunity and can help the body fight off infection and help prevent disease. It says BB-12 helps maintain balanced microflora and supports digestion and immunity.
The evidence is more modest. BB-12 has real research behind it, but the trial above used capsules at a stated dose, and both BB-12 papers in the table were written by scientists at the strain’s supplier. We found no published trial of La Yogurt itself. On safety, a 2026 meta-analysis of 35 placebo-controlled trials found side effect rates with BB-12 similar to placebo (15.2% versus 14%). More broadly, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says that in most cases we still don’t know which probiotics are helpful. A claim that a yogurt helps prevent disease is not something its label data can show.
How to choose and use it
- Start with plain. The plain lowfat cup has no added sugar and the most protein. Sweeten it yourself with fruit.
- Check the sweeteners. The Light Nonfat cups use sucralose and acesulfame potassium, per the label data, which matters if you avoid low-calorie sweeteners.
- Check for gelatin. Many flavored cups list kosher gelatin, which matters for vegetarians.
- Buy fresh and keep it cold. Because the seal only covers counts at manufacture, a cup well before its date is the better pick.
- Lactose sensitive? NIDDK notes that some people with lactose intolerance find yogurt easier to tolerate than other milk products.
- Want more control? A plain cup with live cultures can serve as starter for homemade yogurt.
How it compares with other options
Compared with brands that print strain codes or counts on the label, La Yogurt gives you less to go on, though it does name BB-12. If you are weighing other fermented dairy, see kefir benefits. Our roundup of the best yogurt for probiotics compares labels across brands, and probiotic vs yogurt covers when a capsule makes more sense than a cup.
Who should check with a doctor first
NCCIH says the risk of harmful effects from probiotics is greater in people with severe illnesses or weakened immune systems. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that reported infections mostly involved people who were severely ill or immunocompromised, including some with central venous catheters. NCCIH also notes serious infections in premature infants given probiotics. If any of this applies to you or your child, ask your doctor before adding probiotic foods. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
Does La Yogurt have probiotics?
Yes. The package lists Bifidobacterium BB-12, L. acidophilus and L. casei alongside the two standard yogurt cultures, though it gives no count (label via ShopRite).
Is La Yogurt plain yogurt sweetened?
The Probiotic Plain Lowfat and Unsweetened Plain Whole Milk cups list 0 grams of added sugar in USDA label data; the flavored cups list about 12 grams.
Is La Yogurt as good as a probiotic supplement?
It is a different thing. A supplement states a dose of named strains, while La Yogurt names BB-12 but not how much is in a cup.
Related topics
- Does All Yogurt Have Probiotics?: what “live and active cultures” does and doesn’t mean.
- Activia Danone: another supermarket yogurt sold on its probiotic.
- Plain Yogurt: why plain is the most flexible pick.
- Probiotic Recipes You Can Make at Home: ways to use live-culture yogurt without heating it.
Sources
- Healthy Living (La Yogurt Probiotic, brand site)
- Yogurts and Original Lowfat (La Yogurt Probiotic, brand site)
- La Yogurt Probiotic Rich & Creamy Banana Blended Lowfat Yogurt, 32 oz (ShopRite product listing)
- Probiotic Plain Lowfat Yogurt, Probiotic Unsweetened Plain Whole Milk Yogurt, Probiotic Strawberry Blend Lowfat Yogurt, Probiotic Vanilla Blended Whole Milk Yogurt and Probiotic Vanilla Blended Nonfat Yogurt (USDA FoodData Central, Branded Foods)
- 21 CFR 131.200 Yogurt (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
- Live & Active Cultures Seal (International Dairy Foods Association)
- Jungersen M, et al. The Science behind the Probiotic Strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (Microorganisms, 2014)
- Eskesen D, et al. Effect of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, BB-12, on defecation frequency in healthy subjects with low defecation frequency and abdominal discomfort (British Journal of Nutrition, 2015)
- Kumar A, et al. Safety of One of the Most Commonly Used Probiotic Strains: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Reported Adverse Events (Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 2026)
- Probiotics: Usefulness and Safety (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Probiotics: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (NIH Office of Dietary Supplements)
- Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Eating, Diet, and Nutrition for Lactose Intolerance (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet, supplements or medication, especially if you have a health condition.
