Do you know Chobani solely got here to be as a result of CEO Hamdi Ulukaya occurred upon an advert for a recently-closed Kraft yogurt plant in upstate New York? It is true! They went from promoting their yogurt to only a few native NY grocery shops with a workforce of 5 workers to 2,000 workers and making $1 billion in gross sales per 12 months.
From Winnie the Pooh-themed yogurt for youths, indulgent salted-caramel-crunch-flavored mixes for curbing our candy tooth cravings, and high-protein tubs for these trying to lose 10 kilos, Chobani has the reply to nearly your entire good-for-you snack wants. However regardless that Chobani is America’s top-selling Greek yogurt model, about 60 p.c of the nation has by no means even heard of Chobani—and greater than half of Individuals nonetheless have by no means even tried Greek yogurt!
So, earlier than you seize one other container off the shelf, be sure you learn up on these must-know details concerning the yogurt firm. And after you do, attempt the Eat This!-approved picks in our report: finest Greek yogurts for weight reduction.
1
However… They’re Solely In New York and Texas – Chobani Greek Yogurt Probiotics
Should you did not already discover within the lead picture, on November 28, 2017, Chobani unveiled their new packaging. (We expect it appears very good in case you ask us.) Chief Artistic Officer Leland Maschmeyer advised AdAge that inspiration for the brand new branding “came from 19th-century American folk art, particularly quilt work from the Mid-Atlantic region.” With the packaging overhaul additionally comes a simplification of their merchandise. Chobani will now not promote beforehand core choices like Merely 100 or their Mezze yogurt dips.
2
Every Container Is Made With Stay Probiotics
Opposite to what you may assume, not all yogurts will give you gut-healthy probiotics—the stay micro organism that scientists imagine could play a task in reducing your incidence of weight problems and ranges of irritation. That is as a result of some merchandise are heat-treated after fermentation, which is able to kill many of the helpful energetic cultures. As you will see on Chobani’s label, their Greek yogurt is made with 5 “live and active cultures.” Three of them have been discovered to be probiotic strains: L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, and Bifidus; the opposite two strains listed, S. Thermophilus and L. Casei, are often known as energetic cultures.
3
Their Plain Flavors Have No Added Sugars
For these of us who adhere to a low-sugar weight loss program, that is music to our ears! Once you’re choosing out a container of Greek yogurt, you wish to learn simply two elements: milk and stay energetic cultures. Sadly, that is not at all times the case amongst each product on the dairy aisle cabinets; in reality, some manufacturers have plain vanilla flavors that climb as much as 21 grams of sugar per serving! Whether or not you are grabbing their complete milk taste or non-fat, each will fill you up with not far more than gut-friendly probiotics, wholesome fat, and muscle-building protein. (P.S. By slicing manufacturing of the Merely 100 line, Chobani additionally ceased to taste their yogurts with non-nutritive sweeteners like Monk Fruit Extract.)
4 Their Components Are [Basically] Non-GMO
Bear in mind the debacle in 2013 when Entire Meals introduced it was dropping Chobani from its shops as a result of the yogurt maker makes use of milk from cows who eat genetically engineered crops (GMOs) like corn and soy? Chobani was bummed, however they argued the corporate was extra serious about promoting nutritious yogurt to everybody moderately than supply GMO-free milk and need to jack up the worth so just a few individuals might purchase it.
In addition to serving to us hold cash in our wallets, apparently dairy cows fed GMOs nonetheless rely as non-GMO “according to criteria applied by the United States Department of Agriculture, the European Union, and specific state criteria, such as the State of Vermont.” The corporate additionally argues that switching over to non-GMO feed is fairly implausible as commonplace feed blends usually include corn and soy, and over 90 p.c of these crops are grown within the U.S. from genetically engineered seeds—there’s merely not sufficient non-GMO grain for farmers to feed the 78,000 dairy cows Chobani wants.
As a substitute, Chobani stays dedicated to sourcing the freshest, rBST-free milk potential from the practically 900 farmers of their native communities—from Chenango County, New York, to Twin Falls, Idaho. Regardless that their milk just isn’t verified “non-GMO,” the corporate in any other case makes use of all non-GMO elements to make their yogurt merchandise.
5
They Do not Provide a Low-Fats Plain Choice
Fats content material is usually a deciding issue with regards to buying a yogurt container. We at all times advocate having a minimum of 1% fats in your dairy merchandise. That is as a result of the wholesome fat is not going to solely assist your physique soak up fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, and Ok however can even assist hold you satiated longer. Ilyse Schapiro, MS, RD, CDN, and founding father of Ilyse Schapiro Diet tells ETNT “I typically recommend 2% because it’s a happy medium [between whole milk and non-fat dairy products].” Sadly, Chobani’s solely plain yogurt choices are non-fat (0%) and complete milk (4%). If you’re in search of low-fat (2%) choices, you will need to go for a higher-sugar selection from the “Blended” or “Fruit on the Bottom” line.
6
Their Greek Yogurt Is Excessive In Protein
Common yogurt you grew up consuming is unstrained. Greek yogurt is strained, that means the producer removes the surplus liquid whey, which ends up in a thicker, creamier yogurt. It additionally means you get a cream with a median of 12 grams of protein per 5.3 oz. cup, whereas common yogurt has a mere 6 grams. Consuming a high-protein snack will not solely hold your starvation pangs at bay, it’s going to additionally make it easier to construct lean muscle mass, which is able to then burn extra energy at relaxation than fats—serving to you lose stomach fats.
7
They By no means Use Synthetic Preservatives
Chobani Greek yogurt is freed from elements like milk protein focus, synthetic flavors, colours or sweeteners, and animal-based thickeners, which some producers add to make “Greek-style” yogurts. As a substitute of caramel coloration and coal-derived dyes, Chobani makes use of fruit juice concentrates or actual fruit to paint their containers. And whereas blended yogurts from all firms have so as to add stabilizers to cease the product from separating when watery fruits are added, Chobani chooses to make use of all-natural elements like pectin, locust bean gum, and guar gum moderately than the pro-inflammatory potassium sorbate, cellulose gum, and modified corn starch that manufacturers like Dannon and Yoplait use.
8
They’ve Acquired Choices For Youngsters
The Chobani Youngsters line has 25 p.c much less sugar and twice the protein in comparison with the main youngsters’ yogurt. That equates to about 2 grams much less sugar and three grams extra protein in case you take a look at Chobani Strawberry Banana in comparison with the identical taste from Yoplait’s GoGurt. To not point out, Chobani maintains a supply of stay and energetic cultures whereas Yoplait’s yogurt is pasteurized. These yogurts will please each dad and mom and children.
9
You Can Drink It
The following new product is a line of Drink Chobani, which is certain to supply a hunger-quelling various to your 3 p.m. soda—a drink that solely revs your starvation pangs and offers zero nourishment. Drink Chobani is made with a mix of protein-packed yogurt (a whopping 14 grams!) and combined berries, that are filled with antioxidants that fend off illness.
10
They Give Again
Due to the truth that Chobani’s CEO, Hamdi Ulukaya, believes in measuring Chobani’s success via its impression on the group, the yogurt firm has made a dedication to giving again. For starters, 10 p.c of all Chobani earnings go to group charities, the corporate hires refugees, they provide their yogurt merchandise to colleges at considerably lowered costs, they usually’re a proud official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic workforce. In April of 2016, Ulukaya made headlines when he introduced he was awarding full-time workers a complete of a ten p.c possession stake within the privately held firm when (or if) the corporate had been to go public.
In October 2016, Chobani not solely introduced it was beginning a program—often known as the Chobani Meals Incubator—to mentor and assist meals entrepreneurs like Banza, however additionally they introduced they might offer 6 weeks paid parental go away to all of its workers beginning in 2017. (At the moment, the Worldwide Labor Group (ILO) discovered that the USA is the one nation in addition to Papua New Guinea that does not assure paid go away for brand new moms.) Now in case your yogurt is not one thing to be ok with, this certain is!
11
They Turned Down PepsiCo’s Stake Bid
They would be the #1 yogurt in America, however Chobani is at all times trying to develop. That is why in 2015, they appeared for a bigger firm that might act as a strategic associate to assist them develop manufacturing and distribution services. Though two notorious meals (and sugar) giants, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Co., sought stakes within the firm, Chobani, who has taglines like “#NoBadStuff” and “You can only be great if you’re full of goodness” did not undergo with both provide, citing that they needed to take care of management of their firm and the partnership would have given a controlling, majority stake to the grasping traders.
12
Their Containers Are A Cheap Dimension
Though the FDA initially listed an 8-ounce commonplace serving measurement for yogurt, they introduced they might be altering this commonplace to 6-ounces in live performance with the up to date vitamin label. Chobani has spearheaded the pattern in downsizing since 2014, which was once they switched from a 6-ounce container to a 5.3-ounce container. ETNT thinks it is a accountable change, as packaging informs the patron how a lot they need to be consuming. So, whereas Noosa Yoghurts are packaged in 8-ounce containers—and may have as a lot as 35 grams of sugar per serving—Chobani guides you into consuming an affordable quantity, and thus you will eat a median of 12 grams of sugar per serving.
13
They No Longer Simply Make Greek Yogurt
Again in June 2017, Chobani introduced they had been moving into the standard, or what Chobani calls “Classic,” yogurt enterprise. Regardless that Greek yogurt is greater in protein—and, thus, higher for weight reduction—in comparison with common yogurt, Individuals nonetheless attain for a standard yogurt practically 50 p.c of the time. These traditional American cultures are the yogurt manufacturers you grew up with (assume: Yoplait and Dannon)—however Chobani’s is more healthy.
14
They’re Launching Chobani “A hint of”
This new line of Greek yogurts is made with “hand-selected varietal fruits and spices for a curated approach to wellness and taste.” We love that they’re going to be low in sugar—solely 9 grams per 5.3-ounce serving—and shall be a very good supply of protein (12 grams). The primary 5 distinctive flavors shall be Madagascar Vanilla & Cinnamon, Wild Blueberry, Monterey Strawberry, Gili Cherry, and Alphonso Mango.
15
They Have A Chobani Cafe!
The corporate opened a New York-based café in 2012 the place it might take a look at out new recipe concepts and taste combos on curious prospects.
16
However… They’re Solely In New York and Texas
Sadly, solely two states enable the general public to attempt their inventive creations. In New York Metropolis, you might have the choice of going to the primary cafe location in SoHo or the seller situated within the Goal within the TriBeCa neighborhood. Alternatively, you possibly can head to Tomball, Texas (a part of the Higher Houston space) to take a look at Chobani’s latest cafe location in The Woodlands’ Wal-Mart. Should you’re trying to get pleasure from Chobani yogurt immediately, try our high picks on our listing of finest yogurts for weight reduction.