the yogurt saga

[baronessekat]

I'm lactose intolerant. Fact.

One of the ways I can get dairy into my diet is yogurt. There is something about the cultures in it that allows me to tolerate the dairy.

I hate yogurt taste. Fact.

When I started WW ages ago, I found that I actually liked the diet stuff. Specifically the WW brand and Dannon lite and fit. Both are made with sucralose. This is good as I am allergic to asparthame.

I tended to favor Dannon for two reasons. 1) cheaper than WW by upwards of 30 cents. 2) they have more flavors available.

Not too long ago Dannon changed their recipe to have BOTH sucralose AND asparthame. So yesterday I finally broke down and wrote to Dannon about my disappointment and how they have lost a loyal customer because of the change.

Here's the response I got:



Thank you for taking the time to contact The Dannon Company about our recent improvements to the Light & Fit products. Comments from consumers are very important to us and we certainly appreciate yours.

We have taken our great tasting Light & Fit and made it even better. Light & Fit has a new texture and sweetener blend to provide an even better tasting product, which our consumers prefer to our previous formula. Light & Fit is the only leading light nonfat yogurt with 80 calories per 6 oz. cup compared to 100 calories for other leading Light nonfat yogurts in the 6 ounce size. Our 32 ounce container now contains 110 calories per 8 ounce serving.

At Dannon, we take great care to ensure that the highest standards are met in everything we do. In our products, packaging, marketing and advertising, we strive for excellence. When a valued consumer like you takes the time to contact us, we take it seriously. Please be assured your comments will be shared with the appropriate individuals. I know they will find your remarks interesting, and will consider them carefully as we work toward continuous improvement in all areas.

As always, we appreciate your interest in our products and are always available to answer any questions or concerns that you have. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our toll-free number 1-877-DANNON-US (1-877-326-6668), Monday through Friday, 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. Eastern Time.

Sincerely,


(name removed)
Consumer Response Representative
Ref#:(removed)



So I guess my business goes fully to WW from now on. Dannon's loss. And I do urge you to consider not partaking in Dannon as a small little boycott. I know it's not much but still.

Comments

[ladybriant.livejournal.com]

Damn.... there goes one that I can eat too. (Also allergic to asperthame)

Seems like everything has that damned stuff in it.

[baronessekat.livejournal.com]

write to them. their website has a contact us page. Maybe if more people write and complain they will offer the original back.

[sabriel-0405.livejournal.com]

While I hate aspartame, though am not allergic, I agree that the new Dannon does taste better. I stopped doing diet yogurts (which I live on even though prior to gbs I hated it.) because of the aspartame and was excited to see the new sucralose versions come out. But I noticed the change fairly quickly because every time something says "new" I read the ingredients.

What major supermarket chains are near you? I can't remember what's in upstate NY. If you have a Kroger's - which goes under many names - they have a low-carb yogurt that is quite tasty and I think only uses sucralose.

[meirwen.livejournal.com]

Sorry--I can't agree. I think it tastes worse--far too sweet and artificial. Before it was edible, but now, no.

[baronessekat.livejournal.com]

No Krogers here. We have Wegmans. Which is the big competitor here and why Krogers hasn't moved into the area.

[blairya.livejournal.com]

I'm a huge fan of the Wegmans brand, blended lemon flavor. It's low-fat, but does have real sugar and 180 calories per container. Worth every calorie, though, it's totally yummy. Not much "yougurty" flavor at all. I avoid artificial sweeteners most of the time. FWIW.

[meirwen.livejournal.com]

Hannaford fat free brand is nearly identical to the WW brand, and cheaper. Next time you're out we'll have to have you try some. (Their lowfat is made with aspartame, though.)

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

Bech. Nasty stuff aspartame and sucralose. I can't use either.

[unique_name_123]

I sympathize with you. I can't do any artificial sweeteners and they are hidden in everything these days!

[tattycat.livejournal.com]

Does it count as a boycott if I wasn't eating Dannon to begin with? Because if it is, I am so there!

(I mostly eat Greek yogurt, goat milk yogurt, or coconut milk yogurt.)

[lizreay.livejournal.com]

Stonyfield Farm's fat free line uses sugar and is very, very tasty. It's all we eat, yogurt-wise.