Least Processed Yogurt Brands
Plain yogurt is one of the least processed dairy products — just milk cultured with beneficial bacteria. The jump to ultra-processed happens with flavored varieties that add modified corn starch, artificial sweeteners, colorings, and thickeners like carrageenan. Our data shows plain yogurt averages Level 1-2, while flavored varieties average Level 3-4.
Yogurt at a Glance
15 Least Processed Yogurt Brands
Brands ranked by lowest average processing score across all their products in this category.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Members mark | 5 | 1.0 8.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | Velvet-view farmstead | 6 | 1.0 4.5 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Bandi foods | 16 | 1.5 5.0 | 0 | 16 |
| 4 | Yobul! | 21 | 1.7 4.8 | 0 | 21 |
| 5 | Biolife | 5 | 2.0 5.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Olympiana | 5 | 2.0 8.0 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | Fresh made | 51 | 2.3 5.5 | 0 | 41 |
| 8 | Seven stars farm | 9 | 2.3 5.6 | 0 | 5 |
| 9 | Norr organic | 19 | 2.4 6.2 | 0 | 6 |
| 10 | Lancaster local small farms | 24 | 2.4 5.1 | 0 | 15 |
| 11 | Wunder creamery | 5 | 2.4 4.8 | 0 | 3 |
| 12 | Avenue | 7 | 2.5 6.6 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | Stani dairy | 9 | 2.6 5.6 | 0 | 6 |
| 14 | Oomda | 23 | 2.6 6.2 | 0 | 10 |
| 15 | Byblos | 5 | 2.6 4.2 | 0 | 3 |
Closest Look: Top 5 Least Processed
Least Processed Yogurt Products
Individual products with the lowest processing scores.
Most Processed Yogurt Products
Individual products with the highest processing scores.
What to Look for on the Label
- 1Plain yogurt should list only milk and live cultures — nothing else
- 2Avoid yogurts with modified food starch, carrageenan, or artificial sweeteners
- 3"Fruit on the bottom" yogurts often contain more sugar and additives than adding real fruit yourself
- 4Greek yogurt is strained (a simple physical process), not chemically processed
Most Processed Yogurt Brands
For comparison — brands with the highest average processing scores.
| Rank | Brand | Products | Scores | Ultra | Minimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yocrunch | 287 | 17.1 5.2 | 279 | 0 |
| 2 | Hersheys | 6 | 16.6 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
| 3 | Freshness guaranteed | 5 | 14.8 2.9 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Marketside | 11 | 13.7 4.3 | 11 | 0 |
| 5 | Yogu time | 5 | 13.5 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | Light +fit | 6 | 13.1 3.5 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | Light & fit | 420 | 12.3 6.5 | 350 | 9 |
| 8 | Renaissance food group | 36 | 12.2 5.7 | 35 | 0 |
| 9 | Freshline | 8 | 12.1 6.0 | 8 | 0 |
| 10 | Light + fit | 57 | 12.0 6.1 | 47 | 0 |
| 11 | Lakeview farms | 17 | 12.0 5.1 | 17 | 0 |
| 12 | Welchs | 6 | 11.9 0.0 | 6 | 0 |
| 13 | El mexicano | 84 | 11.9 3.8 | 84 | 0 |
| 14 | Nuestro | 8 | 11.9 5.8 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | Bayview farms | 25 | 11.7 6.0 | 25 | 0 |
How We Score Products
Every product is evaluated using two independent scores. The Processing Score (lower is better) measures the degree of industrial processing based on ingredient analysis, including the presence of artificial additives, preservatives, and highly modified ingredients. The Nutrition Score (higher is better) rates overall nutritional quality, rewarding protein and fiber while penalizing excess sodium, added sugars, and saturated fat.
Products are assigned to one of four processing levels: Minimal (score ≤ 2.5), Processed (2.6 – 5.0), Highly Processed (5.1 – 8.0), and Ultra-Processed (above 8.0). Brand averages are calculated across all products in the category to produce the rankings shown here.
Based on analysis of 1.98 million products in the USDA FoodData Central database. For a deeper look at the methodology, see our Processing Score guide and Two-Score System explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greek yogurt less processed than regular?
Greek yogurt is regular yogurt that is strained to remove whey — a simple physical process. Plain Greek yogurt is equally minimally processed (Level 1-2). Flavored versions vary widely.
What additives should I avoid in yogurt?
Key additives: modified food starch (thickener), carrageenan (stabilizer), artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose), and artificial colors. These push yogurt from Level 1 to Level 3-4.
Is flavored yogurt ultra-processed?
Most commercial flavored yogurts are Level 3-4 due to added sugars, modified starches, artificial colors, and flavorings. A better option: buy plain yogurt and add your own fruit and honey.
Related Food Guides
Learn more about how individual foods are classified.
Disclaimer: All tools and data visualizations are provided for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as health, medical, or dietary advice. Product formulations change frequently — always check the actual label for current ingredients and nutrition facts before making purchasing decisions. Consult healthcare professionals for personalized dietary guidance.