Have any questions? Our professional nutritional advice from Dr. William Sears might help.

FAQs

Lindley
(her aunt works in Marketing)

Where can I buy YoBaby Yogurt?

Check our product locator to find a store near you.

Does Stonyfield Farm use BPA or Polystyrene (#6 plastic)
in its packaging?

We want to make clear that we don't use (and have never used) BPA (Bisphenol A) in any of our packaging. BPA is used to make epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastic; BPA is not used to make polystyrene.

We do use polystyrene cups for our multipack offerings including YoBaby and YoMommy. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union (EU) consider polystyrene (#6) containers safe for food use. The FDA requires the styrene content of the packaging be less than 5,000 parts per million (ppm). The styrene content in Stonyfield Farm's polystyrene packaging does not exceed 400 ppm (12 times less than the allowable limit). For those who prefer, our organic whole milk and lowfat yogurts can be purchased in 6 oz. and 32 oz. containers made of polypropylene (#5 plastic).

At Stonyfield Farm, we are continuously searching for packaging materials with lower environmental impacts since all packaging can have an adverse effect on the environment. Polystyrene allows us to reduce the overall amount of packaging material we use - less packaging means less consumption of resources, less pollution, less solid waste and a lower carbon footprint.

Looking to the future, we are actively working toward the day when we can get our product and packaging to you in ways that will not create waste or deplete our natural resources. Ideally, when you're finished eating your yogurt, you'll consume the container, or toss it onto your compost pile to return to its carbon roots. We're not there yet, but we are currently working with our suppliers on alternative solutions including cups made from carbohydrates or excess agricultural materials such as cornhusks or potato skins.

For more information on our packaging choices go to www.stonyfield.com/earthactions/MakingaWorldOfDifference.cfm

Is the date on the lid a sell by or use by date?

The date on the lid is a suggested sell-by date. It is not the date that the yogurt will "expire" or "go bad". Up until this date, we feel that our yogurt will look and taste its best. It can be perfectly okay to eat yogurt after the sell-by date. Just use your best judgment. If the yogurt looks, smells, and tastes good, and there are no visible signs of mold, it's okay to eat. On average the yogurt will last approximately seven days after the date. If you have any doubts please throw the container away.

How long is YoBaby Yogurt good after the code date?

The length of time YoBaby will stay fresh beyond the code date depends on how it was handled during the shipping process. On average it will last about 7 days after the date. The yogurt should smell and taste good and show no visible signs of mold. If you have any doubts please throw the container away.

How long can YoBaby remain unrefrigerated?

Naturally, to enjoy YoBaby at its best, we recommend that you maintain consistent refrigeration and eat it chilled. A sealed cup of yogurt can last several hours without refrigeration before it begins to "whey off" and become liquid. Actually, it is still perfectly good to eat after the whey appears (you can just stir it in), but some people find it less appetizing to look at. The way to tell if the yogurt has gone bad is that it will smell and taste like soured milk (very unmistakable). By all means, if you have any doubts please throw the container away.

Once opened how is YoBaby good for?

YoBaby should be consumed within seven days of being opened. It should smell and taste good (not soured) and have no visible signs of mold. If you have any doubts please throw the container away.

Why is there liquid (sometimes) on the top of my yogurt?

It is normal for a little bit of liquid, called whey, to separate from our yogurt. This happens because YoBaby yogurts contain only 100% natural ingredients never any artificial thickeners, gelatins or starches. Whey contains many of the important vitamins and nutrients in yogurt. Simply stir it back in to take advantage of its nutritional benefits.

Why is there a layer of cream (thick,white stuff) at the top of your yogurts?

YoBaby yogurt is made from whole milk that is unhomogenized. That means that the cream layer rises to the top. You can mix it in to the rest of the container, or eat it separately for an extra-creamy treat.

At what age should I start and stop serving YoBaby to my child?

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that yogurt and cheese can be introduced after six months.¹ Since every child is different, you should check with your pediatrician before introducing YoBaby yogurt into your child's diet.

Whole milk dairy products such as YoBaby yogurt are recommended for children up to 2 years of age. After that your pediatrician may suggest that you switch to low-fat dairy products. If that's the case, please try our YoKids organic yogurt available in a cup or squeezable tube. We have received comments from grandparents who buy YoBaby for themselves, so you can safely feed or eat YoBaby as long as you want!

My pediatrician said to wait until 1 year for cow's milk? Why can YoBaby be started at a younger age?

The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends introducing yogurt as early as 6 months of age, but cow's milk is not recommended until 1 year of age. The cultures in yogurt make it more easily digested than cow's milk allowing it to be introduced at a younger age. In fact, some adults that are lactose intolerant are able to easily digest yogurt. If your family has a history of allergies to milk or other foods you may want to wait longer. As always, please speak with your Pediatrician about the right time to add YoBaby to your child's diet.

Does YoBaby yogurt contain gluten?

All of our YoBaby yogurts, except for YoBaby Plus Fruit & Cereal, are certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization. This certification assures that a product contains less than 10 parts per million of gluten and similar proteins from rye and barley.

Does calcium interfere with the iron absorption in YoBaby plus Cereal with Iron?

It may be true that cow's milk decreases the absorption of iron, but it may not be as significant as previously thought. Ferrous Gluconate used in our YoBaby is an elemental iron usually found in plants, also known as non-heme. A recent study looked at the effect of calcium on iron absorption over a 4 day period and it did not show a significant decrease. Recent Study "In conclusion, in the present study, quantities of calcium that corresponded to the recommended amounts in the Nordic Nutrient Recommendations and were served with the 3 main meals as milk or fortified foods for a 4 day period did not decrease overall nonheme-iron absorption."

Even with a reduction in absorption, it doesn't mean none is available. Nutrients are not absorbed 100% from foods. The RDI or Recommended Dietary Intake compensates for this by making it a higher number than the body actually needs. Also, absorption of iron is significantly improved if taken with a food high in Vitamin C or in supplements. So if you are concerned, you may want to include a Vitamin C-rich food source when the YoBaby Plus Iron is given.

What is the source of DHA? Is there a risk of allergic reaction?

The DHA in YoBaby plus Fruit & Cereal with DHA comes from purified fish oil, specifically anchovy and sardine oil. The fish used for this oil are caught from an ecologically sustainable fishery off the coast of Peru. The fish are processed using USDA organic compliant methods in Nova Scotia to produce purified oil with a high concentration of DHA and EPA (another Omega 3 fatty acid).

The fish oils we use are purified & it is third party tested to ensure that it is safe and have extremely low levels (almost undetectable) of contaminants including mercury. Our suppliers did testing at the University of Nebraska, (the foremost allergen testing lab in the country) finding the fish oil poses no allergenic risk to fish-allergic consumers, certifying the fish oil as allergen free.

Why do you use sugar to sweeten YoBaby?

The sugar content on the YoBaby label represents not just added sugar, but also sugar that is found naturally in the milk (milk sugar) and fruit. In developing this product we considered many issues, including whether or not to add a small amount of sugar to the product. We did decide to add this small amount of sugar in order to meet the taste requirements of the babies and toddlers we tested. We've recently reduced the amount of sugar in all YoBaby yogurts. You may notice a slight difference in taste from our original recipe, but since little ones' palates are so different than adults', they won't miss the sugar one bit. YoBaby yogurts now have only 12g or 13g sugars depending on flavor (including natural milk sugar), which is about the same amount as a jar of baby food fruit!

Why is there a berry flavor in each of the YoBaby Plus varieties? YoBaby is supposed to be good starting at 6 months, but I was told to not feed my child berries until after 12 months of age.

By the time YoBaby is typically introduced into a baby's diet, he/she is eating a wider variety of solid foods including berries also found in stage 2 baby foods from leading baby food manufacturers.

However, it is important to note that berries can cause food sensitivity issues with some babies; Dietitians and pediatricians recommend introducing whole berries and jams made with berries slowly, usually around your child's first birthday. At that point your baby's digestive system is fairly developed, she's had a few months of experience eating other solid foods, and she's generally less likely to have a serious reaction. If your family has a history of asthma or allergies to food or plants (such as hay fever), you may want to wait even longer. As always, you should consult with your Pediatrician before introducing new foods into your little one's diet.