What are the differences between fermented milk and yogurt?
Yogurt is one kind of fermented milk. In the US it must be made with the cultures Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus and meet FDA limits for milkfat and acidity, while fermented milk is the wider group that includes kefir, buttermilk, acidophilus milk and regional foods made with other cultures.
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What is the difference between fermented milk and yogurt?
Yogurt is one kind of fermented milk. Fermented milk is the broad group of dairy foods made by culturing milk with bacteria, sometimes with yeast. The group includes yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, acidophilus milk and many regional foods.
What makes a product yogurt?
In the US, the FDA standard (21 CFR 131.200) defines yogurt as milk cultured with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Other points from the standard:
- Milkfat is at least 3.25% for regular yogurt, with lower-fat versions labeled accordingly.
- Milk solids not fat are at least 8.25%.
- The pH must reach 4.6 or lower within 24 hours of filling.
- A label may say live and active cultures if there are at least 10 million colony-forming units per gram at manufacture.
How do other fermented milks differ?
| Product | Typical difference |
|---|---|
| Yogurt | Made with the two standard cultures |
| Kefir | Drinkable fermented milk made with kefir grains |
| Acidophilus milk | Milk with Lactobacillus acidophilus, sweet or fermented |
| Matzoon (matsoni) | Yogurt-like Caucasian ferment; the cultures described vary by region |
| Laban rayeb | Egyptian fermented milk, traditionally a by-product of butter-making |
Which is better?
We found no official ruling that one is healthier. The NIH says research on probiotics is promising for some conditions but often unclear on which strains help. Choose by taste, texture and your diet.
What about lactose?
Both are made from milk. The NHS lists yogurt among foods containing lactose. Ask a GP or dietitian if you have lactose intolerance. Check the label if live cultures matter to you.
This is general information, not medical advice.
People also ask
Is yogurt a fermented milk?
Yes. Yogurt is one type of fermented milk, made with specific bacterial cultures.
What bacteria must yogurt contain in the US?
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, under FDA rule 21 CFR 131.200.
Is kefir the same as yogurt?
No. Kefir is a different fermented milk made with kefir grains, while US yogurt is defined by two named bacterial cultures.
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