Activia ingredients: what's banned overseas?

About Activia

Activia is a probiotic yogurt brand from Danone, marketed as beneficial for digestive health through its proprietary Bifidus Regularis (B. animalis lactis) culture. It is sold at grocery chains and mass retailers across the US in full-fat, low-fat, and light varieties. The brand was subject to a 2010 FTC settlement requiring Dannon to stop making unsupported health claims.

Common concerns with Activia products

Activia Light varieties contain sucralose and acesulfame-K as sweeteners — ironic for a product marketed as promoting digestive health, since artificial sweeteners may disrupt the gut bacteria the product aims to support. Some Activia flavored varieties contain modified food starch, natural flavors, carmine (from cochineal insects), and potassium sorbate. The 2010 FTC settlement required Dannon to remove unsubstantiated claims about Activia reducing 'slow intestinal transit' from advertising.