Chobani is one of the most popular yogurt brands in the US. The company describes their yogurt as "crafted from farm-fresh local milk" and an "excellent source of protein."

But is yogurt shown to improve human health in research studies? How do the ingredients in Chobani's yogurt compare to other popular yogurt brands? Does Chobani use any questionable additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the taste of Chobani?

In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we review clinical studies on yogurt to give our take on whether or not it's a generally healthy food product.

Then we'll analyze the ingredients in Chobani yogurt to share our opinion on whether or not it's healthy compared to other yogurt brands.

We'll also feature unsponsored customer reviews of the brand.

Is Yogurt Good for You?

The health effects of yogurt have been studied in various clinical trials.

A medical review published in the BMC Microbiology journal found that yogurt consumption was associated with favorable changes in the gut microbiome, and also had a modest weight-loss effect.

A 2014 population study reported that yogurt can increase the nutritional status and health of older adults.

Yogurt is rich in probiotics; a class of living organisms shown to positively influence gut health, as we documented in our Spring Valley Probiotic reviews article.

A systematic review published in the Nutrition Reviews journal found that yogurt consumption was associated with reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, reduced risk of developing certain types of cancer, and improved bone health.

Overall, we consider yogurt to be an exceptionally nutritious food product, and to be healthy for most individuals.

Ingredient Analysis

The ingredients in Chobani Greek Yogurt Vanilla are shown above.

Cultured nonfat milk is the core active ingredient, but Chobani fails to clarify on their product page whether or not this ingredient is sourced from pastured or conventionally-raised animals.

Animal products sourced from grass-fed animals are nutritionally richer than from conventionally-raised animals, as we discussed in our is Noosa yogurt healthy article.

Cane sugar is a refined form of sugar, and we know from a 2022 medical review that excessive intake of sugar is associated with inflammation in the body.

One cup of Chobani Greek Yogurt Vanilla only provides 18% of the Daily Value (DV) of sugar, but since many Americans already consume too much sugar in their diet, we think that choosing a yogurt brand without added sugar is a healthier choice.

Natural flavors is a broad, categorical term that fails to identify the specific flavoring compounds used.

This class of compounds may include synthetic chemicals according to a medical review published in the Food and Drug Law Journal.

Vanilla extract, lemon juice concentrate and the six live and active probiotic cultures are all health-promoting compounds.

Overall, we consider Chobani Greek Yogurt to be a relatively healthy option and to be healthier than many commercial alternatives, however we don't currently recommend this product due to our concerns about dairy sourcing, and the use of cane sugar and natural flavors.

Which Chobani Flavor is Healthiest?

Chobani has five different yogurt product lines: Greek Yogurt, Flip (high-protein), Less Sugar, Zero Sugar and Creations.

Chobani Greek Yogurt Nonfat Plain flavor is the healthiest flavor sold by the brand in our opinion.

The only ingredient in Chobani Greek Yogurt Nonfat Plain is cultured milk, as shown below:

Given our concerns about added, refined sugar, one may think that Zero Sugar version would be the healthiest.

But Chobani Zero Sugar contains a preservative and flavor enhancer called citric acid that's clinically shown to cause inflammation in some individuals, according to this product listing on the HEB website.

Chobani vs. the Competition

Here's our take on the healthiness of Chobani compared to other popular yogurt brands:

Fage

Contains less added sugar per serving than Chobani. Has natural flavors and no distinction about grass-fed vs. conventional sourcing.

Winner: Chobani (Nonfat Plain version)

Siggi's

Contains added sugar and has no distinction about grass-fed vs. conventional sourcing, but is free of natural flavors.

Winner: Chobani (Nonfat Plain version)

Yoplait

Contains more added sugar than Chobani per serving.

Contains preservatives and citric acid and natural flavors and synthetic vitamin additives.

Winner: Chobani (all flavors)

Real People Try Chobani

A dietitian named Nicole Hoskens did a taste test of various Chobani flavors, and shared her thoughts on whether or not the brand is healthy:

A TikTok creator named "fitgirlhales" suggests that Chobani Flips can make healthy desserts:

@fitgirlhales @Chobani plz sponsor me these flip yogurts are diet hack 101 🙏🏼 #chobaniflip #healthydessert #fitgirlsoftiktok #fyp ♬ original sound - hb122

Our Clean Yogurt Pick

Maple Hill Creamery Organic Yogurt is our top yogurt pick.

This brand uses whole milk sourced exclusively from grass-fed cows, and has no added sugars or flavoring additives.

The only ingredients in this yogurt brand are whole milk sourced from grass-fed cows and live and active cultures.

Interested consumers can check out Maple Hill Creamery Organic Yogurt at this link to the product page on the brand's official Amazon store.

Conclusion

Yogurt is a healthy addition to the diet because it's naturally rich in probiotics and calcium.

We generally recommend yogurt brands without added sugar.

Chobani Greek Yogurt contains added, refined sugar in the form of cane sugar. It also contains natural flavors and the brand fails to clearly document its dairy sourcing on its product page.

For these reasons, we don't currently recommend Chobani yogurt from a nutritional perspective.

Chobani Greek Yogurt Nonfat Plain flavor is the healthiest yogurt option sold by the brand in our opinion, because it's free of added sugar and flavoring chemicals.

We consider Chobani to be healthier than older brands of yogurt like Yoplait, but we consider the brand to be less healthy than newer brands of yogurt that don't add refined sugar and flavoring compounds.