The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 1 announced the first-ever qualified health claim for yogurt, recognizing a potential link between its regular consumption and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

The new claim states, "Eating yogurt regularly, at least two cups (three servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes according to limited scientific evidence." 

This announcement is nearly five years in the making, during which time the FDA reviewed the existing research on yogurt and type 2 diabetes, which included data from over 300,000 individuals, and found including yogurt in the typical American diet could have a benefit to public health.

Danone North America put forth a significant effort for the FDA to make this decision.

"We know that a growing body of research suggests regular yogurt consumption could reduce your risk of developing one of the most significant and rapidly rising health ailments in the United States," said Miguel Freitas, Ph.D., Vice President of Health and Scientific Affairs at Danone North America. "That's why we decided to submit a petition for this first-of-its-kind qualified health claim. Our hope is that this announcement will empower consumers with simple, actionable information they can use to help lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through a realistic, easy-to-make dietary modification."

Diabetes is one of the top 10 causes of death in the U.S., impacting more than 37 million Americans with 1.4 million new cases diagnosed every year, Danone states. The overwhelming majority of these cases are type 2 diabetes.

And the benefits of yogurt don't stop there. In addition to potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, yogurt is included as part of a healthy dietary pattern, and nutrients commonly found in yogurt, like calcium, vitamin D and protein are associated with bone and muscle health. Calcium and vitamin D are also identified in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as two nutrients critical for health but often under-consumed.  

"Not only is yogurt a valuable source of important nutrients, it's also incredibly versatile," said Amanda Blechman, registered dietitian and Director of Health and Scientific Affairs at Danone North America. "That makes it easy to incorporate into your daily routine in a way that suits your unique needs and preferences. Yogurt is a staple in my family's grocery cart, and we like to enjoy it with fruit, mix it into smoothies, dips, and dressings, and even use it as a cooking or baking ingredient."

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) applauded the FDA decision.

“We now know that eating yogurt regularly is not only an excellent source of essential nutrients, it also can have a significant benefit to public health, including reducing the risk of type-2 diabetes,” said Roberta Wagner, IDFA’s senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “This decision by FDA should be closely considered by members of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, alongside the growing body of science demonstrating the health benefits of consuming dairy products at all fat levels, which shows these products are not associated with higher risk of negative health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Altogether, dairy products continue to demonstrate they are central to healthy, balanced diets for all people of all ages.”