Fortified yoghurt drink uses new calcium ingredient

Chilled dessert manufacturer Yoplait Ireland has launched a calcium-enriched drinking yoghurt under its Petits Filous brand.

Said to be the first of its kind to use milk-derived calcium, rather than calcium from other sources, the drink has been developed specifically for growing children to assist in the formation of healthy bones and teeth.

Product developers at Yoplait wanted to use dairy calcium to reinforce the natural image of the Petits Filous range. Also the milk-derived calcium, supplied by Glanbia Nutritionals and called TruCal, has none of the chalky flavour that other calcium sources can have.

It is a free-flowing white powder that is flavourless, and produces a clean-tasting end product. It contains 24% calcium and 13% phosphorous -- a ratio believed to be conducive to bone growth and increased bone density.

Margaret Barron, brand manager for Petits Filous in Ireland, said: "We considered various options for adding calcium to the Petits Filous products before opting for TruCal. We chose it because it fitted the brief, offering natural dairy calcium and performed well in lab tests. We then worked with Glanbia Nutritionals to create a great tasting, quality-end product with an excellent viscosity. Plus we managed to do all this without impacting on the natural goodness of the Petits Filous range."

The drinks are being retailed throughout Ireland.