It was my ice cream substitute. Vanilla Brown Cow Farm yogurt - a treat that was actually compliant with the BTD. Notice the use of the word was. Somebody decided to screw it all up and stick cane sugar in it! I am so upset! Why must we have cane sugar in everything?!? Why, tell me, why?

And, actually, it didn't taste as good - which is why I looked at the ingredients and was horrified to find my dessert treat was ruined.

So, if there are any other of you brown cow fans out there - beware - there is now cane sugar in their yogurt.

I already called and gave them my two sense. Maybe you can, too...

Suggestion:  Buy plain yogurt and stir in your own maple syrup.  You may like that even better -- I don't even bother with the vanilla extract.

Cane sugar-it is cheaper to use.

Debra

but canesugar is better than corn sugar ..........

Quoted from laurjen

Why must we have cane sugar in everything?!? Why, tell me, why?

You GO, greenfields!!!!*

And your post is another reminder that we should periodically read the labels of even the products we are very familiar with and buy routinely, as sometimes companies change hands, get bought out, merge, go all cheap-n-corn-syrup prone, etc. and one never knows when SUDDENLY corn syrup, wheat or some other undesirable is going to be slipped in there.

* TELL ME WHY

"Sailing heart ships through broken harbors
Out on the waves in the night
Still the searcher must ride the dark horse
Racing alone in his fright.
Tell me why, tell me why

Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself,
When your old enough to repay but young enough to sell?

Tell me lies later, come and see me
I'll be around for a while.
I am lonely but you can free me
All in the way that you smile
Tell me why, tell me why

Is it hard to make arrangements with yourself,
When your old enough to repay but young enough to sell?

Tell me why, tell me why
Tell me why, tell me why"

- Neil Young -

I called Brown Cow and found out that there is a maple syrup shortage at this time.  Some of their flavors still use maple syrup but due to the shortage some are using a less refined sugar product.

I let them know that I want them to return to maple syrup once the shortage is over and that I have heart palpitations from eating sugar in products.

A quick google turned up this story on the maple syrup shortage:  http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=27964

I like Carol's idea of buying plain yogurt and adding your own sweetener or fruit.  Everything is in your control.    

Quoted Text

I called Brown Cow and found out that there is a maple syrup shortage at this time.  Some of their flavors still use maple syrup but due to the shortage some are using a less refined sugar product.

What a smart, rational thing to do (actually ask to find out why they did this). I think I am a bit too emotionally attached to my vanilla yogurt - I didn't even think of asking why!

I've played around with my own yogurt, stevia, agave, maple syrup, and vanilla (not all at once though) - but I just haven't gotten the magic combination that tastes like the old brown cow yogurt vanilla did.

My sister lives in CA where they still only have maple syrup and had the nerve to rub it in when I spoke to her the other day. She might have to ship it to me, at this rate!

Stonyfield Farms did the same thing with their yogurt quite awhile ago.  The packaging changed, is what triggered me to look at the ingredient list again.  Yup, cane sugar instead of fruit juices.  I wrote them a letter complaining about it, but never got an answer.  Now I eat Cascade Fresh.  Still has all acceptable ingredients.

Quoted from laurjen

What a smart, rational thing to do (actually ask to find out why they did this). I think I am a bit too emotionally attached to my vanilla yogurt - I didn't even think of asking why!

greenfields, I had the same suggestion as what Linda did. I'd write. I seriously doubt the phone call complaint went past the person who answered the phone. I'd find out who the big dog is there and address a letter to him marked PERSONAL in big letters.
I sure wouldn't beat myself up over not asking why.  They usually just change up ingredients because they're cheaper. (as debra mentioned)  It's very rarely something so rational as there is a shortage of what they normally use. Hopefully you can have your fav dessert back soon.

Quoted Text

greenfields, I had the same suggestion as what Linda did. I'd write. I seriously doubt the phone call complaint went past the person who answered the phone. I'd find out who the big dog is there and address a letter to him marked PERSONAL in big letters.

I was contemplating following up in writing - thanks for the suggestion. Now I might actually do it. The more people they hear from the better chance of getting the cane sugars out, out, out!!!

I do hope they are truly short on maple syrup and want to go back to it once they have more - that they don't suddenly decide that while it may have started as a shortage, it turned out to be cheaper - so who cares about quality and taste? (And people's sugar issues?!)

I'll keep on playing around with other compliant brands in the meantime. So far, Trader Joe's maple syrup yogurt is okay, but it just doesn't have that yummy dessert quality I'm looking for! My good ole' plain yogurt with stevia and vanilla is alright, too, but again, not the same. I must be fixated!

Quoted from laurjen

Trader Joe's maple syrup yogurt is okay, but it just doesn't have that yummy dessert quality I'm looking for!

Reminds me of the yogurt type "dessert" my daughter and I used to eat. It was like a tradition when we got together. It's been so long, I don't even remember what it's called.  

So I tried a new brand yesterday. Stoneyfield Farms (not sure of the spelling) vanilla and maple lowfat yogurt. No cane sugars, but it has inulin which it claims is a natural fiber. Anyone know if that's true? I've learned in the past that just when I think something is an innocuous ingredient - I'm wrong!

It was pretty good, but no fattening, yummy cream at the top. But the best I've found so far, I'd say.

The search continues...

(Until they get more maple syrup at Brown Cow Farms?!?)

Since cows milk is out for me for the most part, when I eat yogurt, I go for the goats milk yogurt.  Don't remember the name brand right now, but it is very good and tastes like old-fashioned yogurt (with a bit of goat-cheese taste, too).  I usually get the vanilla-flavored.  It's pretty clean, except that it might have some thickener in it of some kind (checked:  cassava root tapioca - need to check the typebase for that one).  Pretty clean, other than that.

I get it at my local HFS.

Oh - here is the brand:

Redwood Hill:

http://www.redwoodhill.com/yogurt.htm

I just read that FAQs from that site.  Pretty interesting.  This product might really work for you instead of the Brown Cow.  Looks like tapioca is OK for A and O secretors, but not for Bs and ABs.   Didn't check the non-secretor carefully, so I'd double-check it if I were you.

Quoted from laurjen

No cane sugars, but it has inulin which it claims is a natural fiber. Anyone know if that's true?

Yep, it is soluble fiber. That does not mean that you are not allergic to it, however.

Inulin are communly added to processed food as a fat substitute. It is not fat but a type of nondigestable carbohydrates(fiber). Chenically it is an Oligiosaccharide (Wiki entry: http://www.dadamo.com/wiki/wiki.pl/Oligosaccharide). Similar food additives to inulin that you may see on labels are fructooligosaccharides or FOS or oligofructose.  

Inulin is found in about a third of the earth plants. Some plants that are high in inulin include: Burdock, Chicory, Dandelion, elecampane Jerusalem artichokes, Jicama, Onion, Wild Yams.

If you are not allergic to the chemically isolated form, health benefits of consuming inulin are reported to include: increased calcium absorption, increase magnesium absorption, and stimulating the growth of desirable bacteria in the gut (a prebiotic).

NAP sells a prebiotic product known as ARA6 or Arabinogalactan.  Arabinogalactan is also a fructooligosaccharides. I have not taken it but reports are that it can be very beneficial to digestive health. Wiki entry:
http://www.dadamo.com/wiki/wiki.pl/Arabinoglactan

Thank you so much for the info on inulin, C Sharp. I can breathe a bit easier.

Tapioca is an Avoid for B secretors, all AB's, and O nonnies, and a Neutral for everyone else.  

Redwood Hills is my yogurt too.  It's yummy.  I've tried the vanilla, but actually prefer the plain kind with a little maple syrup added.

Does that include tapicoa starch then?

yes

Quoted from laurjen

Trader Joe's maple syrup yogurt is okay,

Trader Joe's yogurt is Stonyfield . . . at least in my neck of the woods (New England).

Do you have Seven Stars brand available?  I love that one.

All you As that can have cow yogurt.....makes me sick just to hear you talk about it.   Consider yourself lucky.  Some of us are stuck with cane sugar- and gum-laden soy yogurt.

Maybe you can make your own soy yogurt, Ribbit.  

Alright, it needs some help (consistancy-wise), but here it is:

1 c. blueberries (or fruit of choice)
1/4 c. water mixed with 1 Tbsp. arrowroot and 1 Tbsp. maple syrup

Heat blueberries and water mixture till thick, stirring constantly.  Divide between 6 custard dishes.  Set aside to thicken further.
______


1 c. rice milk
1 Tbsp. beet sugar or fructose
1/2 c. rice milk mixed with 2 Tbsp. arrowroot
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Heat rice milk and sugar.  When hot, add rice milk-arrowroot mixture, whisking constantly till thickened to pudding consistancy.  Add lemon juice and vanilla and whisk well.  Pour on top of blueberries and chill a little.

Seems I read somewhere that if you don't eat arrowroot-thickened foods soon after cooking, they loose their thickiness.  Maybe that's my problem with keeping it thickened after chilling it.  But I'm not sure what else to use.  People who can have potatoes could use potato starch.  People who can have corn could use corn starch.  Maybe it needs to just sit aside instead of being chilled.  You'd have to eat it pretty soon then, which happens anyway around here unless I hide it.

Leave it to Trader Joe's to fill in where Brown Cow lacks - they just came up with an exact replica of the old, yummy maple flavored vanilla Brown Cow yogurt  - less expensive, too. Yeah!

Quoted from laurjen

Leave it to Trader Joe's to fill in where Brown Cow lacks - they just came up with an exact replica of the old, yummy maple flavored vanilla Brown Cow yogurt  - less expensive, too. Yeah!