Hey Tink - here's my opinion - its marketing.
The probiotic yogurts and drinks on the market are just advertising the benefits of probiotics; when better, natural yogurts like Stonyfields or Brown Cow have probiotics but don't advertise this. I've never looked at Actimel ingredients, but others i've looked at have added stuff that usually make it starchy or contain inulin or FOS, the prebiotics that feed bacteria, good and bad.
I don't know if they carry the brands i mentioned or an all-natural brand to iodine test where you are, but i would do that if your going to buy yogurt. A way to test if a yogurt have live active cultures is to drop a dollop in milk and sit out in sunny spot. It will turn the milk to yogurt.
I've read different opinions on yogurt probiotics. The natural health mag. i subscribe to says its not enough probiotics and they don't survive the digestive tract, so you're better off with a supplement. But its the ad dollars from said supplements that help keep the magazine afloat. I do think probiotics are good, just not sure if yogurt is the best way to get it. Good bacteria crowd out the bad.
take care, Mary cay
