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Bill making yogurt official state snack advances in Senate

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has announced today that the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee has approved Senate Bill No. S6695. The legislation, authored by Senator Ranzenhofer, would designate yogurt as the official State snack.

A Byron-Bergen fourth-grade class, while studying the history and government of New York State, wrote to Senator Ranzenhofer to suggest the idea for the bill.

“I am pleased to report that this bill is on the move, and New York is one step closer to designating yogurt as its official State snack,” Ranzenhofer said. “It’s not just a nutritious, delicious food. It is also a major economic driver locally and all across the State. I am hopeful that we will be able to pass this legislation so that it may become law this year.”

New York is the number one processor of yogurt in the United States. Increasing demand for milk, the primary component in yogurt, has helped to support and grow the State’s dairy industry. New York is now fifth in the nation in milk production, producing over 13 billion pounds in 2012, in part fueled by the demand from yogurt processors.

Senator Ranzenhofer introduced the legislation on Feb. 28.

Brian Graz

Yep, here's some more very important legislation... I guess the Albany crowd needs to keep up their appearance of working hard(?). Why do politicians all feel that they need to be continuously creating new laws?

Apr 30, 2014, 10:40am Permalink
Jason Post

Which Yogurt or Coke are you looking at Tim?
The single serve Chobani Yogurt cup I just finished had 15 grams of Sugar. This includes the pears on the bottom in this particular cup.
By contrast a can of Coke has 26 grams of sugar

Further, that yogurt cup also contains 15 grams of Protein and 15% Daily Value of Calcium.

I feel quite confident the yogurt is better than a coke.

Apr 30, 2014, 2:49pm Permalink
Robert Brown

Right on B-Graz!

Free advertising/plugs for yogurt companies at the expense of applesauce makers, cookie bakers, granola mixers, etc...

We need an official state anything like we need a sharp stick in the eye! Thanks for nothing Ranzenhofer, et.al.

Apr 30, 2014, 3:51pm Permalink
tim raines

Jason, You just confirmed that your serving of yogurt contains more sugar than a serving a coke.

6 oz of yogurt = 15 grams of sugar or 12 oz = 30 grams.

6 oz of coke = 13 grams of sugar or 12 oz = 26 grams.

Thanks.

Apr 30, 2014, 4:28pm Permalink
Robert Brown

Let's not compare apples to oranges - yogurt may be a snack or meal substitute but it surely isn't a beverage (although it can be used in beverages) while Coca Cola is clearly a beverage and is rarely considered a snack.

That said, I have 2 product containers right in front of me:

1 - Dannon Oikos Fruit on the Bottom Greek Nonfat Yogurt (all the rage) - 5.3 oz. container with 20g sugars and 130 calories.

2 - Coca Cola - 12 fluid oz. can with 39g sugars and 140 calories.

Pick your poison or or pleasure, just keep my elected government and my taxpayer money out of it completely.

Apr 30, 2014, 4:17pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

The sugar in coke is high fructose corn syrup. Much of the sugar in yogurt (though some contain fructose) is largely from fruits and the milk itself. Big difference healthwise.

The cup of Alpina yogurt I have here has 10g of sugar and no fructose.

Coke also contains no protein.

Apr 30, 2014, 4:48pm Permalink
Jason Post

Incorrect. 26 grams of sugar is an EIGHT ounce can. A 12 ounce bottle is a yet more impressive 39 grams. Halved to match the yogurt, we arrive at 18.5 grams of Sugar. The coke has 3.5 grams more sugar.

And while 'Regular' greek yogurt may have be a significant source of milk fat, every brand of Greek Yogurt I find on the supermarket shelf are made with Skim or 2%, which has far less fat. The 2% Milk Greek Yogurt from Chobani comes in at a scant 3 grams of Fat, of which 2 are Saturated. The Skim Greek Yogurt has 0 milk fat, and thus 0 grams of Fat.

Apr 30, 2014, 7:56pm Permalink

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