Is it safe to buy yogurt in plastic cups for kids?
Use caution if single-serve plastic yogurt cups are a daily habit. Larger tubs or glass jars reduce packaging contact per serving.
What's actually in it
Many single-serve yogurt cups are plastic. Some dairy cups use polystyrene, and the yogurt may sit in that cup until the best-before date.
Kids can eat yogurt often, so the pattern matters more than one cup.
What the research says
A 2022 Foods study tested yogurt and other dairy products packed in polystyrene. Styrene in refrigerated yogurt and cream samples ranged from 5 to 30 ug/kg by the best-before date.
A 2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials total diet study found plasticizers in 85% of analyzed food samples and found packaging type affected some plasticizer levels.
Practical takeaway: use single-serve cups as convenience food, not the default. When it fits your routine, buy yogurt in glass jars or a larger tub and serve it in a porcelain or ceramic bowl.
For kids, plain yogurt with fruit in a bowl also lets you skip extra sugar and extra packaging.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
For kids at home, serve yogurt in a porcelain or ceramic bowl instead of relying on single-serve plastic cups every day.
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