Yogurt Voted America’s Favorite Food to Buy, Forget, and Toss
- Moe Dairyman
- Jan 30
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 30
By Moe Dairyman
In a landslide victory, yogurt has been officially crowned America’s favorite food to purchase with the best of intentions, store in the fridge for an extended period, and then guiltily throw away weeks (or months) later.
The National Institute of Refrigerated Regrets (NIRR) released its annual report this week, confirming that yogurt leads all other food groups in what experts call “aspirational grocery shopping.” Studies show that millions of Americans purchase yogurt under the assumption that they will eat it for breakfast, incorporate it into smoothies, or enjoy it as a healthy snack. However, statistics indicate that more than 70% of yogurt containers meet their fate in the trash, often after a brief but intense staring contest with their owner over the expiration date.
“I always think, ‘This time will be different,’” said local shopper Lisa Cartwright. “But then life happens, and suddenly I’m discovering a long-forgotten Greek yogurt in the back of the fridge that’s now developing its own culture.”
Other top contenders in the survey included pre-washed salad mixes, avocados, and hummus, all of which tend to follow the same tragic trajectory from hopeful purchase to eventual disposal. However, yogurt remains the undisputed champion, with an uncanny ability to linger just long enough to make consumers question whether they should risk eating it or simply cut their losses.
Meanwhile, dairy industry representatives remain unbothered by the findings. “As long as people keep buying it, we’re happy,” said one spokesperson for Big Yogurt. “What they do with it after that is their business.”
Experts suggest that consumers could reduce waste by setting reminders to eat their yogurt, buying only what they realistically consume, or simply accepting that this cycle will continue forever.
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