Independent consumer organization - Slovenian Consumers’ Association - has conducted a study of 12 probiotic dairy products. The purpose of the study was to establish whether the products contain probiotic bacteria types as stated in the declaration, as well as the number of the bacteria. The study was conducted by internationally accepted methodology for consumers’ organizations, and probiotic yoghurt Ego produced in Ljubljanske mlekarne was given a grade "good 4.2", which puts it on the top of the scale among probiotic dairy products.

Probiotic natural yoghurt Ego, made of pasteurized milk with a 1.3 fat content, was declared as one of the probiotic yoghurts of highest quality. This was a study conducted without any previous announcement, thus the producers did not know about it in advance. Tested products were collected from the shelves in stores. Slovenian Consumers’ Association evaluated the declaration, number of yeasts and molds, number of probiotic bacteria in the product and conducted sensory assessment of the product. According to the criteria of the evaluation, Ego was given the highest combined grade "good 4.2" (the theoretical top grade is "very good 5.5"), while the product with the lowest grade in the study was given the grade "average 3.0".

The best sensory character between 12 evaluated products
Under laboratorial conditions a team of experts has been assessing the visual appearance and the colour of products, their consistency, smell and taste. The highest grade was given to Ego because of its clear sensory character. Ego was the only product with the top grade "very good 5.5" in this category.
 
The condition for the top grade in the test was, as set by Slovenian Consumers’ Association on the basis of scientific literature and recommendations on daily quantity of consumed probiotic bacteria, that the product contains at least 106 cfu/g (colony forming units per gram). Probiotic yoghurt Ego met the requirements in this area as well and was given grade "good 3.7".
Ego contains sufficient quantity of probiotic microorganisms from genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are a natural part of human gastrointestinal flora and play a role in creating and maintaining the balance of gastrointestinal micro flora. This helps us improve our health, since modern way of life, antibiotics, pathogen microorganisms and viruses that are introduced to our body, often influence the balance of the gastrointestinal micro flora.

Grade "good 3.7" was given for the declaration as well. However Slovene Consumers’ Association leaves some space for improvement to all of the products which were part of the study.
 
Ego with the "VIP TEST" sign
Slovene Consumers’ Association followed the example of other larger consumers’ associations and introduced the "VIP TEST" sign. This sign serves as a label for the products that were a part of comparative quality tests. Such labeling helps customers in their decisions and offers them objective information about the product\'s quality in a simple way. Since Ljubljanske mlekarne wants to help to its customers as well, they will include the "VIP TEST" sing in all of their communication materials on the natural yoghurt Ego.