What is Bifidus Regularis / Actiregularis / Digestivum / Activo / Essensis?

Anyone want to make your own culture, check this link or isntructions below

http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology-technology/Bifidobacterium-animalis-540-1/

Multiporator / Electroporator 2510 Transformation Protocol Protocol No. 4308 915.538 04/2002 Microorganism bifidobacterium animalis Cell type Bacteria, gram positive Molecules injected Plasmid DNA Growth medium MRS broth with 0.05% cysteine.HCl and 0.5 M sucrose (final concentrations) Washing solution 0.5 M sucrose Electroporation solution 0.5 M sucrose, 1 mM ammonium citrate, pH 6 Outgrowth medium MRS broth with 0.05% cysteine.HCl and 0.5 M sucrose (final concentrations) Cuvette 1 mm gap width Reference Argnani, A. et al 1996 Microbiology 142 109-114 Making electrocompetent cells:

1. Cultivate cells by using an overnight culture to inoculate fresh medium. Grow cells overnight at 37 C. Dilute this culture 1:25 in fresh medium and cultivate at 37 C until an O.D.695 of 0.2. Chill bacteria on ice. 2. Harvest by centrifugation. 3. Wash twice with 0.5 M sucrose 4. Resuspend in about 1/250 of the original culture volume

Jamie Ross | June 18th, 2009

This heavy handed way of dealing with a clear case of false advertising is typical these days where big business has more money than the people who take offence to this and cannot fight them. An example of this is how Danone can take a website away from someone without compensation. I have searched many sites about this Activia claim and all have basically said that what Danone is claiming as a unique product is in fact found in virtually every yoghurt on the market. So it does not matter which you eat.

One only has to watch some of the makeup and facial cream advertisements to see more exqamples of fictitious, scientific and impressive sounding names that actually do not mean a damn. problem is, who out there has money to take these people to court for false and misleading advertising.

Jamie Ross | June 18th, 2009

i have been having digestive problems (slow to no movment) for quit some time (year to year and ahalf) i’m approx. 5 days into eating dannon’s active yogart and has had more movement in the last 2 days than i have had in quit some time . I would just like to say THANK GOD.

j stone | June 13th, 2009

The first time I saw the Dannon commercials, I KNEW they made the names up!

Perhaps they should change the bacterial name to Bifidus Dannonitis!

burgerbytes | May 23rd, 2009

I live in Asia, and will be returning at the end of July. Is there any way I could get some kind of yogurt starter granules that mimics what the bacteria in Activa are supposed to do?

Bob Wetmore | May 18th, 2009

My daughter and I have to laugh every time we see a Dannon ad that talks about “Bifidus Regularis”. Oh my gosh. Yogurt can make you regular. Wow. Who know? Their “made up word” is amusing. Oh by the way, there are other yogurts on the market that have better quality ingrediants and more natural that are healthlier for you than Dannon. Horizon is organic and High Mountain has a higher more natural source of “good” bacteria as a culture.

Sharon Black | May 4th, 2009

I dont rely on tv ads to purchase something but I tried it since i have digestive problems and I am lactose intolerant yet when i eat this up to 3 times a day i noticed i go about once a day. THis may sound gross but they are easy to pass and a healthy color. The thing is in this day and age you can find nasty reviews and glowing reviews on anything on the market. Wether they are disgruntled workers, someone looking for something for free in this day in age or somewhere in between. It really does not matter. If it works yeah, if it doesnt dont buy it again. It is the same with someone who recommends a restaurant and you think it is awful. You know what they say “Everyone has an opionion and it stinks” (That is the polite version)!

Kristine | April 21st, 2009

basta, basta con la pubblicità ingannevole e stucchevole, he si inventa perfino il nome dei bacteri e che fa colpo su noi donne. ribelliamoci e smettiamo di comprare le cose propagandate. ci siamo già dimenticate del CACAO MERAVIGLIAO?

delia | March 22nd, 2009

I’ve been taking activia for about a week now. The first few days I became incredibly ill starting off with increasingly awful stomach pains that resulted to 14 hour ‘naps’. I normally don’t sleep for longer than 8 hours so this was extremely abnormal. Now at one week in I get minor stomach cramps and some times have bad experiences on the toliet. I guess i’ll try it for another week or two and see if anything gets better.

Brian | February 10th, 2009

As a colon therapist for over 25 years, I’ve recently been hunting for multi-bug probiotics to help a patient with Crohn’s. Looking also for a source of B infantis, which isn’t a made up term, either in a capsule or in a yogurt starter. Found Align, which has made up their own word for infantis, and Eugalan Forte, which are both fairly expensive but which I’ll try adding to my yogurt culture, since most yogurt starters only contain 3 or 4, rarely 5 strains.. For my easy yogurt method, visit http://www.quackcenter.com/yogurt.html.

I truly appreciate your exposing Dannon’s blatant introduction of non-words to turn a buck, how despicable, especially since there are already 1000 known strains of the friendly flora so who for God’s sake needs to add more silly names.

Wearing my professional hat I add that if a person is in trouble in the gut, it will take a lot more than a few ounces of yogurt for two weeks to set them right.

Keep up the good work.

Nancy Adams, LMT, LCT | January 28th, 2009

i love all the comments on here that are obviously by dannon haha
“susan” must get paid to post once a month?
“OMG dannon changed my life!! my BM’s are heaven and smell like rainbows!!”
come on dannon.. no one believed your BS Marketing and no one will believe these BS comments
ANY “LIVE” Yogurt will help your system

matt | January 25th, 2009

I clicked on an advert for Activia and was taken through to their website promoting the product, lured in by the ‘chance to win free membership to a gymnasium’. I wanted to know exactly what ‘Bifidus Actiregularis’ was and each time l clicked on an image that said ‘want to know exactly how Activia work’s?’ l was just taken around and around in circles, from pages asking me the same question but never actually giving me the answer!!!
‘Bifidus Actiregularis’ that doesn’t sound like a latin name to me, l thought! So, seems that l couldn’t get the answer from Activia’s own website, l Googled the name and low and behold was given this website telling me all about the made up names used purely for marketing purposes! As l first suspected! It doesn’t take a genius to work that one out, but then there are a lot of gullible people out there keeping Danone rich in pocket. Im sure that there have been some people that have benefitted from this product, but l should suspect that the percentage rate is quite low.
I shall not be trying this product as l eat a healthy diet daily and personally don’t need it, l was just curious in seeing exactly what it was.
Exercise is good, going for a brisk walk after a meal is a good way to shift that bloated feeling. Acidophalis is a friendly bacteria that can be purchased from a health shop, this can be taken to help aid the digestive system especially when antibiotics and such like, have been taken and the friendly bacteria has been killed off. This is just my suggestion.

Eve Arnold | January 25th, 2009

I started Activia 10 days ago and I have noticed a HUGE difference in my bm. Prior to the last 10 days I suffered from cronic constipation. I had a bm every 5-7 days and was usually accomponied by stomach pains & cramping. I watch my fiber intake and getting the right amount does increase my bm to 2-3 days apart but the stomach pains & cramps are still there.
I don’t watch tv so I never saw the ads but I saw the package in the store with the money back guarantee, I was actually in the section buying yogurt for my kids and did not intend to get any for myself but I figured I would send in the rebate and get it for “free”. I have had one container each day for the last 10 days and on day 3 and every day since I have had a pain-free bm.
I did a seach on the “bifidis regualris” to try to find out what it is and why it’s helping me and I found this site. It makes sense to me that if this product is adding this type of bacteria to the body (whatever type that is) it will effect everyone differently. Those that lack the bacteria (Like me, probably) will benefit from it, those that have enough won’t notice a change and should search for a different solution their bm problem, and those that have too much may react adversly. Just my thoughts, I am thankful for the product and hope it stays around.

Amanda | January 14th, 2009

After reading many of the comments on Danone’ Activia it would seem that the majority are condemnatory of the product. This may be due mainly to the fact that most of those who are satisfied with it would have little reason to be looking at this website in any case. I began using Activia after hearing claims for probiotics in general, not because of any bowel problems I had been experiencing myself. I was simply interested to see what difference this particular, much advertised, one would make. I have been having 2-3 pots of Activia each day for several months now and have not experienced any of the detrimental effects described by many of the correspondents. My bm frequency has not changed and still miss the occasional daily one as I had done before. I simply enjoy the product as a tasty ‘after’ for the main course of the meal. It would be interesting to see the results of a properly organised scientific study which took into account all the variables (stomach and colon condition, diet, content of the probiotic product, etc) for those using probiotics on a regular basis. Incidentally, I am in my 81st year so perhaps my digestive tract has learned to take whatever I throw at it without complaining!

Nil Problema | November 21st, 2008

Well, really interesting stuff. Marketing is a pretty F-upped business but I ain’t gonna knock it, it takes a ton of effort and talent to pull the wool over people’s eyes. You have to know how how to manipulate the ignorant. And yes, I understand most the world thinks that Americans are somehow ‘dumber’ than the rest of the world but their idiosyncrasies are just as complex as the rest of the world. It’s enfuriating in a lot of ways but that may be one of reasons we have some of the greatest higher education in the world. Alas, I digress.

Dannon, yes, it is most certainly doing some questionable marketing, the kind of thing I commend you for being fervent against. They are sewing irrational thought and skirt the lines of what I think is moral.

I guess that’s my peace on this issue. I like all the marketing posts on this site, fairly hilarious. Oh, and I found this trying to find what Bifidus does to my poop. I love the internet. Good luck to you and please be kind to my E-Mail.

Collin | November 20th, 2008

Are you really going to use wikipedia for a source? Anybody can post a definition on wikipedia it isn’t regulated! you could at least use dictionary.com or go to the library! I was going to use this for a paper but now i cant because it dosn’t have trustworthy sources.

Celia | November 16th, 2008

The truth is that if you eat any yogurt it will somewhat help with digestion, however, do not substitute this with yuor Rx medication. All that Dannon did was find out what it was good for and marketed that way. The truth is that any yogurt will work. Don’t waste your money and these pricy names any generic type will do. Come on what is Bifus Regularis, Regularis really, does sound very scientific.

Maria D. Ruiz | November 13th, 2008

If you suffer from frequent cold sores, you may want to give Dan Active a try. It changed my life, and also the life of an acquaintance who was able to get off her antiviral medicine because of it. With no other dietary changes except for this, I went from having major cold sore outbreaks about four times a year to having pretty much none. To be exact, in three years I have had only one outbreak now. I do understand now that you can obtain this same strain of probiotic from other sources, and that’s fine with me. I will probably even switch myself when I can locate a source that’s healthier and cheaper. But I would be remiss if I did not publicly praise Dan Active for the remarkable change I experienced. And I do praise them every chance I get, because maybe my story will help someone else.

Susan | November 5th, 2008

i found this site after wondering about the ingredients. glad i did, the yougurt seems to have had any effect on me or my dodgy digestion, the links to the satiricle videos are well worth seeing, and the idea that people think adverts use real scientific names to sell products to the average joe is hillarious. you’ll be telling me next there really is such a thing as a pentopeptide. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

MeLen | October 24th, 2008

I don’t understand all the hoopla. It says it’s yogurt right on the container.

Angela | October 15th, 2008

I am not one to complain about most products, I typically just never buy them again. But Activia was differant. When a product causes me a day in the bathroom, I have to comment. I have a bm probably every 2 to 3 days and thought that was a bit too long, and that is why I tried it. I never expected it would regulate me with in one hour and leave me in stuck on the John. I hate deceptive advertising because it’s insulting to the consumer, but what I hate worse is a product which doesn’t tell you the possible side affects on the product itself. And because they haven’t done so I will never buy it again. I already know I can get the same stuff in pill form at the health store and it won’t cause me so much grief. Had I known I would have done that first, but I fell for the commercial and paid the price.

Susan | October 12th, 2008

I’m 56 years old and suffered from digestive problems all my life. I also don’t believe in corporate misuse of advertising. However after trying every product on the market, seeing specialists,and ordering probiotics on line, using Activa for one week, I too became regular. For all of you beating this product in the ground, ‘get a life’ and for those who have been helped, good for you. PS Anyone that thinks this entry is BS please leave your name and address and I will be happy to mail you a beautiful specimen of my morning BM.

Robert T | October 7th, 2008

This is the worst product in history! This should be removed fom the market! If anyone knows of a class lawsuit..PLEASE POST IT! Dannon actually called me after I left a comment on their website! GET THIS…..THEY OFFERED ME COUPONS……lolol… ARE YOU KIDDING…I WILL NEVER BUY THIS OR ANY DANNON PRODUCT AGAIN!!!! TAKE THIS ‘CRAP’ OFF THE MARKET!!

Anonymous | October 4th, 2008

I have had constipation problems my entire life. Fiber products(psylium)actually made the problem worse. Laxatives worked but who wants to be dependent on that! After trying many other natural time products that were suppose to help with constipation that didn’t work for me I tried Activia. After 4 days of eating 1 per day I started having bowel movements. I now have one almost every day. I know those that have never had chronic constipation do not understand how important being regular is or what a difference it makes in someone’s general well being. I don’t know why Activia works for me when everything else didn’t but it has. I’m greatful to finally not be using laxatives.

Lisa | October 3rd, 2008

I hate that they are allowed to make up words that, to most people, sound scientific. However, I have always realised that they were marketing words, purely to sell to the ill informed. Why do people buy this stuff? It adds very little, if at all to your digestive system. Things that work are better left alone; the body has it’s ways of keeping everything in order. They also supposedly have had it clinically proven, but I don’t see how they could claim this without having done a study. I wonder how few people they used, and how clinical their study was. Another point is that it HAS to be ‘enjoyed’ as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. In their clinical study, did they change the diets of these people? Surely that would have a marked effect on peoples’ digestive systems.

Nathan | September 27th, 2008

I’ve been drinking DanActive everyday for 9 days without any effects whatsoever, good or bad. I intend to continue and will report if I have any ill side effects.

Fonda | September 25th, 2008

What a load of assholes we have in our sad society if they buy products with Latin/scientific sounding names! SADDOS!!!!

Sel | September 18th, 2008

I’ve never had regular bm’s and would always feel bloated, sometimes to the point of actual constipation. When Activia came along, I thought I’d give it a try. I absolutely love this product. I have one every night. I never feel bloated and haven’t been constipated. I don’t have a bm every day, but I’m way more regular than I’ve ever been. It may not work for everybody, but it has made a difference in my life.

Lily | September 14th, 2008

I have a real issue with Activia, a week ago I ate one in the morning, within an hour I thought I was bloated, the most severe stomach ache I ever had (I think having children was easier)I could hardly sit, lay down, I was in so much pain I could not sleep that evening. The next day I went ahead and ate the 2nd activia, within an hour the same thing happened. If only I had checked this web site out before I ate it. It has been a week and my insides are still so tender and swollen that I feel I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. Maybe it has helped some but for me I feel just like the person who said she felt she was hit by a 2×4. The most interesting thing is when I phoned my complaint to the company they told me that no one else ever had any issues with their product.Don’t you all think that is interesting. So this morning I decided because I still am sick in my stomach I wanted to see if Bifidus R. made others sick. I thought maybe I was allergic to the B/R but come to find out I am not the only one who has had issues. Thank the good Lord that he sent me to see that I am not so crazy after all. Please, Please before you try anything advertised that says it works go to the internet and do some research and make sure you are protected. I wish I had.

So Sick | September 8th, 2008

It sounds like bifidusballoney to me. It’s a yoghurt just like all the rest.

KJ | September 6th, 2008

I’ve had been irregular all my life and after eating Activia for one week, I have seen a pattern in bm’s – explosive, watery and about 7-10 per day. I decided to look up Activia on the internet to see whether it is a laxative and after reading the blogs and research, I’ve decided there is something in Activia that reacts as a laxative for me. Too bad, cause it tastes good – but I’d rather take Citricel or Metamucil than deal with the runs and gas.

M. Libs | September 2nd, 2008

If you can’t handle a lot of extra fiber, look out for inulin in plain old yoghurt. It has become distressingly common. Activa seems to differ a bit from lot to lot, or it may have to do with storage. I used to buy big packs at Costco, where (when our local Costco was new, and not yet full of shoppers) the activa tended to be close to its expiration date, and caused no problems for me, though the friends I shared the ‘big pack’ with later told me they had dumped it because their toddler’s diapers were a terrible mess. Later I tried buying it from the supermarket near me, just because it’s very nice tasting, and of course I picked some that was nice and fresh, not near the expiration date. The digestive results ranged from rumbly (Activa along with other foods) to…a bit extreme (Two Activa for breakfast, no other food, plenty of liquid, long bike ride). I had to beg my way into a random bar’s bathroom to deal with it, and lost a pair of underwear to a dumpster. Not a nice experience. I suppose the answer is, believe the subtext of the adverts. If you are chronically constipated, this stuff will clean you out. If you have no such problem, it will clean you out even harder. (Well, duh, on further reflection.) Eat it with some white toast, not juice and fruit and fiber. I laughed at the complaint of BM smelling like crap (as opposed to, say roses?) but I also noticed a distinctive yellow color and intense smell. I will add that the smell it causes, when it makes troubles, is not entirely unlike a clostridium dificile infection, which is distinctively stenchy and very dangerous indeed… but unlikely to establish unless you are on strong antibiotics. I have no idea if a similar smell is a function of the Bifidus, or if they have sporadic contamination problems. If you are ‘irregular’ due to heavy antibiotic use, especially if you are immunosuppressed, some batches of Activa might be actively unhealthy. If you are fond of the stuff, and need the intentional laxative effects, one answer might be to have a healthy friend eat one from a large batch, and if they suffer no transient ill effects, then consider it safe. Again, this has been one of my favorites in terms of flavor (not too sweet, good ‘cultured’ taste) so I’m letting it go very regretfully. P.S. on douching with yoghurt–should be obvious, if you do it, it ought to be unsweetened yoghurt, or else you are feeding your vaginal yeast. If it works for you, it may do so by changing the pH (acidity) rather than the action of the cultures–you can try the experiment by using a killed-culture yoghurt one time, and a live culture yoghurt the next.

Joy | September 1st, 2008

Like others, I stumbled upon this site while researching the product Activia. I was not familiar with it other than commercials I paid no attention to. I was not having intestinal problems and had normal bms daily when I purchased this product, but was drawn to it by the new prune flavor. I love prunes but everyone knows what they can do to your system. So I thought perhaps the ‘flavor’ would satisfy. I was also bored with all the other flavors and brands so this seemed a good idea. After eating them two days in a row, I noticed a severe bloating – looked like I was pregnant and I felt like I would explode. My bms were normal so I didn’t know what was up. I thought ‘maybe the prunes’, so I switched back to regular yogurt. My stomach pain became so severe and I stopped having daily bms and started getting heartburn and nausea. I felt like someone had beaten my abdomen with a 2×4. Everything I ate made me nauseas. After three days I became concerned and was ready to call my doctor, but then I did explode and what came out was like buckets of filthy rainfilled river water. After doing this for three days I chalked it up to flu. Everything went back to normal and I began eating the activia again, but then I noticed my urine was extreme bright florescent yellow for a couple of days. My issues reduced to the bloating and watery stools but it was not so severe, mild enough to live with daily. I was still eating the activia including their other flavors just for s&g’s and suddenly I noticed a pattern with activia and my stomach issues. So I stopped eating it for about 3 weeks and went back to the ‘boring’ stuff. The tainted urine became clear again but the bowel issues were nagging me now with slight nausea, heartburn, and bloating. My stools returned to their daily pattern with no issues. A couple of days ago, I began craving the prune flavor again and decided to give activia another chance. Well, lo and behold my problems are back. I was up all night last night passing tons of watery stools. I had absolutely no warning this time other than being awakened in the middle of the night with an ‘uh-oh’ feeling. Incidentally, I am really pissed off because I LOVED the prune flavor yogurt so if anyone knows where I can get normal yogurt that tastes like prunes, please post it! I don’t want to end up like a junkie to this damn product! I will keep you posted.

Annieomynous | August 29th, 2008

Anyone with moderate intelligence should have realised that these Activia additives were made up to look like scientifically tested ingredients that would be ‘good for your health’. If you want regular bowel movements all you need to do (in most cases)is eat a regular diet including fruit and fibre from natural sources. There are millions of these Activia and similar yogurts and the like sold every day as a direct result of strong advertising which in most cases is designed to fool people into believing that these products are good for you.Maybe for some but for the vast majority they are just a waste of money.

Stevo | August 25th, 2008

I’ve seen and laughed at these made up names for quite a while, but I recently decided to buy some. I didn’t bank on such a large corporation selling a totally bunk product under the impression that it was something more effective than standard live yogurts. I bought it because I’ve been on antibiotics for over a week, and I didn’t want to let the harmful bacteria take root while the good guys were catching friendly fire. Anyway, I haven’t had any negative side effects, but the results haven’t really been positive either. The name is pretty hilarious though. I don’t care so much that they’re allowed to name it that, because it’s just a name. If you’re ignorant enough to think it’s a real name with major significance, you really deserve what’s coming to you; however, bold-faced lies about what products do aren’t acceptable in my book. Some very harsh penalties should be imposed for behavior like this.

Daniel | August 25th, 2008

I am drinking Yakult from Japan for the last two weeks after anti-biotics abuse for my sinus problem, which killed me from Dec 2007 – July 2008. I improved a lot, feeling energetic, my nasal blockages gone. Now I am adding Activa during breakfast and having bloating regularly. Now I have to stop with Yakult alone.

Shajith | August 21st, 2008

I’ve always thought the long words used in the Danone ads were bogus and made up. It’s amazing how gullible people are when they hear ’scientific’ names used as ingredients in food, etc. This type of advertising makes people not believe things about legitimate supplements etc.

Aloe Vera | August 20th, 2008

I CAME TO THIS SITE BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT I AM SUFFERING SIDE EFFECTS OF THE USE OF DANNON’S ACTIVIA. I BEGAN USING THE PRODUCT ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. SINCE USING THS PRODUCT, I HAVE HAD TWO BACERIAL INFECTIONS; LIKE NOTHING I HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE. I’VE BEEN UNDER THE DOCTOR’S CARE AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE ANTIBIOTICS. IT IS VERY DISTRUBING. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

AYANNA | August 12th, 2008

Debster – I had a cronic indigestion problem for years which I overcame by drinking 1.5 litres of water per day. Don’t actually need to eat any made up products by the likes of Danone.

Rose | August 12th, 2008

Guess I have a thing about trusting what I see/hear regarding why we need to buy something so, like others here, I looked up L. casei defensis. What a surprise to find all the info about yogurt (never mind the horrible Danone people)! If it tastes good or feels good or makes you sleep better, and doesn’t harm you, do it – but don’t stake a claim on an ad! That’s why we tape a lot of shows – so we can skip the commercials. I will eat yogurt for the taste, cherry is the best. I’ve never tried Danone and certainly won’t after reading all this. Many thanks.

L.C. | August 10th, 2008

Since ‘Bifidus Regularis’ is a patented lifeform, owned by Dannon, i would be very interested to know what they did to the bacterium to make it unique. How is it different from the bifidobacterium found in nature? Does anybody know? As a side note, i was recommended this product by a doctor, and i have found it to be beneficial. I’d still like to know what kind of bioengineering i’m consuming.

Marlow | August 7th, 2008

What a bunch of crybabies. Nothing is for everybody. Some of us are experiencing genuine relief from Activia and do not agree with your thoughts at all. For me, it has totally cured a chronic heartburn condition that even had me taking prescription medication longterm. I couldn’t see taking chemicals for life for what should be a naturally curable problem and sought out various alternative treatments. This one worked. Since the third day of eating one Activia yogurt, I have experienced complete heartburn relief, among other great improvements digestive system-wise. Some of you need to read up on doing a detox program rather than condemning something which is clearly indicating that you have other digestive problems. A lot of times, it is just a really clogged and nasty colon. Check with a good holistic practitioner for advice.

Debster | August 4th, 2008

Steph, I couldn’t have said it better my self ‘does not mean that Danon has not done something artificial to it to make it behave as a laxative.’ -Steph This is the only kind behavior that comes to mind when I see their commercial, with their silly name, and decide to go look up their patent. And then you find the reason the bacteria has been patented doesn’t really even relate to their advertising and seems under tested. I wouldn’t be surprised if these ‘new’ probiotic cultures are like biologically mutated. I haven’t and won’t try this stuff, the product and everything to do with it just seem too deceptive.

Girb | August 1st, 2008

As I understand Danone, they are claiming that you aren’t allowed to mention their products much less say that Activa is merely a live yougurt just like any other. At the same time they reserve the right to mislead the public, be economical with the truth, regarding what Activa actually is and to exaggerate / falsely claim what it does whencompared to any other live yoghurt. Typical money grubbing, litigious twats. Oh, and cAPS LOCK, people get worked up over fraudulent claims. Fleecing the gullible isn’t a new activity but that doesn’t make it alright.

pv | July 29th, 2008

Goo gracious some of you are fussbudgets. Like others I got here after googling the (obvious) silly made up name. I hink MOST marketing is cheap gloss. But I can’t get that worked up over it! All of you act like this is a new thing and terribly big deal. ‘Guinness is good for you’ might not be popular as AA meetings. For what it’s worth I did not buy the yogurt for health reasons, but when I noticed I was visiting the toilet more frequently it took a few days to discover why. The stuff does what it says – for me anyway. In the process of researching it I ran into you bunch of whining nannies.

cAPS LOCK | July 28th, 2008

I have been eatting Activa for a week and a half now. I was having alot of headaches, loose bms that smell like crap and cramps. I didnt know their was a lawsuit out on the produce, untill I looked up to see what Bifidus Regulais meant. I wanted to know if thats what was making me feel this way. Now I see, and im sick as hell to know thats what it is. I will never in my life eat Dannon Activia again. Thanks but know Thanks!!!! Im sick as hell and going to bed now!!

Meriel Caldwell | July 26th, 2008

I had one Activia yogurt when on holiday in the UK, before my full english breakfast. In the afternoon i felt bloated, sluggish and generally unwell. I put it down to eating too much, but when i got back and bought a pack of Activia. Both mornings i have had Activia for breakfast, i have felt all this pain again! So i deduce that this isnt full english – its the damn yogurt. I really do feel unwell and am going back to my Yeo Valley organic live yogurt!!!!!

AD | June 27th, 2008

After consuming massive doses of antibiotics, both orally and intraveinously, and two colen sugeries, over the last two years, I was so very constipated all the time, it was awful. I had tried everything, water, fiber, citracile, flaxseed oil, stool softners, excersise, Murilax . Three weeks ago I added Activia and Kashi cereal to my diet. I go everyday now, what a relief. I do have some gas, a minor problem compaired to the severe constipation.

Nana | June 23rd, 2008

GASTRIC BYPASS patinets look out! I had gastric bytpass a year ago. Though I would try Activa – since I only eat things that are good for me. Well that was 2 hrs ago and I have gone to the bathroom (pain, cramps, bloating, odor,) probably the worse loose stools I have ever had…every 10 minutes. I had this problem 2 days ago…it finally hit me to check the package of the yogurt..nothing about a laxative effect…thank god for the internet! I think gastric patients are more sensitive….or it is just me! NEVER again!

Anon | June 21st, 2008

I hope you keep fighting to keep this site up and running. My amusement at the name changed to irritation when I saw the marketing variations. I’m alarmed that so many people may be having adverse effects. Finally, I’m furious that Dannon would try to shut down this site. The have no legal basis for doing so, but they are just trying to run over you with a steamroller. I am going to try Activia – very carefully! If it works, I will use a culture to make my own. This will be my bit of protest over unethical and inhuman abuses of corporate power.

Millie | June 20th, 2008

Two weeks after drinking Danactive I contracted horrible upper GI tract pain, gas, bloating, bombastic bowel movements and could barely walk after two more weeks, I had fever and chills. I got an appointment to see my GP who referred me to a Doctor who specialized in the colon after a CT scan I was told the I had contracted Diverticulitis in my colon. I had bought two of these ‘power shots’ of the Danactive with L. casei Imunitass. After having a colonoscopy I was told that I had an ulcer in my large intestine the size of a slice of bologna and if I didn’t stop drinking this stuff it could cause it to rupture and cause sepsis in my body. six grand for a CT scan and a couple of hundred dollars for meds to cure what was ’supposed’ to make me healthier!

Marc Butzin | June 20th, 2008

I had my doubts about Activia, but after 3 days of eating it, i have had a BM everyday. Something is working…

Annie | June 14th, 2008

This seems objective and well balanced. Would you consider writing a paragraph in the Health Benefits section of the article on Bifidus animalis in Wikipedia? They are asking for more information and you could add something about that benfits and doubts about benefits. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifidobacterium_animalis)

Janet V-S | June 12th, 2008

Yeah, me too! I ate some of that Activa Bulemia stuff and, you guessed it I crapped a wad of who knows what! It smelled like an alien fart! Well I goes straight to the Doctor and had my rectal hemisphere surgically removed. Then I commenced to feelin’ better. Wake up Loosers, you been had, howbout you join the class action suit for numbnutz.

Albelievium Anythingus | June 11th, 2008

it is amazing to me that folks could blame activia for what appears to be everything under the sun…in this sue happy environment it is no small wonder that plaintiff attorneys are laughing all the way to the bank……I can’t begin to imagine that the person who ended up with a colostomy bag is seriously blaming the yogurt………..I couldn’t even read it all the way through………it’s like anything else…if it gives you a side effect…like broccoli can give you gas….do you now sue all the farmers who grow it????? Anyway…….some people just need to get a life…and a job

dm | June 8th, 2008

I have been eating Activia for three days now and for the last two days I have had several bouts of loose BM. In addition I have red spots all over my body and my inch iches severaly. I have done some other side effects research on this and it seems that I am not the only person that has had this reaction to yougurt. One lady ended up in the doctors office and had to take five different medications in order for the rash to go away!! Has this happened to anybody on this site?

Ana Maria | June 5th, 2008

Activa works fabulous. I have had such digestive problems from dieting and activia is just what I needed. I have one yogurt a day and every morning I go to the bathroom and feel great. I have no idea what you people are talking about but I think you may be eating too much of it or something else is doing it.

julie | June 2nd, 2008

As a rule I do not put things in my body that hav not gone through clinical trials. I brought a pack of four today. I WILL RETURN IT TO THE STORE. I am afraid that in a few years there will be a study conducted which will conclude that it is very bad for you. Thanks for posting your experiences.

willie | June 1st, 2008

I have eaten Activia for about three weeks now and started having severe gas,bloating,nausea and stomach pain,had an catscan of the stomach and it came back normal,turns out it was and is (since I ate some yesterday and last night and again this morning) the Activia is the enemy here.I will never eat it again or any of my family. These people should be sued and this stuff taken off the market.

Jerlivee Peyton | June 1st, 2008

I happened to catch an Activia advert here in London as I was getting ready to go out this morning. I mistakenly bought some activia yoghurt about 5/6 months ago just to try something different as I was doing my weekly grocery shopping. It tasted vile and we eventually just threw out the remaining yoghurts. What struck me this morning, having never really paid much attention to the adverts before, was hearing the name ‘Bifidus Activiregularis’ or something. The name sunk in about 2 seconds later and I found myself staring at the TV thinking ‘they can’t be serious can they!? What a load of rubbish.’ Its been interesting to see that there is a pending US lawsuit and other debates and criticisms out there about misleading advertising… talk about treating your customers like total suckers for the sake of sales!

Just adding to the debate | May 29th, 2008

JUST TAKE A SHIT ALREADY WINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

L.MAT | May 29th, 2008

As it has been said many times already on here, these products may work for one but not for another. I truly sympathize with everyone who has suffered at these company’s hands. I believe the serious problem here is in the advertising of these products : Clinical trials should be published IN FULL, NOT hidden away or simply never seen. The potential risks highlighted on packaging and advertisements. The use of (made-up) ’scientific’ terminology should be absolutely prohibited. This product claims medicinal benefits and should therefore be subject to the same scrutiny as pharmaceutical products. Advertising standards should shoulder the vast percentage of the blame here – Danone (or any other company) are just money-makers. They should be stopped before they have a chance to begin spouting bull****

Tom | May 26th, 2008

I have had 2 servings, one each day, and have felt queasy on and off, but it seems to be worsening. So I’m done with it.

Patricia | May 24th, 2008

BTW, did you also know that ‘gullible’ isn’t found in the dictionary?

Mandie | May 22nd, 2008

I like the taste, but it makes you feel queasy.

Mike | May 20th, 2008

Severe cramps from chest to stomach, bloating and stomach pain for 2 days..only ate Activa on Sunday morning at 6am and by 9am severe pains, which have eased off a bit today Monday evening and hopefully ends by tomorrow, should I throw the rest out..or take it to a lawyer for a class action?

steve lewis | May 19th, 2008

Your commercials are annoying! NO MY SISTER ARE STOOPIDD< IT MAYKS ME CRAP GUD LOLOLOLOLOL

Bifidus McRegularis | May 18th, 2008

I was at this restaurant in upper Windsor, England and I kept eating until I felt bloated beyond imagination. I kept eating and asked for more. Finally the waiter brought me one thin mint and I exploded. I guess I should have had Dannon for dessert instead.

Max Spinckter | May 11th, 2008

Dear Dannon, Bifidus Bologna!!!!!!

WendyColson | May 11th, 2008

Dannon is sellin baloney. Its Activa yogurts have so much other bad food junk in it. The 0 percent fat free Fage yogurts plain with two live bacteria – now that is healthy yogurt. This Dannon effort should be good governmetn controlled – good for Hungaray – and all ads, including poor Jamie Lee Curtis looking ill I don’t know what happened to her, should be revoked. The article here is good.

stop | May 10th, 2008

THANKFUL – is the only word I have for Dannon yogurt with Bifidus Regularis. For 24 years I’ve had nightly acid stomach when sleeping in bed. Distrusting medical doctors, drugs and surgery, I tried about 15 different natural cures. They all worked well. But nothing worked fully as well as Dannon’s yogurt. I would rate Dannon’s yogurt with Bifidus Regularis an ‘A+.’ Both my wife and I Thank You, Dannon! You are working for the public’s good.

Mark LaMoure | May 5th, 2008

I have regular BMs and no real digestive problems, but felt that Activia sounded healthy. First day I took it I was fine, second day I was hungry and took 2 containers for lunch. Bad Idea! In a few hours I started having chills, a fever and later horrible bloating and lower bowel cramping, but no real diarrhea. It was enough. I have never gone back to the Activia. The next day felt somewhat better and no longer any fever/chills, but still some bloating and cramping. The third day out I was back to normal. It’s not for everyone. I was scared that the good bacteria in my gut may have been affected permanently, but everything now seems back to normal.

Ginny C. | May 3rd, 2008

Sounds like someone has been watching too many Roadrunner cartoons & Buying too many ACME products

Anonymous | April 28th, 2008

I think Dannon need to say, ‘Eating bifidus regularies helps your poop-a-dare-us….’

Sam | April 27th, 2008

I am very familiar with the benefits of acidophilus…..so decided to try Activia. On day two I began to have those horrible cramps and nausea that many others have experienced. Like others, I thought since my stomach was bothering me, I should have another yogurt. I was just scraping my third container (in three days) clean while reading online about the bad effects that other people have experienced. That was about 6 weeks ago…..and guess what? I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS! My stomach is queasy every single day, with some cramping and discomfort. I have not had a day without diarrhea, and my stools are a dark green color no matter what I eat. I am very disturbed that this product is on the market without warnings of the possible bad side effects that MANY have had. BE CAREFUL!!!!!

Stephanie | April 27th, 2008

I have had problems with IBS for a few years, comes and goes.. I have always eaten yogurts before and never had problems. But every time now I noticed that when I eat a probiotic yogurt, like Olympia..even that one within a day gave me more gas, burping, extreme stomach pain, heartburn, and diarrhea. This was about four days ago, and still having mild gas. I will never touch probiotics again. Stick with pure natural yogurt! and add your own fruit. I am convinced now it is the Probiotics.

Raquel | April 23rd, 2008

Stonyfield Farm ORGANIC yogurt also contains the Bifidus culture, and NO artificial sweeteners and/or pesticides/hormones/chemicals….just all-natural organic yogurt with probiotics. Dannon is simply fooling their consumers…nearly all yogurts contain ‘good’ yeasts for your body..which is why they are called YOGURTS and not puddings!!!

Linda | April 21st, 2008

I am glad I found this page. I too have had serious stomach problems since starting DanActive. I thought I had some kind of female problem, even went to the OB for an exam – yuck! I’m glad it turned out that nothing was wrong down there but then I couldn’t imagine what else it could have been…until I thought, ‘wow, the pain did start after I started eating DanActive.’ I stopped eating it just a couple of days ago and am feeling MUCH better…not perfect yet but better. I am sure it was the DanActive now. I won’t touch the stuff again. Thanks for all the other notes. -E

Elissa | April 21st, 2008

Anyone realize Danones big claim to fame is they have added a LAXATIVE to yogurt?

bob kulesa | April 17th, 2008

I could not stand it when Jamie Lee Curtis said on a national TV commercial, Dannon Yoghurt had the ingredient ‘Bifidus Regularis’. I knew it was a made up substance. It sounds phony. I looked it up and sure enough I was right. It disgusts me when marketers try to make fools of the public. It is such an insult to our intelligence.

Krey | April 15th, 2008

Howus canus so-us manyus peopleus be-us wrong-us?

Logus Incredimus | April 14th, 2008

First of all I would like to say that I started eating Dannon yougurt as an extra because I was always regular. THIS IS THE WORST THING HUMANS INVENTED. I ate it for 4 days. Immed. after the first day, I felt a little gassy with a little cramping. I took it for 3 more days and I have to say that I have NEVER experienced such pain in my life. All across the bottom of my whole stomach. Severe pain and the feeling to go, and nothing! Not only that, when yopu do go, it is darker in some areas than normal. This is horrible. I started thinking that I had a bacterial infection or a SEVERE trac infection. Then I realized that this all started 4 days ago when I started the Dannon yogurt. God bless you if it worked, but God help us that it didnt becasue this pain is HORRIBLE…like nothing I have ever had before. If you are regular , STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT!!!!!!!!!! I stopped taking it and in 1 day I feel better, not completely normal yet, still a little pain, but MUCH better tha!

Tina | April 13th, 2008

I’m trying to get over a bout of diarroea (squits) and have stomach cramps and started looking into probiotics; it looks like some people find this is a good way to get what I already have! Screw that for a laugh, I’ve got a sore enough ringpiece as it is. Good bye and much love, Jim.

Rim Job | April 11th, 2008

I had been eating Activia for about two weeks when I began experiencing stomach cramping and expelling an unusual mucous-like substance when passing an incredible amount of gas. The only new food in my diet recently was the Activia. So here I am today, trying to research side effects that Activia may cause. I had no idea I was eating anything that could be so detrimental to my health!! I sit here with abdominal pain and a sensation of needing to have a bowel movement, not to mention the rectal discomfort and tenderness!!! Gee whiz, thanks alot Dannon!!!!!!!!

Cookie | April 6th, 2008

I want the manufacturers of this product to know that this product is totally disappointing to say the least. I would not recommend it to my friends.

Margaret Murray | April 5th, 2008

Warning! I began eating Activia on March 16, 2008 and, after a few hours, became extremely sick with uncontrollable belching, bloating, severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, weakness and nausea. I thought I was going to die! Thinking I had a stomach bug or the like, I kept eating Activia, thinking it would help the problem. However, the symptoms kept getting worse. I took Activia for 11 days and was still sick. On the twelfth day, for some reason it dawned on me to Google Activia and found the blogs on the adverse affects. I immediately stopped eating it and the next day I was almost back to normal with just a few gas pains remaining. In the next few days after that, I was completely normal again! If you eat Activia and experience these symptoms, please stop immediately! It only gets WORSE!

Andrea | April 3rd, 2008

NEVER AGAIN!!! ATE ACTIVIA FOR 3DAYS HAD SEVERE STOMACH PAINS, TOILET ALOT AND ENDED UP OF WORK SICK! NOT GOOD!!!!

Donna | April 2nd, 2008

I am a disabled arthritic with reactive arthritis. I have been on prednisone (20mg a day) for about 5 years now. I have a repressed immune system from the prednisone which I must take because my arthritis attacked me everywhere, not just in my joints. I have lost 60% of the macula in my right eye.As little as reducing my prednisone dosage to 15 mg a day results in the macula in both eyes flaring up with edemas. I’ve been told that I have a ’soft tissue’ arthritis. I am also HLB-B27 positive. That is a gene that indicates my skin type.For pain, I’ve been put on opiates because my kidneys and liver have sustained too much damage from NSAIDS.A big side effect of opiates is constipation – to get away from Metamucil everyday…I studied the package carefully; there is no warning on the package for persons with impaired immunity. I started Activia on Feb 4th and consumed one serving a day, as directed, until Feb 9th 2006. That evening I had a case of diarrhea that smelled worse than anything I ever smelled before. I couldn’t wait to get out of the bathroom! (Since then, I have learned that this smell is a known side effect.)The next morning, Feb 10th,, 5:30 AM, I had severe pain across the bottom of my abdomen. I was convinced I had a bladder infection.I called my primary physician, talked to his nurse who refused to give me antibiotics. Her words; ‘You need to go to the emergency room, you could have appendicitis. Up to that point (about 9:00 AM) I had NO INTENTION to go to a doctor, let alone a hospital! But the pain kept increasing.So I called my wife (11 AM) to come home and drive me. I knew I couldn’t drive myself; I was too nauseated and dizzy. She got home from work about 12:30. We made up our collective mind that we’d put up with the wait in the emergency room instead of the walk in clinic and we drove to St Vincent’s in Bridgeport. We didn’t leave right away; I’m still convinced it is a bladder infection. We left at about 1:30 pm. Because we drove, not taking an ambulance, we got placed in the waiting room instead of going straight into the Emergency Room. After about 20 minutes I told my wife to tell the reception desk that if I didn’t get a place to lie down in the next 5 minutes, I would have to lie down on the floor, and I meant it. Five minutes later (about 2:30pm) the intern is checking me over and they were taking my vitals. My temperature was 100, blood pressure 100/60. Pushing and poking, looking in every nook and cranny, the intern says ‘Mr. P, we really can’t see anything wrong with you. The nurse takes my blood pressure one more time: 60/30! BingoMy little room was invaded by 10 people. They started an IV. I am about passed out from the pain even though I am on an opiate patch for my arthritis. My temp went to 102 to 97 to 101 to 99. Blood pressure was as low as 50 / 20.They RAN me down to a CAT scan, called the Chief Surgeon, pumped me up with antibiotics and something to increase my blood pressure, inserted a catheter. As soon as the got my BP over 100, they RAN me to the operating room.I woke up at 1 AM with the last 8 inches of colon removed. The official diagnosis was diverticulitis. The doctors don’t believe that the yogurt did it. If you read the Activia web sites downloadable document for medical professional, it tells you that the lactic acid level increase by 29% and fecal matter flow increases by 100%. They were very clear to me that if my wife got me there 20 minutes later I would probably have been dead from the bacteremia. The stool had also leaked into my pericardium. One of the interns said to me that a large percentage of people they see with my condition arrive to the emergency room already dead.The Chief Surgeon tells my wife and daughter I’m in really bad shape and he can’t promise anything. They had to wait 5 hour of surgery to find out I was going to be ok. They had a big section of my intestines pulled out of me so that they could get to the bottom section.I wear a colostomy bag and will require 2 surgeries to be put back together again.I believe that this is happening to other people who have impaired immune systems and try Activia. I keep reading about people that have tried Activia having extreme nausea and dizziness. It makes me shake in memory of that day! (I woke up in the ICU at 1:00 am of Feb 11th to a nurse saying ‘Happy Birthday, we gave you a nice bag to wear!) Dannon has created a product that may be fine for the vast majority of people. I would NOT have tried it if there was a warning about problems in people who have impaired immune systems.Well, either I’m right and there will be a class action suit against Dannon, or I’m wrong and it was a coincidence. I really believe that my colon has a hole in it because I ate Activia yogurt. I really hate the fact that if I’m right I have to wait until other people lose their lives to be proved right. This is a case where I would get a hefty chunk of money if I’m right but very much hope I’m wrong because of the suffering being right would cause.If anyone else has gone through an ‘Adverse Event’,of any type, please post a comment or start a new blog. This blog site should become a repository of information regarding any problems people have with Activia. I will try to post as much information as I can. Make sure, if you have surgery like I did that they preserve the pieces taken out. My colon was about to be disposed of when I called and asked them to preserve it. Tomps: I sent that nurse flowers AND candy.

Tom Partridge | March 28th, 2008

I do not know too much about the probiotic health claims, but I do make my own yoghurt at home. I found that Activa is a great starter/innoculant to use; it makes a firm, quick setting yoghurt and the whey doesn’t separate. I highly reccomend it for these reasons. If there’s any health benefits, even better.

Gavin | March 24th, 2008

I have had serveral sinus infections and ear infections, due to the antibiotics I was taking it gave me colitis. Now when I take an antibiotic I eat activia to help put good bacteria back into my colon. I also eat activia as a snack sometimes, I have never felt better.

tray | March 24th, 2008

I’ve had IBS for many years, some times I don’t go for four days ar a time. I just took my first cup of Activa. I will get back to you after my first week of use.

Lilljo6 | March 21st, 2008

I have had many of the symptoms listed here, my gastroenterologist put me on a probiotic called Align with Bifantis, and I have had improvement. I have found the following tips very useful to manage a challenging gut and you have probably heard of many of them: use whole grain breads, very little raw vegetables – the roughage can exasperate some symptoms, increase fiber (very important – it balances and makes hard things soft and soft things firm), 1-2 Citrucel (or generic) with meals and a few Trisket wheat crackers after lunch or dinner (this also absorbs fat from the meal) Note that roughage and fiber are two different things. Use soy instead of milk products; reduce items that fill your stomach with air i.e. carbonated drinks (or let the beverage go flat before drinking), chewing gum, and straws. Let your stomach acids do their job – don’t drink a lot of liquids with meals to dilute the acid. Reduce fatty and spicy meals. Take a multi vitamin every other day with a meal. Get on a schedule i.e. get up earlier to evacuate your gut, eat around the same time every day, eat medium size portions, don’t graze on junk all day or night, or eat too late. Get enough sleep, exercise, and get a hobby. I know this one sounds weird – think loving thoughts and rub your tummy clockwise, this is where many people hold their stress and emotions, or resent their body for not acting right – and it reacts like a rebellious child. Look into some of the medications you are taking – many do not advertise that they cause GI problems – such as Alieve or synthroid. Good luck.

Ann | March 18th, 2008

I have all the sympteoms of I.B.S. but my dr. says I don’t have I.B.S.. I’ve tried everything out there, they work at first, then my body would get used to them, then I would have to look for something else. 2 weeks ago I had my first 8 pack of ACTIVA and the second day the systoms of I.B.S. had gone completly away. I am a 55 year old disabled man. Now I’m feeling like I was 15 year old kid. I’m sorry that it don’t work for everyone, its really a wonderful feeling to be normal again!

Robert | March 7th, 2008

I have constant diarrhea up 10 times per or more. I’ve been put on all kinds of medication to help or stop this, none have worked. I have used DanActive for one week & I cannot believe the results.

Donna Cowan | March 5th, 2008

Bifidus Regularis is a marketing ploy but, not much changed from its real name Bifidobacterium infantis 35624. How do you expect to sell yogurt or any other food product with bactirium in it’s name? You have to market your product and give it a catchy name. I think you guys are ignorant ones for recognizing good marketing. Also, If you have enough time to add your comment you have enough time to google Bifidus and probiotics read for your self that it is very real and has been used for many years. Do your research before you make remarks that make yourself look stupid and not the product you were aiming at. Think about that when you get sucked into buying your hyped up shampoo products or anything else for that matter. Give me a break with your hypicritical accusations just because you can’t take a few minutes to realize everything we buy today has a marketing stategy. It’s packeged to catch your eye. If it was’nt, everything would be generic wrapped in white with back letters.

Katy | March 3rd, 2008

Anyone know what is the difference in taking Activia and taking just pills (probiotics and acidofilus?) I think I have IBS, but I have been not really screaned, because: no insurance, no money, no time. I am trying Activia. I hope it make my life less miserable, or perhaps it will make me worse?

Bill | February 26th, 2008

Just to let you know, there is also a UK website http://www.danoneactivia.co.uk

Helen | February 22nd, 2008

Just started Activia today, I am a once a day BM person, usually about 20 minutes after my 1st morning coffee. I do not follow the 3 meals a day diet, so I don’t think once a day is abnormal for me. I generally eat no breakfast, a light lunch and a full meal at dinner. if I get hungry between I will snack on some empty carbs, usually corn chips. Lately though I have been having days where my stomach is painful even to the touch and when this occurs I spend the majority of the a.m. on the Can. I don’t have health insurance so I am hoping that it is something Proboitics can repair. I would rather try a Logical organic approach before pharmacology, the only thing worse then illegal drugs is legal drugs, and who can afford medical care in this country without insurance. 43 yr old white male 5′9′ 165lbs good general health regular excersize occasional stomach cramping and urgent painful BM’s I will Repost with my results in 4 days when I finish my 1st pack of activia Thanks

Jack G | February 15th, 2008

I have tried Activia and it works for me with no side effects except that my stomach feels numb sometimes after I have ‘released’. I love it and have recommended it to all of my friends. I have also noticed that I am not as ‘fluffy’ as before. I know that I have lost inches. I wonder if I keep eating this and lose more weight if I could get rich like Subway Jared……

Boss Lady | February 11th, 2008

Has anyone noticed darker stools since taking Activia?

Bill | February 10th, 2008

I don’t know why some people have bad reactions with Activia. I started using it daily starting spring 2007. I have had fibromyalgia for over 40 years and have battled irregularity. After taking Activia daily I became very regular. I felt relatively functional all summer to my amazement. Then in the fall I reduced the frequency of taking the product. I was confused as to why I was back to my old fibromyalgia symptoms. I tried to figure out what I had been doing last summer. After several experiments I finally realized that the Activia made the difference. I assume that because it made me regular that toxins were being eliminated. So I have started back on a daily serving of Activia.

Anita Roman | February 9th, 2008

For those who are concerned about the sugar content, there is an Activa Light that is sweetened with sucrolose. All those bad symptoms, that everybody is complaining about, can be caused by the sugar content not necessarilly the probiotics. Sugar is poison to the body in even the tiniest amounts. I just tried Activia a few days ago with no problems, but I use the Light as I don’t eat sugar. By the way, I also think that the phrase ‘bifidus regularus’ is a load of crap, made up to seperate the more ignorant from their money….i.e. a marketing ploy, simple as that. Whether it works or not….solely depends on the individual.

Kathy | February 8th, 2008

The negativity surrounding this product is not about whether or not it works. It clearly works for some people. The negativity is because of the intentionally misleading statements jam-packed into every advertisement and official company website from people like Dannon. It infuriates me that they can legally invent such loaded alternate names for bacteria and inject them so deep into society that quite likely a majority of people are used to hearing them. Irrelevant to whether the product works or not, they’re going over the line to get you to use it — because if you believe them, and/or if it ends up improving your digestive tract in any way, you’ll become a permanent customer. It’s actually a very similar sort of slavery that cigarette companies count on; the difference is Dannon has less suggestive imagery and zero government regulation of the methods by which it can advertise its product. The wording and imagery they use is as stealthy as Marlboro’s, so please don’t let them fool you into thinking that any yoghurt, but especially _their_ brands of yoghurt, are necessarily of any use to you other than a tasty snack. If you find yoghurt improves your body’s function, then by all means eat it regularly, but for your own good try a variety of brands and types.

Dennis | February 3rd, 2008

Thanks for the biology low-down on yogurt… People need to read the labels of things they put into their bodies… and understand them. Any high school graduate (with a computer) can figger it out. Start at McDonalds and work your way up. It never ceases to amaze me how colonically dysfunctional most people are. I can’t imagine living with a 3-4 day time span between bowel movements. If you have pain after eating cultured yogurt .. NO WONDER! Like my kitties you should go out and munch on the grasses…till you feel better. I go 3-4 times a day. Make sure the main ingredient in your yogurt is primarily cultured low fat milk. Say NO to high fructose corn syrup, anywhere. Or anything partially or otherwise hydrogenated. The less amount of ingredients the better. Cultured milk, honey, fruit.. everyday. No pain in digestion…gelatin is ok.. great for the hair and nails. If you get sick and feel the need to go to the doctor? Anti-biotics should be used only if your prognosis is a life or death situation…(such as bacterial pneumonia, staph, strep, or auto-immune deficiant persons). Be healthy people, take control of your inner-space….love~n~light…p

patty | February 1st, 2008

I had extensive surgery in ‘96 due to Crohn’s disease. I no longer have a terminal ileum and my stomach outlet has been bypassed. Without the sphincters of those areas it is a real challenge to maintain any type of regularity. I have tried a number of probiotics and while regular yogurt provides some benefit I notice a distinct improvment with Activia. I know it is marketed as helping motility but for me the effect is more one of calming things down and providing a more solid stool. If I discontinue using it my gut is much more easily knocked out of balance. It’s fairly expensive as yogurt goes but if you have a Costco nearby you can get a much better deal. I don’t expect it has the same effect on everyone but some of the vehement comments seem excessive. It works for me and I would recommend trying it as an alternative to medications which are certainly not in keeping with a natural balance.

Mark Schneider | January 28th, 2008

Strange, I had no problems using The Dannon Avtivia, I am 40 year of male, I was semi regular before I used it, Now I am Super Regular, so much so I think I clogged the toilet once or twice.. I get I am just one of the luck ones that this products works.

Richard | January 25th, 2008

About 4 months ago I tried Activia and it made me constipated and bloated. I thought it may have been something else I had eaten at the time but decided not to eat them anymore just in case. I returned to regular bm’s again and forgot all about it. Last weekend I went shopping and was looking for some yoghurts picked a pack of Activia up and guess what, I am constipated and very bloated again! It has to be the Activia as it is the only thing different that I have had compared to normal over the course of the last few months. My advice is IF YOU ARE REGULAR DON’T EAT ACTIVIA.

Mandy | January 22nd, 2008

In Michel Pollan’s book ‘In Defense of Eating,’ he says, ‘Avoid food products that make health claims.’ He also suggests that the way that the food industry makes money is by further processing what we eat to make it more expensive. Yogurt is wonderful; you can make it yourself. Don’t be fooled into buying these expensive derivations.

Ann | January 20th, 2008

I’ve had terrible watery diareaha for three days, plus terrible pain and bloating. I imagine this product created what I didn’t have–illness. I had a c diff (neg) and culture (neg) done ($) at the hospital plus missed days of work ($). This product needs a ‘use at your own risk’ warning.

Theresa C | January 13th, 2008

I am one of those people that isn’t constipated, but wanted to do the right thing for my intestines. I have had about six containers of this product, and today, and yesterday, I have experienced horrible bloating, frequent bowl movements, and chronic cramping. As I type I am in horrible discomfort.The product is good for those who need it, but this is a lesson on ‘leave well enough alone…’ BTW, anyone else have this, and when will this Stop…

Mary Lewis | January 7th, 2008

Looked up the name bifidus regularis – what crap! 86′d mine.

J Carroll | January 3rd, 2008

I love Activa, and have been taking it every day and it makes me poop hella harder then before, and I can eat the college diet I usually eat and not get the runs all the time.

Sibe | December 27th, 2007

I have been using Activia for 2 weeks and cannot believe the difference it has made. I am now going to the bathroom once a day where before it was 3 or 4 days before a bow movement. I will eat it once a day. Thank You

Cynthia Dore | December 13th, 2007

What most here are forgetting is that all bodys react diferently to anything and evrything! Those who are having adverse affects need to stop using these types of products and consult a Dr. if they haven’t already. For those that it is working for, continue using it. It’s as simple as that! Anyone who thinks this is hype are obviously negative thinkers (including myself on most products, but not this one). This is coming from a guy who is very pesimistic about everything out there that are health related ‘remedies’. I have noticed, as I get older (38), that the body just doesn’t work the same way it did back when I was 20 and so far I have been drinking 1-2 probiotic yogurts a day and my digestive(regularity)system has been better than it has in the last year or so. All I can say is this, probiotics is not some miracle cure. It is something the body naturally needs and L’Casei diminishes as you get older due to our diets. If there is something out there that helps replace it, then it is good! No matter what though, we all need to monitor our diets, do our best to stay away from high fructose anything and try to go as organic as you can, it is without a doubt the wave of the future!

Jamie | December 6th, 2007

i started activa about 2 weeks ago and i love it! i have always had trouble with constipation on and off throughout my life and this product really works! i’m so glad it’s on the market!

angela37 | December 5th, 2007

Fructose syrup and sugar the 3rd and 4th ingredient—no wonder so many of you have had problems! Let’s reduce the sugar content and see if your customers get better results, all these people cannot be wrong.

linda | November 29th, 2007

I started this after being on antibiotics for 3 years. I had a breast lump and Dr. had to put drains in to relieve fluid after surgery. I ended up with a Staph infection, the one that has been talked about all over the news. Well the infection was so bad it ate right through my skin and caused me to lose my right breast with complications. Now several surgeries later, reconstruction and staph infection again, I am due for one more reconstructive surgery once more… I am free of staph but I started taking this because sometimes you just need to believe in something and want it enough that hey who knows if it is helping but I feel good and if it is just coincidence or fact, I am happy I got on this site because after all I have been through, I research it all, I haven’t seen anything bad so far…

alissa | November 29th, 2007

I started Activa a month ago. Like what Heather wrote, I experienced the exact reaction. Don’t get me wrong though, I really like the product. It has really helped me. I have IBS and when I eat one a day in the morning before breakfast it has really helped. I didn’t buy it because of the advertisement. I am going to continue eating one each day.

Christine | November 26th, 2007

I am with the nurse just below. After a bout with idiomatic pancreatitis I was having trouble getting back to my old self. After killing all the bacteria in my gut with liquid antibiotics(through my veins in the hospital) I had energy to do only light work with(4 weeks from hospitalization) until 11am each morning. When I started with just 2 Tablespoons of Activia a day I was able to work ALL day Every Day and have been so able ever since. SO, I am saying, right on Chanda, It is for those who need it. If you don’t need it of course it has no special effect, duh!

Kathy | November 21st, 2007

THINKS THIS IS A LOAD OF CRAP :] thanks for reading haha

LOTTE :D | November 13th, 2007

Okay here is the deal. Eating ‘live’ yogurt or probiotics can have a noticeable positive effect for people who have shortages of that certain strain of bacteria in their digestive system. The scam is that these ‘branded’ versions are no friggin’ different than any other yogurt containing live cultures. If you use them, and they help you, then great, just don’t be surprised if the cheap store brands of regular yogurt work just as well for a lot less money.

B | November 9th, 2007

Wow! I’m amazed at all of the negativity surrounding this product. Every single thing is not for every single person! How can Mr. Brooker claim that we are gullible in this society when there are so many people who have tried this product, including me, and have found it to have AMAZING benefits! I am a nurse who is very sceptical about a lot of things and I have to do hours upon hours of research on just about everything I consider trying, but this Activa yogurt is a blessing. At 31 years old, after having 6 children, the last two being twins, I found myself slightly stressed to say the least. Among other things, this caused severe constipation. I was taking Super dieters tea daily at one point just to have a so called ‘normal’ bm. Let me tell you people who are taking laxatives and struggling with constipation, TRY ACTIVA. I could care less about marketing stratigies and so-called false claims made by the company so long as once I try it, it works! I don’t even have to eat! one every day and I still find myself having a BM (bowel movement), after each meal, WHICH IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING PEOPLE!!! If you notice babies go in their diapers afer each meal because that is the intended action for our digestive systems that start at birth! It is not healthy to go only once a day if you are eating more than one time a day! I could go on and on about this subject but I’m going to close with this…If you have suffered with constipation like I have for months now, then give this a try. Yes, a small side effect is being gassy at times, but then again, a healthy digestive system will produce that kind of flatulence anyway! Do the research. Have a blessed day.

Chanda | November 8th, 2007

Sugar is bad. Probiotics are good – go to the healthfood store and pick up some high quality pills ( in the refrigerated section). I take 2 every night, more if I am having an issue and would never ever travel without them. If someone is having a reaction I dont think it is to the probiotics its to the sugar and other ingredients. I have had IBS and Ulcers, plus I have lots of food allergies – these have cured (or at least calmed) them all.

June | November 8th, 2007

I tried it and it’s the best thing I have ever done. No hype as far as I am concerned. I am a 55 yr old male in good health, with a slight indication of diverticulitis. This, along with the other healthy items in my diet (fruit, nuts, vegatables) has been great.

Big Ed | November 6th, 2007

Bifidious bull shit. It’s all in your head.

johnny come lately | November 4th, 2007

Try the following for best results:– early morning, empty stomach, drink 1tsp ghee (clarified butter) with 1/2 cup of hot water or tea. make a paste of 2tsp cumin seed powder, 2tsp corriander seed powder, 2tsp fennel seed powder, 20/25 rose flower pettals & 20 black current(munakka), mix in two glasses of water & drink morning & night each one glass will give great relief.

pramod | November 3rd, 2007

I’m a female of 45 yrs of age, and about 3 weeks ago I was feeling nauseated and had mayor cramping and dizziness. The doctor found out that I had a bacteria infection, so I was prescribed antibiotics for 10 days. Needless to say, that my poor intestine was bloated and hardened, and I wasn’t even constipated. So, I researched the best I could in the internet for a healthy diet: low acidic and high alkaline and started to implement my new acquired knowledge about dieting. And, I wanted to know more about how to restore health to my digestive tract, since I had taken medications regularly to control my acid reflux GERD and antibiotics for H Pylori. I found out that L Acidophilus is the best natural defense I could find aside from the medications of course. I am buying all the different products I can find in the market, trying to make a balance in what I am taking. I buy activia for my large intestine, the probiotic drinks, the smoothies and yogurt that provide the L acidophilus. I notice a change in each one in the acidity. I began taking one in the morning before breakfast and a different product during the day. So far, it’s the 2nd week and my bloating had dissapeared and my bowls had slowly returned to normal. I also, read that probiotics are goog for a healthy immune system. I am also trying the probiotics so I can get rid of rhinitis, allergies and the changes of hormone levels that I’m suffering with my age. I know I made a goog decision by changing my eating habits, and I’m going to include a probiotic drink or a yogurt everyday along with fruits, veggies and whole grain breads.

Doris | October 31st, 2007

I, too, experienced adverse symptoms in my lower GI tract of pain, distention, urgency without result. No more yogurt of any kind for me!

Faith | October 26th, 2007

So I tried Activia two weeks ago today just to see what all the hype was about. I’ve never been too regular and fell for the hype, I suppose. I only ate one, but ever since I have been bloated, gassy, and unable to have a regular bm without the help of laxatives. I’m wishing that I never tried it… and hoping that my system returns to normal soon. My intestines have never been in so much distress!

Mandy | October 25th, 2007

Pardon my French (and the double entendre), but Activia’s marketing is execrable cr*p in my opinion. Surely some marketing person was paid good money to invent the fake name for the company’s strain of Bifidobacterium…perhaps they should have put that money into their product. As far as L. casei product goes, the company just went totally overboard with totally unsubstantiated and misleading inferences. ‘Restoring natural balance’ might be marginally desirable, although that does not sound like a real medical claim; then why do the ads make the product seem like some new fountain of youth. The ‘70%’ of immune system in gut–really…by what measure? (Oh, wait a minute…that explains the thick lining that we would call our intestines.) What the company does not explain is that the acid byproducts might do harm than good in some customers, or that their product does not address any of the underlying causes. Why did this company choose to tarnish its respectable reputation and a perfectly acceptable product with over-hyped pseudo-scientific claims (more characteristic of snake oil salesmen and other charlatans)?

Pete | October 23rd, 2007

I tried Activia for the bloating issue that they advertised as I had been told several years ago that I have IBS. I was already regular, but still had some bloating and fullness issues. Well, only 2 days of the yogurt, eaten once daily and I was just a little TOO regular. That was Monday and Tuesday and today is Saturday, and I’m still experiencing an imbalance, I guess of the bacterial flora in the lower digestive tract. I, like Starry, couldn’t help but notice all the ’sugars’, which is the reason I stopped buying regular yogurt in the first place – many containing the high fructose corn syrup, which I don’t like to consume. I am extremely thankful for those of you that have been helped by this product, but the manufacturer, if not FDA [which is almost laughable at times], should be forewarned that at the very least, this product should carry more ‘detailed’ information for all and that their ads should do likewise.

Susan | October 13th, 2007

After just having a baby i have had stomache aches daily and thought this might help – this is my 3rd day – first had bad gas, currently having extreme diarrhea and today started having stomache cramps. I am going to try another couple of days but not sure if its worth it

Dee | October 12th, 2007

Activia has made a big difference for me. I have IBS which makes me feel bad physically. The yogurt has eased all symptoms such as bloating and irregularity. I hope it continues to work so well.

Dee | October 9th, 2007

I have moderate cramping as I am writing this, likely due to the Activia. My guess is that it works for those who are constipated – but if you are regular, like I am then it may not be a good idea. I started using Activia simply because I wanted to have some ‘good bacteria’ to help boost my immune system. I’ve used DanActive for about two years, sometimes drinking two at one time and had no negative effects, also though – no overt positive effects so I continued to use it as a treat or snack. The regular tastes great. So, I tried Activia thinking that it would be the same experience. There are definite side effects to Activia. I had one a day for three days and noticed nothing but some gas on the third day, and then I had two at once today (they taste really good) and that’s when the issues arose. Three hours later I had major cramping and diarrhea! Now I’m bloated and still cramping. I am glad that this product helps some people, but at the same token, Dannon probably needs to be fair to those who experience its negative side effects, as the comments on this web site evidences – there are quite a few of us. I bought yogurt to eat as a snack and to help my immune system – one thinks great they can feed their body and be healthy at the same time! Not yes – give me a food that is different for everyone and causes sick symptoms! They need to redo their campaign or at least tell people not to consume more than one a day – at least!!

Christina | October 8th, 2007

I tried the activia for the 14 days as recommeded.I wasn’t sure what I was using it for. I only know that the advertisment said it would regulate the digestive tract. I believe that I fall under that category as I have been experiencing a lot of gas and bloating the last year or so.I have tried Probiotics and I can honestly say I believe they helped MY symtoms. Well after the two weeks, I wasn’t sure if it helped me or not, until about three days after I stopped, the gas and bloating came back with vengence. I am again going to take it daily and see if it subsides and I will better be able to give a fairer judgement. As for me, I am happy with the results to date.

Marsha | October 8th, 2007

i just bought activa today and thought it would be good for regularity since i just finished a colon cleanse. i have eaten one so far and will return the unused portion to the store tomorrow after reading so many negatives on Activa. I’d rather be safe than sorry. God Bless.

poppy | October 7th, 2007

I ate Activia for two weeks straight. The gas is horrible and I can’t even leave the house! Yesterday I went to the bathroom six times. Not worth it to me anymore.

diane | October 3rd, 2007

I have always been constipated, and had become reliant on laxatives for 1, sometimes 2, BMs a week. Greens, bran, regular yoghurt don’t seem to help particularly. Two polyps in recent colonoscopy. Activia seems to produce daily BMs, and I have discontinued the laxatives. Wish BMs were unaccompanied by a little less gas, but I am otherwise unexpectedly pleased to have something that finally prods my GIT into some semblance of normality!

54 YO Female | October 1st, 2007

I started eating Activia rather than regular yogurt because I heard from coworkers of all the great effects. I ate one a day for 10 days. Everything fine while on it. As soon as I missed a day or two of eating Activia, I started experiencing back stomach cramps, intense nausea, bloating, gas, headaches, etc. Start again – one a day for a few days – and miss a day or two and I am back in pain. Almost sounds like a drug withdrawal. 13-year old stepdaughter having same experience, so it is not biology or age. From my experience, and reading the comments, it seems that either you have to be on it or never touch it. Doesn’t sound natural to me. We are going back to regular yogurt. Where is the FDA on this? More and more of these products are hitting the shelves and marketed as medical breakthroughs.

Heather | September 29th, 2007

Hey, if you have digestive distress, give this product a chance… it truly works for me. I have been eating Activia for four days now and I have not needed any stomach meds at all! No more acid reflux, gas, or bloating! May not be for everyone (maybe everyone doesn’t need it) but for those of us with a history of digestive maladies, eating yogurt is better than eating antacids and taking prescription drugs for relief!

Jan | September 26th, 2007

My 3 year old has very bad constipation eventhough she eats enough fiber and drinks enough water per day. The first week I had to give her Activia 3 times in the week to get her to go #2(yes, that is how bad her constipation was). Now it only takes half a yogurt to get her to go #2. I’m starting to wonder if there is either a laxative or stool softener in this product and not the ‘good bacteria’ which the company is touting as the helpful agent. Any comments on this??

ConcernedMom | September 23rd, 2007

Dannon keeps coming up with such stupid stuff. What companies do for a buck. They could at least come up with names that don’t sound completely juvenile… Imunitass???? Oh… I see… jumping on the Harry Potter success.

Ibelieveanthingstupidus | September 21st, 2007

I had Activia for breakfast for three weeks minus the weekends and i noticed that the first 3 or 4 days i had intensive gases, but that went away. I had problems with gases and since i started with Activia that problem went away which is all i hoped for, no miracles or somthing =). I’m 30 and been consuming cheese, yogurt and milk intensively all my life coz the doctors suggested they where good for bones as i have broken my arms 3 times when i was a child

jas | September 20th, 2007

I’ve generally always been pretty regular, but I’ve started eating Activia and now I’m having almost pure liquid bowel movements in addition to a more ‘normal’ movement. Looks like I’m not the only one who has suffered such symptoms… I thought it might just be a transitional thing, but perhaps not.

Erica | September 18th, 2007

I had an extended treatment with antibiotics. I was doing better with Activia, but my stomach hurt and I got a fever and diarrhea when I tried DanActive. I think I’m going to go back to plain ol’ yogurt and call it a day.

Annie | September 18th, 2007

I first had the prune yogurt they make while in Portugal. I thought it tasted great. Then When I came back to the states I bought the same stuff and it was horrible, they did not use the same ingredients. I know about probiotics, go to the health food store and get the live cultures in capsules works great Look for Kyo-Dophilus it has L.Acidophilus-B.Bifidum-B Longum 1.5 Billion live cells per capsule. Its free of preservatives, sugar, sodium, milk, yeast, soy, gluten, artificial colors and flavors. I had been in the hospital for 3 weeks with a serious intestional infection almost killed me. They cut out a foot of my colon and I came out in better shape, luckily they cut out my IBS too lol. But I had after 3 weeks of antibiotics a bad yeast infection through and thru… Dannon ‘claims’ it ‘can help’ does not mean Dannon will. My Kyo-Dophilus did the trick. http://www.kyolic.com

tybeejill | September 16th, 2007

First of all, I believe that Activia is simply marketing. It’s good, no doubt about it. Yogurt is good for you. Activia is yogurt. I have been eating an 8-ounce yogurt every day since the late 1980s. My current brand, ‘Great Value’, is made by our local milk bottling plant. They also make ‘Weight Watchers’ (according to their recipe, of course), as well as many other well-known brands. My yogurt contains the cultures: L Acidophilus and Bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium Longum, and S. Thermophilus. These are active cultures, similar to those placed into most yogurts. I don’t see the difference between Activia and other yogurts. I purchased eight 4-ounce Activia yogurts, ate one each day (instead of my regular yogurt). It tastes great, but I can tell no difference. For those who are getting all these horrible symptoms, like I simply don’t get it. It’s just yogurt. Are you allergic to milk? Have you been on a junk-food diet, and rarely eat anything healthy. If Activia makes you have a BM, well, give your body time to adjust to healthy food. People say: ‘loose bowels’. What does that mean? Does that mean having a BM without straining? People say: ‘I have regular BMs’. What does that mean? I have a sister who has BMs every four days, and her doctor tells her ‘That is normal for you’. Baloney!! I say that is a candidate for colon cancer. Sounds to me like her doctor’s brain has ‘cellsus loosus’. So, what does ‘regular BMs’ mean? I say we need some specificity and interpretation here, because a lot of those comments just don’t really mean much of anything, that you can really hang your hat on.

GKinOKC | September 16th, 2007

I’ve been on ACTIVIA for two weeks now and i love it. I haven’t had any pain’s or cramp’s.The releif is wonderful everyday instead of 3to5 day’s.GO DANNON!

trixiemc | September 13th, 2007

re: robert’s comment: ‘I don’t buy this stuff from Danon. Its a big corporation trying to make money. I eat yogurt and my brand is Brown Cow.’… from more than a decade in the natural food industry, i can assure you that even brown cow has a business plan and is likely watching the bottom line far more than your well-being. in fact, smaller producers are often less-regulated leading to more lax standards than folks like danon are held to.

healthfoodie | September 9th, 2007

‘Bifidus Regularis’ sounds like a bit of ‘equinus crappus’ but had to relate my experience. I started eating Activia daily for breakfast a little over a week ago. About a week ago I began experiencing nausea, slight dizziness and two or three times daily ‘bowelsus loosus.’ I thought I had picked up some sort of bug. Yesterday morning, after researching ‘bifidus regularis’ and learning that other folks have had similar experiences, I decided to discontinue using Activia for a while. My last consumption of Activia was early Friday morning, none on Saturday. By Saturday night I felt much better and today even better still. My ‘bowelsus loosus’ seem to be returning to ‘normalus.’ Coincidence or not? Not sure, but I replaced my yogurt today.

C.G. | September 9th, 2007

Tried Activia two weeks ago (one per day for one or two days) and developed chest pains and cramps by the next day, but did not make the connection. The following weekend I did the same routine, not expecting the symptoms to return, but they did and it took me several days to figure out the connection, during which time I was concerned that I might be having a heart attack. After searching the internet and finding hundreds of similar complaints I am much relieved and will never use Activia again. I will also try to get my wife and two young children to stop using it because of potential problems (they have had no problems and have used it for months). I am 54 years old and not a hypochondriac. Haven’t taken any sick time in over 5 years. I have regular bm’s and just ate the yogurt because it was handy. The pain was significant and lasted for days. This stuff is not safe.

Kurt | September 5th, 2007

C’mon naysayers! I’m pretty sure I saw this term in a Road Runner cartoon: Road Runner= Runnerus Rapidus Wile E. Coyote= Hungrius Maximus Dumbass consumer=Bifudus Regularis

Teresa | September 4th, 2007

The points presented here are on point. As a microbiologist I get irked at the naming of bacteria purely for marketing purposes. It is an attempt by parent companies and advertising agencies to give their products credibility by tossing around ’scientific’ sounding terms. For those of us in this field we see it for what it is, a weak attempt by unscientific people to sound educated in areas of which they have no knowledge.

Scott | September 4th, 2007

I would like to know who sponsors this website. it must be Danon affiliated. just because their special strain of bifidabacteria is based on naturally occuring bacteria, does not mean that Danon has not done something artificial to it to make it behave as a laxative. Further proof that the FDA is useless. This site is a joke.

Steph | September 4th, 2007

Who sponsors this website? Could only be a Danon company. Some of your comments are a bit suprising! Yes yogurt is good for you – yogurt drowning in sugar is not. Two of the first three ingredients in Activia are ‘fructose syrup’ and ’sugar’. And if they haven’t added a laxative, I couldn’t tell you what else their special strain of bifidabacterium is. What else could induce regularity without the consumers actually switching to a healthful diet? Another example of the poor excuse for a regulating agency that is the FDA.

Starry | September 4th, 2007

especially to On The Bog/13.8.07: I am so sorry you have had so many problems but you do not have to give up your HRT. If you can get natural HRT rather than manmade hormones, you will not have these problems. they contain no lactose. they are much easier to tolerate and are much more effective provided you have someone who knows how to prescribe them and monitor your hormones with regular testing. also, you do not have to use any particular yoghurt so long as it has ‘live culture’ in it. you can also take regular OTC acidophilus that can be obtained in any pharmacy (at least it can in the USA). I take it regularly but especially when I am on antibiotics at least four times a year for bronchitis. I also use fresh bananas for recurrent bowel problems along with the yoghurt, a great combination. good luck to you and I hope you are on the mend.

blizotte | August 30th, 2007

This is only my first week, but I seem, so far, to be having good regularity. Because I use Activia Light, the one problem that I have are with the added sugars or sugar substitutes like Sucralose. Sucralose doesn’t agree with me, like with many people, causing cramps and flatulence. It seems that Dannon could increase it’s base by including a plain Activia without added sugars or sugar substitutes.

Wally | August 28th, 2007

Regarding the post about gluten intolerance, the quoted rate looks very similar to currently accepted autism prevalence in highly industrialized nations. It is well known that autism and gluten intolerance are closely related. Because of this, parents should be aware that their children who may experience learning and/or social difficulties along with digestive distress, could benefit from further diagnosis for autism. Learning about autism as soon as possible is the best way to live with it. cureautismnow

James | August 21st, 2007

After reading all the comments, I’m so confused. A respected college president suggested Activia as a dietary supplement that will aid in digestion and expedite the passage of food in the digestive system with greater regularity. Sounded good to me. I tried Dannon Light/Activia, loved the taste, texture and small size. What’s more, I love the way it makes me feel – regular, more alive and with no side effects after two weeks. I will continue to monitor any possible side effects after reading with alarm many of the comments that appear on this page. I am a youthful 64 who works every day, eats a healthy diet, works out at the gym plus rejoys regular exercise and have lived with irregularity all of my life (lazy bowel). I have been blessed with no health issues, take no medications for anything. Nothing ever produced the normal regularity that I have enjoyed lately. Thank you Dannon!!!

Cindy Donaldson | August 20th, 2007

About 10 years ago I was diagosed lactose intolerant (age 48) I also had a colon polyp removed and have to have colonoscopies every 5 years as there is history of Colon cancer in the family. Previously my GP’s kept prescribing medication for IBS – great! Virtually all medication contains Lactose as a filler so continued use makes the symptoms worse – in my case bouts of diarrhoea at least twice a week ended up going 4 to 5 times a day when on medication. Specialist report after colonoscopy stated NO IBS NO Diverticulitis NO Carcinoma and NO inflamation of bowel. My problems thankfully would seem to be totally diet/stress related. I now eat only goats or sheeps milk/cheese products, and to help with the acid reflux I also have I avoid tomatoes, citrus fruit, chocolate,peppermints (previously ate lots of them to help with indigestion!!) and limit my alcohol intake. All of the above has evolved over last 9 – 10 years and now age 57 I am better but still not as healthy as I would like. I get fed up restricting my diet but its better than the alternative option. Why can’t the huge pharmecutical companies realise that Lactose is so intolerant and causes misery for millions of sufferers. I cant use any HRT products because they all contain Lactose. Most arthritis relief also contain Lactose. Actimel made my symptoms far worse. It was lovely to drink but I ended up on the toilet with diarrhoea far worse than before and bad pains. It must be great for those with constipation but does not suit everyone. Personally I think Danone should be fined huge amounts of money for ‘inventing’ so called scientific names like ‘digestivum’ and ‘Imunitass’ to make its products sound more professional. Incredible how they get away with it.

On The Bog-UK | August 13th, 2007

So many of you have been complaining about intestinal problems. You should check with your doctor or allergist for a blood test that would show an intolerance to gluten–wheat, barley, rye and oat products. Symptoms are the same, and 1 in 133 people have this and many are not dagnosed. The bloating, cramping, pain and diarrhea are symptoms and it is often misdiagnosed as IBS. Haven’t tried Activia yet, since it is recommended for constipation, not diarrhea.

JRose | August 7th, 2007

Bottom Line I love Dannon’s Activia…I’m 59 and work out at the gym a lot. It’s a wonderful refreshing snack that’s good for me! What an exciting product as an alternative to all that fiber!

Linda | August 3rd, 2007

I have IBS and my Dr reccommended Actimel. However, since taking it i’ve had extremely bad cramps, fever and the ‘runs’ when going to the toilet. could be coincedental, but gonna stop taking it for a bit

Sarah | August 2nd, 2007

I don’t buy this stuff from Danon. Its a big corporation trying to make money. I eat yogurt and my brand is Brown Cow. It is sweetened with fruit juice not sugar. All natural. My primary care doctor also suggested I eat yogurt and his comment to me was ‘I’m not talking about Yoplait or Danon, they are not yogurt’. Try Nancy’s natural plain yogurt. Its been around for years.

Robert / San Francisco | August 2nd, 2007

I want to comment on this submission ‘She (my doctor) wouldn’t take a stand on douching with yogurt Go figure. whereby the yogurt manages to affect bacterial balance in the vagina.’ Well my doctor did prescribe douching with yogart regularly to maintain a health balance in the vagina. I was suffering from bouts of a bacterial vaginal infection that smells fishy brought on by a number of things, for me it was stress and hormonal imbalance during pre-menopause. It works great!

Kelli | July 31st, 2007

I believe today is my 14th day and the reason I started to eat Activia is I have been addicted to laxatives for at least 25years. I am hoping that I will find that I will not have to take as many laxatives. I have not suffered any side effects. I have noticed that my belly has gone down (usually very bloated). I enjoy the flavor and it leaves you feeling full so I don’t crave junk food. So far so good.

T. Redmon | July 24th, 2007

The (TM) after the name on the label tells us it’s a commercially invented name for something That said: the benefits of eating yogurt with live active cultures of the usual sorts are well proven. However, they aren’t for everyone because, surprise surprise, everyone with constipation or irregularity or whatever other problem you have doesn’t have the same problem I’m mildly lactose intolerant, and eating yogurt before eating/drinking milk products helps me avoid the painful gas and bloating I used to get. As I learned from ‘Good Eats’ on FoodTV, the cultures in yogurt sort of ‘predigest’ the lactose my body doesn’t like. Cheese, especially the harder, more ’seasoned’ cheese (like cheddar) causes issues for some people and not others. Why? Because there’s byproducts to the aging process for cheeses – they are, after all, often cultured… which means something being grown in them to flavor them. Constipation can result from a lack of fiber, inadequate hydration/hard stools, a lack of muscle fiber tone in the colon, and, I’m certain, many other causes. Those different causes aren’t going to *all* be solved by one treatment. If you develop constipation as a result of eating yogurt, named cultures or not, clearly your problem can’t be solved by adjusting the balance of your gut bacteria. BTW I asked my doctor years ago about eating yogurt and vaginal yeast infections. She observed that she couldn’t think of any mechanism whereby the yogurt manages to affect bacterial balance in the vagina when it’s confined to the intestinal tract, unless of course, you douche with it. She wouldn’t take a stand on douching with yogurt Go figure. Moral of the story: believe nothing you see in an advertisement and check with your doctor if you’re having such horrible issues on such a long term basis. These could be symptoms of a variety of serious, as well as benign, intestinal problems. In my case, the urgent diarrhea shortly following meals heavy in cheese turned out not to have anything to do with lactose at all: it was my gall bladder malfunctioning. I’d eaten so much fat in the meal that my gall bladder simply couldn’t produce enough bile to digest it all. And sure enough, limiting fat intake over time has alleviated almost all of that problem. Without ‘bifidus regularis TM’ or ‘L casei immunitas TM’. Go figure.

Heather | July 18th, 2007

I have a medical condition that causes me to have a complete lack of urgency as far as bowel movements go. I have no sense of needing to go and no ability to ‘push’ anything out. Bulk fibers just built up pressure. Laxatives caused me to faint. I’ve had 6 surgeries directly related to prolapses and hernias from straining. The doctor put me on Zelnorm when it came out and it was like a miracle for me. I didn’t take it twice a day, just once every three days, and had a bowel movement within two hours. Now it has been taken off the market. I decided to start on Activia before my prescription ran out. After 5 days I started having a bowel movement everyday with no side effects. It has been less effective as time goes on, about two months now, and I am thinking about adding a couple extra a week. This product could have saved me worlds of pain if I had it years ago. As far as the naming conventions go, I always ate yogurt and it never helped my bowels, so I think this is a trade-marked (but stupid) name for a different strain of bacteria than is normally found in yogurt. I would be happy with less sugar, as others have mentioned. I just pray this doesn’t get taken off the market. Too those who are taking it on as a cause, mind your own business!! Some people can’t eat shell fish, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be in the supermarket. I think if you have a problem it helps. If your bowels are normal, leave them alone and stick to regular yogurt.

Ex-zelnorm user | July 11th, 2007

Most of the’friendly good bacteria’ in these adverts is just bullshit, dont fall for it. These adverts just target stupid middle aged women that think they are doing themselves a favour. They think we are stupid, but then again most of these people are.

notrub | February 19th, 2007

I was diagnosted with IBS, Acid reflux and I’m lactose intolerant. After going to an allergy specialist and finding out what was causing alot of my problems I changed my diet and changed to lactose free products. As long as I eat the right foods for me I can control the acid which causes the IBS. I have always been regular and hardly ever had constipation like some people with IBS. I have been eating activia for a little over two weeks and at the end of two weeks I started haveing the worst gas pains and bloating I’d ever had. You can experience severe pain with IBS, but this pain was much worse. I also experience a lot of diaherra and bloating. I was puzzled as to what was causing me these problems until I started researching the web. I was shocked to hear of so many other people experincing the same side effects as I was. Everyone’s system is different. My do not experience the same effects others do with IBS. Most people have constipation; I do not. I have diaherra and bad stomach pains. Just like taking activia. I helps some people and some if does not. Like the other people who have felt like me…the side effects are to painful to continue eating this. Best of luck to the ones it helps. I will continue eating regular yogart.

patticake from georgia | February 16th, 2007

The Brazilian site for the Activia product line: http://www.danone.com.br/activia/

Pedro | February 15th, 2007

I have suffered from IBS and other problems for over 10 years. The Activia has definitely improved bowel function for me. It does seem that when you stop using it the issues return. Advertising is in its nature always going to present the best case, not necessarily full disclosure. To think otherwise is naive at best.

Paul | February 14th, 2007

I have been eating the Dannon Activia and drinking their yogurt drink almost daily for the past few months. I have not experienced any of the dizziness, nausea, or stomach cramping (so far) that some people have apparenlty experienced after consuming this product. Nor have I noticed any unusual increase in diarrhea or yeast infections. I normally eat yorgurt anyway, I just switched to the Dannon Activia hoping it would help relieve the discomfort of bloating I have recently been experienceing. So far, it seems to have been very effective. That, however, was just one of my recent diet changes, so my result may just be a combination of all of the changes I have made recently. I have begun to pay more attention to product ingredients on packaging now, buying products with the least amount of artifical ingredients and eating more raw fruits and vegetables, opting for poultry, fish or seafood more often than red meat. I ditched the fast food, only consuming fast food once (or less) per month. I also switched back to whole grain bread instead of processsed wheat or flour. I now avoid using refined suguar or artifical sweeteners of any kind. If I use sugar at all, I use a natural, raw sugar. I also gave up all diet sodas because they all contain some type of an artificial sweetener. After consuming a diet soda of any kind, or a product that contained an artificial sweetener, I found that I would become horribly and uncomfortably bloated. I have to describe the feeling as that same kind of bloated feeling one gets after a big Thanksgiving dinner but without an ability to belch to relieve the pressure. I found that it didn’t matter which brand of soda I drank, all diet soda would cause this same effect. I went through all of the major brands of diet soda and tested each, trying all of the various types with different types of artificial sweetners. I allowed several days of non-consumption of soda in between each brand to return to a normal, non-bloated state. All had the same effect and it would take over 24 hours for the uncomfortablness of the bloating to go away after I quit consuming the soda. Regular soda did not seem to have the same bloating effect!, but switching to regular soda was not an option for me due to the hugh amount of sugar in regular soda. (A single can of regular soda has about 35 grams of sugar, twice the sugar in the Dannon yogurt).

feeling better these days | February 11th, 2007

I didn’t research this yogurt, but felt I’d give it a try as I know yogurt is good for you. Most I don’t find tasty and I cannot eat a lot of it. When I saw this on the shelves in the store, I thought I’d give it a try. I have never had constipation, and go regularly, however, I’ve always had a soft stool, so I thought this might help. Well after 2 days of bloating and gas pains and pooping my brains out, I think it was too much for me and not for my problem. I do think it would work wonders for those who are constipated. It tastes great. I’ll have to go on a quest for a good tasting yogurt that doesn’t kill me.

Carol | February 9th, 2007

Try Kefir by Lifeway… I’m doing research for a project- it’s much better stuff.

linds | February 7th, 2007

I’ve had softer bowel movements with more regularity since starting Activia, and it tastes good!

Carla | February 6th, 2007

The activa has worked for my daughter who has never been regular and always constipated since a small child. For my IBS with numerous diarrheal movements a day, digestive advantage for IBS works.

Michelle | February 3rd, 2007

I took a half a bottle one day and a second half bottle the second day one hour after the second half i got dizzy and the stomach pain was horrible i called the number after hours on the back of the box at the end of the message it said if this is a true medical emergency call this number dannon is aware there is a problem otherwise they would not say that at the end of there recorded message this is the type of recording you get when you reach a doctor after hours not a yougurt company this is some bad sh*t dont take it I litteraly feel like I might die take at your own risk hear call the number yourself after hours if you dont believe me 1877danactive

James Patrick | January 31st, 2007

After eating Activia for a few days, my 11-year-old daughter developed flu-like symptoms, including vomiting and fever. When she started feeling well enough to eat yogurt again, a week later, she ate two yogurts and then became very ill with vomiting and fever that evening. The symptoms she has experienced since then (in the last four days) have been facial swelling, very red cheeks, and a rash — all symptoms she has never experienced before — and also fever and diarreah. We went to the emergency room last night and she was diagnosed as having a flu virus. None of her school friends are sick like this, and since the Activia is the only change in her diet, and she ate it right before becoming ill, I am inclined to conclude that Activia is the cause. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar with their children. Thank you.

Seattle | January 29th, 2007

I’m 34 weeks pregnant and have a slight bladder infection and my doctor recommended I eat Activia. any thoughts on ths? will it cure a bladder infection? how many should I have a day? I’m thinking just one. Thanks.

Jenny | December 23rd, 2006

With a history of digestive discomfort, I gave Activia a try. I’m not normally very consistent with anything, but it worked pretty well. HOWEVER, after being diligent about eating my Activia daily (about 4-5 days in a row after a few weeks of about 2x/week), I had what felt like and looked like a yeast infection. Then I realized I had vaginal dryness and irritation on and off for the past few weeks as well. I have a theory(and I really do have a PhD in the sciences): because Activia contains bifidus regularis, NOT lactobacillus, which is the bacteria found in ‘regular’ yogurts and deemed to fight yeast infections / keep the vaginal flora happy. I’ve written to Dannon with no response. My educated guess is that the bifidus regularis disturbs vaginal flora (although it does improve digestion) and makes it easier for yeast infections to thrive. So ladies, watch out for these symptoms! I’d rather be constipated than have a yeast infection any day.

Elizabeth PhD | December 18th, 2006

I’ve tried Activia on two separate occations, and have experienced cramping and bloating after eating the stuff for a few days. It happened both times, so I’m just gonna stick to Danone’s regular yogurt.

Z | December 3rd, 2006

HOORAY for those it has helped. Keep seeking, and good luck to you, for those it hasn’t helped. I’m liking it! I think it’s helping. If the name bothers you–then I’ll bet there are a TON of other things that bother you too. Tough BMs!

Sedona Arizona opinion | November 25th, 2006

i tried this product for about one week and during that time i experienced flu like sypmtoms. i was lethargic, dizzy and fatigued. it did help as far as my bowel movements were concerned, but the bad far outweighed the good. i stopped eating it and won’t go back. needless to say i was very disappointed.

janie | November 24th, 2006

This stuff is awesome. When I was a teenager I was so constipated that I would only go about 3 times a month. We used to joke that the only reason I did go was because it had no place else to go but out. Over the years I have tried everything, fiber, high fiber veggies, hot coffee in the morning and then eventually laxatives. Vegetable laxative a coupld of times a week and massive doses of ga-ex type of chewables. Now with the Activia I am never constipated. Sometimes I’ll eat two in one day. I eat one first thing in the morning on a empty stomach and YAHOO…!!! I may go more than once a day. I eat one as a snack at night sometimes. Strawberry flavor over a sliced banana…very tasty. I am just glad you stopped that commercial with those dirty looking colleg women. The one who recommends it to her friend looks miserable and looks like she is horribly constipated (actually I am being quite nice as to what I think about that commercial). But I am just glad it is done with. At least have the person doing the recommending not look like she just bit a lemon.

Karen | November 16th, 2006

my mom recommended I try this for 2 weeks to see if it helped me. I’m desperate. I started yesterday 10-20-06. I don’t care what they call it as long as it works. If it works I’ll eat it every day. Cramps or not.

janet | October 21st, 2006

yea, right. This is a made up concoction by the yogurt industry.

joe blow | August 29th, 2006

i’ve been eating Activa for 3 days and the results are fantastic for me. due to blood pressure meds that i take everyday, i’ve had constipation, now i’m back to normal. we’ll see how the next 11 days go on the stuff. i’ve read everything from top to bottom and can’t find a problem with the naming convention. *shrugs* i’m with others, if you don’t have a problem with bm’s, don’t use it.

a nony mouse | August 10th, 2006

I have had problems for years; am supposed to be taking fiber suppliments because of diverticulosis. However, I can’t seem to digest and metabolize these suppliments. So, I thought I’d try Activia. I have had wonderful results. After years of having one or two very hard bowl movements a week I am now going daily without straining. I have not had any of the side effects mentioned by other people and am just grateful to have found a product that works. Of course it’s a made up name to hype a new product, but if it does the job who cares?

Eileen | August 10th, 2006

I had started eating the yogurt at the start of 2006. At first it was ok , but after a while i had stomah cramp . Gradually the cramps stopped but then i got uncontrollable bowel movements . I like the taste of the yogurt especially the straberry flavour, but have decided to give it a miss for a while.

Paul Dunn | July 24th, 2006

I have had irritable bowel syndrome for several years and fruits and veggies and whole grains just don’t solve the problem. I had grown used to just suffering stomach pain several times a month. This Dannon product, used every other day, works for me. (Daily was a little too effective.) However, since my problem involves a sluggish intestine, I can imagine that someone with normal digestion would easily develop diarrhea from it. For those doubting that the organism exists, check Wikipedia definition–Dannon apparently renamed a bacteria with a less appealing name, but it is real.

Jennifer | July 24th, 2006

All interesting information, and all anecdotal. It would be useful to know the sort of diet the people complaining of diarrhea, etc. were eating BEFORE they tried this product and if they changed anything in their diets AFTER they tried it. Did these folks typically eat other types of yogurt before using this product? Additionally, some of these symptoms sound psychosomatic. For instance, a sore throat is NOT a symptom of lactose intolerance, no food or bacteria causes intestinal bleeding, and there is no way on God’s green earth that eating anything is going to *cause* diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is an indication that the sufferer has diverticulosis – a weakening of areas of the colon tissue that takes a long time to develop; the consensus is that its cause is a lack of fiber in the diet.

ramona | July 21st, 2006

After four days taking Activia, I had severe diarrhea and cramping. Will not be taking this product again!

Nancy | July 18th, 2006

Like many of you, I bought my Dannon Actvivia with the hoping of regulating my bowels. And, like many of you, after eating it for a day, I began to experience abdominal discomfort (which has gone for three days now—each day that I ate one) and wondered if there was a connection between the yogurt and the discomfort. Well, looking at these comments, that does indeed appear to be the case. I’m willing to stick it out as the results for me have been amazing. I’m just hoping that this pain doesn’t go beyond a week or two. So, has anyone been able to eat through this pain and get past it? I’m just hoping that whatever has been causing my irregularity is being cleansed from system by this. So, if you kept going with the yogurt and fought through the pain, please post to let me know it’s possible as this really seems to be the first thing that has worked for me. By the way, for all of you bitching and moaning about the marketing ploy regarding the name that Dannon gave to the bacteria, who cares? The stuff works, no doubt, albeit with side effects. They could call this ‘Fartus Maximus’ for all I care as long as I take a dump every morning.

Chris | July 14th, 2006

I have IBS. I didn’t want to take Zelnorm as it interfered with another medication that I take. I started with Activia, eat one everyday and altho I feel something moving around in my tummy after eating it, I feel it helps to pass gas and it helps elimination. No bloating, no inability to poop…..almost a dream come true. Those people who do NOT have IBS really shouldn’t eat this. Why would you if you have normal BM’s? You don’t need this. Eat their regular yogurt instead. For those of us with IBS, it is like a Godsend.

Barbie | July 14th, 2006

BIFIDOBACTERIUM Bifidobacteria are normal inhabitants of the human and animal colon. Newborns, especially those that are breast-fed, are colonized with bifidobacteria within days after birth. Bifidobacteria were first isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants. The population of these bacteria in the colon appears to be relatively stable until advanced age when it appears to decline. The bifidobacteria population is influenced by a number of factors, including diet, antibiotics and stress. Bifidobacteria are gram-positive anaerobes. They are non-motile, non-spore forming and catalase-negative. They have various shapes, including short, curved rods, club-shaped rods and bifurcated Y-shaped rods. Their name is derived from the observation that they often exist in a Y-shaped or bifid form. The guanine and cytosine content of their DNA is between 54 mol% and 67mol%. They are saccharolytic organisms that produce acetic and lactic acids without generation of CO2, except during degradation of gluconate. They are also classified as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). To date, 30 species of bifidobacteria have been isolated. Bifidobacteria used as probiotics include Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium lactis. Specific strains of bifidobacteria used as probiotics include Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult, Bifidobacterium breve RO7O, Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12, Bifidobacterium longum RO23, Bifidobacterium bifidum RO71, Bifidobacterium infantis RO33, Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Bifidobacterium longum SBT-2928.

Barbie | July 14th, 2006

I HAVE BEEN EATING ACTIVIA FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS ALMOST EVERY DAY. I HAVEN’T NOTICED ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT I JUST READ, BUT I AM SURE I WILL PAY ATTENTION AS I EAT THE OTHER TWELVE. I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FOR YEARS, AND I DON’T REALLY THINK THIS PRODUCT WORKS FOR ME. I DRINK A SPECIAL TEA MOST NIGHTS AND THAT WORKS. I HAVE TRIED THE YOGURT ALONE, AND AM THINKING IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME. I HAVEN’T HAD ALL THE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS, BUT I WILL PAY CLOSE ATTENTION NOW. THE TEA THAT I HAVE DRANK FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS IS WHAT WORKS, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TIME IN THE MORNING FOR IT TO WORK, AND IT CAN OCCASIONALLY CAUSE CRAMPING

trish | July 11th, 2006

Wow! I can’t believe the range of results people are getting. Do you all remember when that ‘new’ chip came out that was cooked in a different type of cooking oil. I remember little about it except the horrible cramps and trips to the bathroom. What a nightmare! Most of my family did not have this affect so I simply stayed away from it. Easy enough. Why do others have such a problem grasping this? I do have a question for those that feel that ’slight cramping’ and immediately go off of it. Is it possible that your system is so messed up from all of the additives and junk we put into our systems that it is actually the product working to ‘clear’ things out? I do not think this product is right for everybody, but for people who have never been ‘regular’ it may take a bit of discomfort to ‘clean’ everything out at first. Just a thought. I have been using it for 7 days now and am feeling quite regular. There is no better feeling than that for someone with IBS.

thankfulsofar | July 11th, 2006

These negative people are idiots. If i had to guess i would say the majority of them are hypochondriacs. This is the best stuff i’ve ever tried. Way to go Dannon.

DG | July 7th, 2006

My thought as I read through the previous entries was this: perhaps some of the cramping that has been experienced has to do with the initial problem…IBS or basic constipation. The Activia is probably working through the constipation thus cramping occurring.

Sally | July 7th, 2006

I have had problems with bloating and constipation all of my life. I have tried everything out there natural or not and nothing worked until I tried Activia. If you read beyond the crap about special strains of bacteria and just try the product you’ll see. It works. Don’t let hysterical put you off trying the product. Some peope will always find fault with everything.

J. Christie | July 5th, 2006

I wanted to try this product so I’ve read what I could find before putting anything in my body that I could not define. There isn’t much reading to find. The reason I thought this would be safe, is because it was Dannon. However, a bacteria is nothing to play with, we have so many in our bodies now as it is. I’ve read so much on this page and decided that my body is used to the bacteria in the yogurt I currently make. Maybe we should all review and change our diets and possibly check out the the old fashioned enemas before trying to find a quick fix in a product that we know nothing about. Dannon may have created this but what about the stores that sell this bacteria-how long is it on the shelves. How was this bacteria created/discovered? There are so many unanswered questions and Dannon (being a huge corporation) should not be expected to find a quick fix for every body type and ailment. There should not be quick fixes. We should all eat better and exercise more! I am victim of wanting a quick fix too but this one leaves too many open questions.

Jan | July 4th, 2006

bloating…gone, constipation…almost gone. me…much more comfy. thanks bunches Dannon, keep up the good work. I could care less if you call it the purple pooping elephant bacteria, as long as it works i’m happy!

lisa | July 4th, 2006

Those of you who’ve had a yeast infection after trying Activia may be responding to the sugar. The label shows that second and third ingredients after milk are fructose syrup and sugar. Candidas (gyn yeast) reproduce rapidly in presence of sugar. That said, hope it works for me!

cj | June 30th, 2006

I’m very scared about taking differnet types of meds and stuff but I looked all over the label, website and there was nothing that said anything about side effects so I thought what the heck! I had been under allot of stress and been feeling bloated and stuff. Well Today was day 2 and day LAST. There seriously should be a warning label on this stuff. I took my first one last night right before dinner and everything was fine, well this morning for breakfast I ate my second at 6:30am and by 9am I had to leave work and come home. I got sweats, shakes, and felt like i had to go bad it was not even funny! Its not worth the side effects and the last 2 will be going in the TRASH!!

not happy | June 28th, 2006

I have eaten the product for two weeks now and have had good results. The dizziness, abd cramping and other side effects have never been a problem for me. I have regular bms and feel much better since I been on this product. Way to go Dannon!!

JP | June 22nd, 2006

I’ve suffered from ulcerative colitis for 1-1/2 years. Bleeding only subsided when I took large doses of Asacol prescription. I’ve been on Activa 3 weeks and feel cured, normal BM each morning. Stopped taking Asacol completely, and so far, so good. Occasionally, I felt nauseous within an hour of eating Activa, but not severe. Has anyone else had improvement of their ulcerative colitis with Activa? (I laughed at the name, too, when I saw it, but who cares if it works.)

Finally feeling normal | June 19th, 2006

I’ve been taking this product for a couple of months now. I’ve had problems for over 5 years now where I would only ‘go’ a small amount about once every 2 weeks! The first week on this yogurt was the worst. Horrible stomach cramping, sweating, chills, ect. But I think once your body gets used to it, most of the symptoms go away. The only symptom I get now is moderate stomach cramping and nausea right before I have to go. Once I’m cleaned out (and this product does a VERY good job of that) I feel great! I’m glad I found a more natural and great tasting way to feel better, and the occasional stomach cramp even though uncomfortable is better than how I felt after 2 weeks of not going!

2 months and ‘going’ | June 18th, 2006

I have always been constipated. About 15 years ago; a Dr. Told me I needed an operation to remove internal and external hemmoriods. Also the main reason I was not able to use the bathroom was because my spinicher muscle needed clipping; as it was not opening up; so I have had to actually remove my feces (if I wanted it to come out). The only time I don’t have to do this is when I have a severe case of diaherrah. I rely on Fleet enemas etc. I bought the yoghurt and have eaten 5 of them so far; nothing has happened! I can not say anything positive or negative about it yet. Some of these stories I have been reading are scary! Maybe it will work in a positive way for me; and a lot of others.

Linda | June 16th, 2006

I think I’ll try it. So far nobody has died from it yet! I wish it didn’t contain so much sugar, however. DanActive also was beneficial and used to come in ‘light’ but Dannon no longer offers that option. I am concerned about all the sugar intake from such a small portion, but it’s worth a shot. By the way, anyone here who is thought for a moment that there really was such a strain of bacteria needs to get a better education. Danon isn’t being dishonest, just smart. If you purchase something called Terminator, Schwarzanegger won’t show up at your door either. They took the bifidus strain and patented it. Is it different? Only your poop will know!

Nancy | June 14th, 2006

I got hives. Not sure if it is from the yourt or not. It is the only new product I have used so it is very possible. Dizzy, ep. Poop? No. It’s not bad tasting but if it is causing the hives, not orth it. I understand from the company that it stays in your system for up to 10 dsys.

Scratchin Away | June 14th, 2006

My friend Karen has been eating Activia for several months now, and she says it helps with her IBS. She has bouts with contipation and bloating all the time, and Activia has been helping her out tremendously. Personally, I’ve tried it, not every day. I’ve had a day or two where I felt a little nausea and dizziness, but I’m not convinced it was from Activia. Other than that, I’ve had no bad experiences. I don’t have any health problems or anything, so I’m eating the Activia as sort of a healthier choice type thing. I’ve read info about the many ways probiotics are beneficial to the body. I am, however, considering trying Stonyfield instead.

Julia | June 13th, 2006

I agree with Ruth that limited time has been spent progressing towards a cohesive acceptance of general delivery methods that should yield positive effects similar to the hightened sense of where most thoughts of several comments are stored and later become somewhat meaningful to the overpowering feeling of what some may call clever substitutes.

Strega Nona | June 8th, 2006

So what’s the difference between Activa and the regular organic yogurt I have been eating for years now?

what’s the difference? | June 6th, 2006

have severe IBS, all my life OMG. I have learned to accept it, not happy about it…Eat only soft food, avoid most veggies that are gassy, nuts, legumes, the list goes on forever. Tried the activia yogurt, didn’t consult my doc, seemed to make me feel like I had to constantly keep going, that was 2 months ago. Am now tryind it again, I do believe, and know for a fact, the bacteria in yogurt, and this yogurt helps. I have had every test their is to have, and so tired of the traditional doctors, am now seeing an IBS specialit who is traditional and also non traditional, I also have a lot of info from Engalnd, it’s amazing…. Watch what you eat, stress is a huge factor, don’t get depressed, learn to accept it. Heather von vorous has a great site, check it out…I personally stay away from herbal meds, they did not help me. Well good luck, stop complaining, give it your best shot, just started the yogurt 3 days ago, we shall see, if I feel any gas, bloating, or constant urge to go, I will stop it. I am used to pain, and bloat. Only stops when I keep to my bland diet, no red meat, legumes etc…..no white sugar, no imitation sugar, the worst…… IBS sufferers should all go to heaven, AMEN

steevynix | June 5th, 2006

I am a disabled arthritic with reactive .arthritis. I have been on prednisone (20mg a day) for about 5 years now. I have a repressed immune system from the prednisone, this is because my arthritis attacked me everywhere, not just in my joints. I have lost 60% of my right macula in my tight eye. For pain, I have been put on opiates because my kidneys and liver have sustained too much damage from NSAIDS. A big side effect of opiates is constipation. SO – to get away from Metamucil everyday… I studied the package carefully; there is no warning on the package for persons with impaired immunity. I started Activia on Feb 4th and ate one serving a day until Feb 9th 2006. That evening I had a case of diarrhea that smelled worse than anything I ever smelled before. I couldn’t wait to get out of the bathroom! (Since then, I have learned that this smell is a known side effect.) The next morning, Feb 10th,, 5:30 AM, I had severe pain across the bottom of my abdomen. I was convinced I had bladder infection, so I called my primary physician, talked to his nurse who refused to give me antibiotics. Her words; ‘ You need to go to the emergency room, you could have appendicitis.’ Up to that point (about 9:00 AM) I had NO INTENTION to go to a doctor, let alone a hospital! So I called my wife (11 AM) to come home and drive me. She got home from work about 12:30. We made up our collective mind that we’d put up with the wait in the emergency room instead of the walk in clinic and we drove to St Vincent’s in Bridgeport. We didn’t leave right away; we left at about 1:30 pm. Because we drove, not taking an ambulance, we got placed in the waiting room instead of going straight in. After about 20 minutes I told my wife to tell the reception desk that if I didn’t get a place to lie down in the next 5 minutes, I would have to lie down on the floor, and I meant it. SO… Five minutes later (about 2:30pm) the intern is checking me over and they were taking my vitals. Temp 100, BP 100/60. Pushing and poking, looking in every knook and cranny, the intern says ‘Mr. P, we really can’t see anything wrong with you.’ The nurse takes my blood pressure one more time: 60/30! Bingo My little room was invaded by 10 people. They started an IV. I am about passed out from the pain even though I am on an opiate patch for my arthritis. My temp went to 102 to 97 to 101 to 99. Blood pressure was as low as 50 / 20. They RAN me down to a cat scan, called the Chief Surgeon, pumped me up with antibiotics and something to increase my blood pressure, inserted a catheter. As soon as the got my BP over 100, they RAN me to the operating room. I woke up at 1 AM with the last 8 inches of colon removed. The official diagnosis was diverticulitis. The doctors don’t believe that the yogurt did it. If you read the web sites downloadable document for medical professional, it tells you that the lactic acid level increase by 29% and fecal matter flow increases by 100%. They were very clear to me that if my wife got me there 20 minutes later I would have been dead from the bacteremia. The stool had also leaked into my pericardium. One of the interns said to me that a large percentage of people they see with my condition arrive to the emergency room already dead. I wear a colostomy bag and will require 2 surgeries to be put back together again. I believe that this is happening to other people who have impaired immune systems and try Activia. The people that list extreme nausea and dizziness make me shake in memory of that day! (I woke up in the ICU at 1:00 am of Feb 11th to a nurse saying ‘happy Birthday, we gave you a nice bag to wear!’) Dannon has created a product that may be fine for the vast majority of people. I would NOT have tried it if there was a warning about problems in people who have impaired immune systems. Well, either I’m right and there will be a class action suit against Dannon, or I’m wrong and it was a coincidence. I really believe that my colon has a hole in it because I ate Acrivia yogurt. I really hate the fact that if I’m right I have to wait until other people lose their lives to be proved right. This is a case where I would get a hefty chunk of money if I’m right but very much hope I’m wrong because of the suffering being right would cause. If anyone else has gone through major surgery to the colon, please write me at tompart@gmail.com. ps: I sent flowers AND candy to the nurse who told me to go the the ER!

Tom | June 5th, 2006

I ate the acitva yogurt two consecutive days, skipped a day and had another serving. The fourth night after beginning the two-week suggested regimen, I was awakened with the most severe stomach cramps I have ever had. I had a bought of diarrhea and my throat was sore. Perhaps activa is not for me. I considered trying it again but do not want to experience that pain like that ever again.

rl | June 5th, 2006

Dizzy as hell and have almost passed out twice. 6 days in and stopping this crap, don’t know what in it works on digestive tract but awful side effects.

amanda rowland | May 31st, 2006

From a news story: ‘[Bifidus Regularis] is a proprietary strain,’ Michael Neuwirth, Dannon director of public relations in White Plains, said. ‘[Activia has] been successful in many countries, particularly Europe.’ There are billions of strains of healthy bacteria. Dannon specifically developed this one to aid folks with constipation. They gave it a simple name consumers could relate to. I say, more power to them. If it helps some consumers, fine. If it gives you the runs, stop eating it. Simple as that.

Widget | May 31st, 2006

all i really wish to share with you people that are as crazy as me……….haven`t had a regular bowel movement in months>>>>>>>>>>.. happy that the stuff is good for ya and all>>>>>>>>>>>.but i`m just excitcted about poopin……LOL keep up the good work Dannon

kathy | May 30th, 2006

Like many others, I found the first few days WAY too ‘productive.’ But then I found that skipping a day worked for me. I should note that I AM lactose-intolerant, but since the live cultures in yogurt convert the lactose into lactase (or something like that, LOL), I’ve always been able to handle yougurts, home-made or store-bought. A bonus: my elder dog, who suffers from chronic, undiagnosable, sometimes bloddy diarrhea, has improved dramatically by (1) switching to Pro-Plan [corn-free] Sensitive Stomach kibble, and licking out my Activia cup after I’m done. This every-other-day Activia regime seems to be working for both of us!

impressed | May 26th, 2006

I was diagnosed with IBS a few years ago – toilet visits were very frequent and I could pebbledash a house in a day Now three and a half weeks ago I gave up smoking but also started eating my partners Activia. Stomach is now settled and although I still get the urge to go (classic sign of IBS) but either nothing happend or its a pretty ’solid’ visit. Not going to change anything – still going to stop smoking and still going to keep eating the yogurt – I’ve been in agony for years so if these are the only two scarifices ……

Dom | May 25th, 2006

I tried Activia,a day ago. Simply stated I was taken in by the advertisments… However I have had irritable bowel problems for years, thus I figured, give it a try. I have had three polyps removed, and also had bowel surgery resulting in some resecction. So if this works I don’t care what they call it,or how they market this stuff. Well I too had nasty cramping, the rib cage pain, and something even more disturbing- my throat got very swollen, almost like an alergic reation. I have eaten yogurt since I was a child,and am totaly NOT Lactose intolerant. This seems very suspect that other folks have exhibited these same side effects. Almost tooo weird. I am going to notify the FDA. Something just isn’t right about this!

Bec | May 25th, 2006

I used to have a home yogurt making set and ate yogurt regularly (now I’ve switched to restaurants instead of home cooking). Yogurt is extremely cheap to make yourself, and no matter how trademarked a bacteria, it will reproduce the same. Why pay more for a smaller package with trademarked bacteria when you can raise your own at home? http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Cheese/yogurt_making/YOGURT2000.htm

Thomas Lareau | May 17th, 2006

well after reading this document on probiotics, it has made me realise that things are not what they are said to be sometimes. vscientific studies suggest that probiotics MAY play a major role in the digestive health and MAY also help to strengthen our defences. this implies that these probiotics do not just work for everyone but may work for some individuals. the names for the bacteria depend on the country it is being marketed to and MAY also change over time to emphasise different health claims for the products. well most names used for these different probiotics are not scientific but have been generated for marketing purposes. what i also understood about these marketing strategies is that they are targeted on young or middle aged womenas leading to better digestion and a flatter belly, so fancy names can be given to these products but do they really work or is it just a money making scheme.

Hazvi | May 17th, 2006

I keep getting yeast infections. Does Activia yogurt, or any yogurt cause yeast. help

Irene Dillard | May 16th, 2006

The Dannon web site AND their television ads clearly state that they DEVELOPED A NEW STRAIN of bifidus bacteria, which is why they are able to trademark the name. It survives the passage into the large intestine, which many beneficial bacteria do not. Those of you who are complaining about the ‘made up name’ are missing the point – it either helps you (as a lot of people on this site are claiming) or it doesn’t – in which case, don’t buy it again. Isn’t that what we all do with all the products we buy?

Buffy St. John | May 15th, 2006

My daughter took activa and it has been the only product to help her. Strangely enough she never eats yogurt nomally and I do. Just for the health aspect I decided to eat it and my little granddaughter as well. Neither one of us were sick before and we both developed immediate diarrhea and cramping. This the sickist I have felt in awhile and I still feel bad. I am not lactose intolerant as I eat a lot of dairy with no problem.

Dorothy | May 14th, 2006

Do you really think this is useful?

Nacho | May 11th, 2006

I started eating this yogurt for about a week and in the firt couple of days was having bm close to three times a day with cramping before now have not eaten it in two or three days since I am having severe stomach acid feels like a volcano in there and cramping and pressure under my rib cage and I a have no other changes in lifestyle or diet but the activia, I am searching for more info on this but the trial studies seem to be obsolete, I am miserable thinking I am going to start spewing acid everywhere, don’t know what to do about it, hurts all over

nicole r | May 9th, 2006

YOU ALL HAVE WAY TO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT A LITTLE STUPID YOGURT.

laughing@youALL | May 7th, 2006

I wonder if all those who have had problems with the product have been suffering from constipation for an extended time. It seems that those who have are getting the results they need. How about some word from those who are getting so sick; were you taking it for chronic constipation also? I take their Danactive product and found that I was no longer lactose intolorant, which I had been for 15 years. It also works for my husband who is lactose intolerant also. If I skip several days of the Danactive the intolerance returns. I just had my first dose of Activa and will be eternally grateful if it relieves the days on end that I can’t ‘go’.

Christine | May 4th, 2006

have suffered for about six months with terrible stomach aches and feeling bloated all the time. i have four children and each day was a real struggle – i was so lethargic and didn’t want to do anything. so after seeing the activia ads on tv i thought it was worth a try – i don’t even like yoghut! within 24 hours all symptons had gone! in the first week i cleaned my house from top to bottom, i have oodles of energy and feel amazing. the icing on the cake was when my friend said i had lost weight and my stomach looked flatter! she said she felt bloated too so she’s gonna try activia too. i’m only two weeks into my trial but i sure hope it lasts!

caron | April 30th, 2006

I don’t have any bowel problems, but It sounded like it was something good for you. I ate it 11:00 hrs ago and I’m still in pain and have starting to bleed. Where is the FDA or the News media to help. I use to eat regular dannon with no problem.

Madeline Kenneiy | April 29th, 2006

I bought Activa for my daughter who had just completed a round of anti-biotics that gave her diarrhea. She never ate it so I tried it and had extreme intestional cramping so I threw the rest of into the trash!!

Fran | April 27th, 2006

I have suffered for years with terrible tummy lower abdomin pains and very strange toilet habits ( uslly not going for upto a week) This is the best thing I have ever tried and I am staying on it. TUMMY IS FLATTER TOO!

Maria Wright | April 26th, 2006

After four days of eating this I have become extremely bloated, fatigued, and I’m suffering from diarrhea. No more Activa for me. I’ll just stick to regular yogurt!

Susan Ward | April 25th, 2006

I wish I had read up on Activa before I ate it. I just consumed one serving of it and I started to feel sick right away. My muscles began to cramp and I felt fatigued. I knew I may had a yeast infection but I thought yogurt provided a good bacteria. I am throwing away the rest of my Activa yogurt.

Jesse Barns | April 25th, 2006

I have had digestive problems for years with very irregular bowel movements sometimes only going one a week. Since I started eating activia yoghurts (one a day for 5 days)have gone every morning and one day I had bowel movements 3 times! What ever is in it, works for me.

Julia | April 23rd, 2006

ok i just ate some today…cus i was still full from breakfreast so i had it as a snack… and im feel like i didnt eat any thing…after 30 minutes from eating it…yay !! i hope nothing bad happens to me . i dotn plan to eat it every day or in the morning on an empty stomach cus im scared of YOUR side affects… so i hope ill be fine. JUST pray to God!!

lala | April 23rd, 2006

We have a profoundly autistic daughter, 21 years old now, who has had ‘huge poops’ for years. I don’t mean, just sometimes, but almost always. She rarely had normal sizes. And these are so large, in fact, that we’d gone out and bought special toilets just for the purpose of avoiding getting clogged up. We worried about how much it must hurt, too, but she cannot communicate any details. We’ve also worked with our doctor on this issue — to very little effect. Just recently, three weeks ago, we started her on the Activia product and we haven’t seen a single case of the toilet clogging problem — instead, only what we’d consider fairly normal for most folks. We’re still pensive about this and need a longer time period to know if this is consistent. We may also experiment later and take her off to see if, after some time, she returns to the old problem (it’s possible, I suppose, that a balance is achieved that doesn’t require more Activia) returns. In any case, it’s looking interesting for now. On the subject of the name, marketing, etc… It bugs me, too. But I can easily explain their behavior. Imagine deciding that you want to market a product that uses a naturally found bacterium which really does have a positive impact on a non-trivial segment of the population. There are good studies out there on exactly how it behaves and how it operates in humans (the 1991 and 1992 studies, for example) and has a much longer track record in the literature. It’s as safe as any product can be and has a real impact on some folks. So you want to produce a product using it. The very first thing is that you know you will need to ‘market it’ and that the marketing costs will be very high, if done well. A lot of that marketing will be about making people aware of the issues and your competition could just let you spend all your money on advertising and then just leverage your money into selling their competing products. So you order your technical folks to find something to trademark and patent, but to maintain similar effects. The reason for this is that you can then focus your marketing money on the narrow ledge of your patented product and avoid selling your competitions’ products when spending all that money. I don’t see how their board of directors or CEO could have allowed any other approach. They pretty much _had_ to find a marketing handle and stick with that.

Jon K | April 20th, 2006

The imbecils that are complaning about the name must take a good crap all the time. The rest of us don’t. That’s why we would want to try this product. Get it!? People will fall for anything, people are gullible and all that garbage seems to me those people are referring to themselves. We want help! Doctors are useless. I’ve had IBS for over thirty years! I will try this because it’s a lot more natural than any pill. Bifidus Regularis or Tyrannosaurus Rexus who the hell cares. There not duping us they are trying to sell yogurt and us IBS sufferers might benefit from it. Why don’t you name complainers go protest the name of The Cleveland Indians or Nyquil or Fibercon. All made up names right? Wow. How can they live with themselves? I just got Activa and the only question I still have after doing some research is whether this exact bacteria strain is present in other yogurts? I have seen that Bifidus is in Stonyfield and yes I would feel suckered if that Bifidus is the same as this but Dannon has patented their particular strain of this Bifidus and I wonder if it is different and unique only to Dannon?

Anon | April 20th, 2006

I am on my 5 day and I have gotten an awful yeast infection. Has anyone else had this problem and do we know why?

Rachel | April 18th, 2006

I am a regular yogurt consumer and saw the Activa product. I actually laughed at the grocery store when I saw the ‘regularis’ bit, but bought anyway b/c I was curious about the digestive possibilities being one of those who suffer like many of you. I’ve had good results despite the stupid/ridiculous marketing and want to emphasize that not just any yogurt does this job. Maybe Dannon has in fact picked a more effective strain of bacteria for digestive health compared to the variety of choices. Maybe the concentration is higher. I am going to write to Dannon to voice my opinion about the silliness of this made-up word. I understand that every food manufacture does this, but the ‘regularis’ is a little over the top! Thanks all!

Wendy | April 16th, 2006

Just wrote to Dannon and asked them to lose the ‘bifidus regularis…’ b/c it was just too ridiculous. We’ll see. Still like the product itself though.

Wendy again | April 16th, 2006

I agree with ‘Someone Who Knows What They’re Talking About 03.24.06′ — Dannon has taken yogurt and made it smaller and concentrated on the bacterial part of it. I have eaten the activa for a few days and quit thinking it didn’t do anything. What I was doing wrong was not eating it every day. Now I have for four days straight and have had a bowel movement each day. I have had chronic constipation for years — we’re talking years. Of course I feel dizzy and kind of weird — I’m not use to going to the bathroom every day!!!! So, I’ll wait for the dizziness to pass if I can have a normal bath room break without straining. Whatever this is — fake name or not — dizzy or fainting I’m loving it. Eat up and try to not think you’re dizzy — it is just making your body act normally and you are not used to it.

Kat | April 14th, 2006

I don’t care if Danone makes up names. I want to know if the reason I’m able to ‘drop the kids off at the pool’ every day is because of some kind of dependency thing. That’s the REAL kind of information I need. Who gives a rat’s butt if they made a name up?

Billy | April 11th, 2006

I have to take a pill daily for an ongoing medical condition. This pill wreaks havoc on my bowels and bathroom habits. Since I have been taking Dannon products every morning, my problems have improved dramatically. Coincidence or not, I am going to continue the daily intake of Dannon.

Bob L. | April 11th, 2006

I for one have had favorable results, no problems and I think tht if yu have not tried it but are writing about it you have way too much time on your hands and not enough sense to spend your time doing something useful. why don’t you all get off the computer and spend some time minding your OWN business……

Bob L. | April 11th, 2006

This whining and complaining that Danone is marketing something akin to snake oil preposterous. Why don’t some of you people who are feigning emotional upset take a few minutes each day and learn about the history as well as the ongoing, expanding science behind traditional dairy cultures such as Kefir, yogurt, dahi, viili, piima, fil mjolk, etc. You will see that these nonstandardized, homemade cultures can and do have effects on the body possibly due to the polysaccharides they produce or maybe bacterocins, lactic acid, acetic acid, etc. BTW, Danone has done loads of research in lactic bacteria and their effects on humans; they aren’t a fly-by-night company. One other thing, Bifidus bacteria are transient bacteria in adults; Danone is not lying when they say you have to keep ingesting a bifidus product to get a benefit from them. If you don’t like buying a product from a company, learn to make your own home cultured dairy ferments as people have done for thousands of years.

Darrell | April 10th, 2006

For years I have suffered from IBS and have spent soooooo much money on examinations and medications that have never helped the 3 week constipation I routinely experience. I am currently taking Zelnorm which has never helped me. The second day after eating Dannon I became regular for the first time that I can remember. I have been eating it every morning along with my high fiber cereal and Zelnorm. No more going once every 3 weeks! I go every morning and sometimes if I am really lucky, three times a day. Thank you Dannon.

Sharon | April 9th, 2006

It appears to me, that most of you with the diarrhea and other problems may very well be Lactose Intolerant. If I were you, I would get yourself a Food Allergy Test, and then condemn the product.

Cathy | April 7th, 2006

Day two on the Activa and well, just started to look into the bifidus on thenet and got this site, it was kinda ironic that i ran off to the potty just before reading anything,…. i eat yogurt and this is definetly different.. will have to see if it doesnt cause me grief! I struggle some with BM issues and often thought I might have IBS…. will see but it has to be different and something to it, if I am having the same experiences as some of you are.

an | April 4th, 2006

I tried this, and I too had the upper stomach pain and the only change in my diet is the Activia. It may be a coincidence, though. I will just return to drinking my KEFIR (see their website at Lifeway Products). That stuff is great and it has many different kinds of probiotics besides the one and I feel great when drinking it with no upper stomach pain or bloating. I have been miserable for a week since eating three of the Activia.

Sherry | April 4th, 2006

I eat it daily. It is wonderful!!!

Lee | April 4th, 2006

Bogus marketing or not, a friend and I tried it and, suffice it to say, it did what they said it would. Unfortunately, we both got HORRIBLE diarrhea (that no one else in our non-Activia eating families contracted) for several days after having eaten it daily for about a week . Maybe no connection, but independently we both came to the conclusion that Activia might be to blame and we are not eating it anymore. (I liked the container size though, 4 oz is about as much yogurt as I like at one time.)

Taylor | April 4th, 2006

My wife starting eating this 2 days ago, one a day. Now she has severe pain in her upper stomach just below her rib cage. Has anyone else experienced this type pain.

Dennis Ange | April 3rd, 2006

This yogurt has really helped me. I eat live yogurt everyday, but I have never seen the results with any othe brand that I have with Activa. I don’t care if they made up a new name for the bacteria. Something in this works! Not even laxatives work on my stomach, but this does.

SR | April 3rd, 2006

Who cares about the fake name, the stuff is good…best tasting yogurt I’ve eaten. As far as the BM’S go, CHEAP COLON CLEANSING!!!! GO DANNON

Fran Lee | March 31st, 2006

Humm . . . very interesting! Still worth a try, we are all different, with different combinations of things to address . . . so if it works, good, if it doesn’t well . . . heck. If it were poison, could they still sell it?

Chris | March 30th, 2006

The idea that people should know what’s going on, i.e. ‘marketing lies to us by implying things, we should know that, accept it, and therefore counter it’ seem to miss the point that marketing shouldn’t lie by implication. We shouldn’t accept it. Marketing shouldn’t dissemble. Marketing shouldn’t make up pseudo-scientific terms specifically to imply that this is a scientific product when the ’scientific’ name isn’t scientific at all – as proved by the fact that the name is different in different countries. I agree that if something works then it works, and if it works for you then that’s fine, and good luck to you. But it seems from the comments that one common effect of Bifidus Whatever is diarrhoea. Doesn’t sound that healthy to me.

Evan | March 30th, 2006

Look there are lots of bad and false information everywhere we look, agree it is a shame, just the same I bought this product, because I have suffered with bloat and constipation for years. I have been using it daily for about two weeks and at first I had diaherra, now it is regular and daily. Granted there may be other effects that will show up, but for the time I will continue to enjoy my comfort. This product had bad marketing yet for me it is successful. It also tastes great, especially the vanilla.

cindy | March 30th, 2006

I started eating this Activia yogurt about a week ago as I have a history of IBS and was hoping to get some relief. So far, the only thing I have had is excessive diarrhea!!!! This can’t be good either.

Karen | March 28th, 2006

I just went through a terrible 24 hr period of extreme shivering, shaking, teeth chattering, chills and fever, unlike anything I have ever experienced. It may be a coincidence, but the only dietary change during that time was the two Activia yogurts I consumed. Other people I know use it and say they have no problems, but I’m staying away.

Robert | March 28th, 2006

I have read each and everyone’s comments about Activia and the ‘Bifidus Regularis’ and researched it and other bacteria..extensively. We ALL have millions of various types of ‘bacteria’ that live within us. YES, I do believe that Dannon ‘came up’ with this name. however they are no different than any other company that comes up with ‘words or slogans’ to promote their products, and gee….we ALL buy them don’t we?? Anyhow, made up or not, all I know is that I have suffered with IBS and other stomach related problems for several years now. The Drs. have ‘pumped me’ full of medications that are ’supposed to’ take care of them..Yeah, right!! Well, I decided to try this Activia since I seemed to have ‘nothing to loose’ by trying it, and perhaps it might help. WELL…it did help my stomach problems and allowed me to have a daily BM (vs. 3-5 days apart)so I thought that perhaps I had found something that would work for ME, despite all of the other medications that I have had to continally take for health problems for several years. It ‘could’ be a problem relating to the eating of the Activia, but what I got was a ‘bad and nasty’ yeast infection within 1 day after trying it. I waited a few days, it got worse and ended up at my GYN Dr. and Gastro Dr….both whom had not heard of this product. They gave me what I needed to cure the yeast infection and told me that I may wish to ‘try the Activia again’ once it is over with, and then I would know if it was due to the Activia in my system. I don’t like thinking about getting another painful yeast infection, but I WILL be trying the Activia again, and will pray that it WAS just a coincidence, as I want something…other than ”drugs’ to help out my stomach problems. People who have NOT had to live with stomach problems DAILY should NOT CONDEMM this product just because they ‘gave a special name to something’!!!! It is like everything else in this world that you may think might help you…try it and if it does not work for YOU, then that has to do with YOU and not everyone else. Different things work for different people and it can interact with medications you are having pumped into our systems. If you want to ‘go after and condemn someone, why not put your energy on cracking down on these DOCTORS that give us all of this medication so THEY can get their kickbacks from prescribing them to us…They are more ’suspect’ in things than Dannon is…As for me…I say ‘thank you Dannon’ for at least trying to come up with something that ‘can help some of us’…..Come in people…grow up and do your HOMEWORK regarding EVERYTHING before you just go ‘whining’ about it!!!!

Janice | March 28th, 2006

Really, this has been an incredibly clever marketing ploy. ‘Bifidus Digestivum’ does sound like it could be a real, scientifically named, strain of bacteria, and the way in which it is said implies that it really is good for you, more so than other strains of bacteria. When one thinks about it, however, and comes to the conclusion that its just a marketing ploy, you start commenting on it to other people. This draws more attention to the product than it would have had otherwise. In response to what someone said regarding reporting them to the advertising standards agency, they actually haven’t done anything wrong. Whilst it annoys me as much as the rest of you, hats off to the people at Danone who thought of this.

Robert | March 28th, 2006

I’ve been seeing the Ads for this yogurt with ‘Bifidus Regularis’ and as a medical professional, I’d never heard of anything like that. I said to myself that it MUST be an invented term by Dannon. Sure enough, I look in Taber’s and no Bifidus Regularis. I look on the web and find your site and get clarity. OF COURSE they can’t say ‘Our yogurt has the same thing as any other yogurt but we want you to buy ours just the same.’ Pseudo-science is alive and well and the American public will, literally, swallow anything.

Tim Collier | March 27th, 2006

I have had IBS for most of my adult life, when I came into work today my co-worker said ‘maybe you should give this new product a try’. Well, anyone who has IBS, even if systoms are mild (mine are occassionally extream!) will try most anything to help their bowels behave. Another co-worker was going to local grocery on her break, so within hours I had my 4 pack of ‘ACTIVIA’ in hand. One the first thing I noted was Bifidus Regularis, said to my co-worker ‘I wonder if they just made that up’…just by the look of the words appeared ‘fake’. Sure enough,I can’t say I’m out raged, just disappointed. Having dealt with this health issue for so many years I know that all yogurt has active cultures in it…unless it is an over prosessed product. Dannon would have remained a company that held my respect if they had just ran and advertising campaign to remind and educate the public instead of try to ‘hood wink’ us. The product is good tasting yogurt…but the deseptive advertising will make this the last dannon product I buy.

Imn | March 27th, 2006

Dont know for sure if its this product, but i was feeling fine before taking this, and after two days of use i got sick very dizzy,nausea,constipated and this lasted for a few days until i got what every it was out of me. will never use this stuf or anything like it again.

aa | March 27th, 2006

I bought this stuff today (The vanilla) and it tastes great!

James | March 25th, 2006

I have had problems with constipation for more than 20 years. It is a sad day when you accept having a BM every 5-6 days is normal. Over the last year I have eaten yogurt for breakfast daily and by no means did this change by constipation status. I have tried different medications, laxatives and home remedies over the years. Most either did not work or gave horrible cramps with minimal relief. If it did work, there was a dependency problem in that you could not go without it and eventually this can cause serious problems. After trying Activia I now have a daily BM with no cramping. I did not have a desire to examine every word on the packaging before trying it; I just wanted relief. Does it really matter if the words are made up if it works? You can be assurred that the ’suggestion’ that it would give relief is not the reason it worked. If that were the case, then my problem would have been solved many years ago.

tdi | March 24th, 2006

I too have had extremely severe boughts of diarrehea after about 4 days of eating Activia once a day. I’m really concerned this stuff is doing something bad.

commscholar | March 24th, 2006

It’s great that all of you take marketing with a grain of salt, but no need to get so worked up. Bottom line, eating Yogurt every day is good for EVERYONE (unless you have a problem with dairy). Doctors often recommend healthy and unhealthy people eat yogurt every day, especially women (nothing prevents yeast infections better). Danone has made a smaller container of yogurt and focused more on the bacterial ingredients. GREAT. I only eat yogurt for the bacteria, so the less I have to eat and the more focus on bacteria the better. And to the ‘professor’ who claims you can’t have gastritis for over 15 days, please don’t give medical advice unless you are a gastroenterologist and you are seeing a patient who has asked for your advice. Many conditions involve frequent/constant gastritis. I have severe gastroparesis, and most of my life I have had mild to moderate gastritis, it goes with the territory, as many people with my condition can tell you. And yes, I have the Upper GI Series to prove this, I case you wanted proof. So, to all you folks with digestive problems, eating yogurt every day isn’t a bad thing, and I’ve found it to be very beneficial to me. I enjoy this product’s size, taste and ingredients, and I’ll continue to buy it.

Someone who knows what they’re talking about | March 24th, 2006

Apparently there is an actual ‘bifidus’ bacteria this however cannot be used to stand up against the glaring fact that there is no such thing as ‘Bifidus Digestivum’. Made up words and phrases are a highly successful marketing tool used to literally baffle vulnerable people with pseudo-science. Thanks for linking to my blog!

James Burns | March 23rd, 2006

I fell for this one momentarily, in the groc shop on the way home after a long day. As soon as I got home looked up this illusionary word, just because it was suspect, the little ‘tm’ next to the pseudoscientific horsemanure. Oh well I guess falling for this sort of crap once is the cost of being tired and hungry at the grocery store. What the purveyors of this deception may not be counting into thier projections is the backlash of the ‘once-fooled’ who now look askance at any of thier products, ever after.

foolmeonce | March 22nd, 2006

All I know is that after eating Activia for approx 2 weeks, my stomach is no longer bloated as it was for a longggg time, so apparently Activia has something in it that has helped my problem, whatever it was.

Susannah Marchy | March 22nd, 2006

I had a colonoscopy done about a month ago (with negative results, thank goodness) and decided I would try Activia since my digestive tract was clean. I have had sudden onsets of diarrhea several times a day since starting eating this yoghurt once a day. Wondering if there’s something in it that makes this happen. It can’t be good for you.

Nadine Phelps | March 20th, 2006

I have been partially quadriplegic for 10 years, suffering from slow digestion, bloated stomach and constipation. After trying all that the Dr had to offer, acupuncture and herbal medicines without success I recently started taking Danone Activia. It has worked far better than anything else and is definitely not a marketing gimmick. If anyone wishes to argue that it is a placebo effect they have to explain why the other medicines didn’t also have a placebo effect. I certainly had more pre-conceived belief in some of these than the Activia. I am not talking about a minor improvement, the effect is quite dramatic. I have also tried to be as ’scientific’ as possible, conducting two separate ‘trials,’ one month apart.

Robert Chambers | March 20th, 2006

I’m glad to hear about your improvement Robert, but I think that the site isn’t necessarily quibbling with the efficacy of otherwise of Activia specifically. I think the point is more that all they’re selling is live yoghurt, which you can get in big tubs for much less money, and using pseudo-scientific naming to make people think they’re getting more than that (for which they can charge more). It might be interesting to know what the outcome would be of more trials, comparing the effectiveness of Activia and some of the much cheaper unbranded alternatives… But even if the yoghurts do ‘reduce digestive transit time’, doesn’t that mean in most cases that the food won’t hang around long enough for as many of their nutrients to be absorbed? After all, some bulimics use large doses of laxatives so that they ‘purge’ the food and don’t put weight on…

Iain Jenkins | March 20th, 2006

I have a blockage , and now eat Activia and it helps me to be regualr, wish I know of this Active befor sure whould of helped me befor my hetial hernia surgery also, but never to late it is helping me now, so thank you ,

Caroline | March 11th, 2006

Since I have been taking activa for about 3 weeks, I have been having feeling like my a bit dizzy and a bit disoriented. May be interacting with some medication I have been taking. I did not even think about that. I have had all kinds of blood work and tests and one M.D. asked me if I was taking any herbal supplements. As I said, it did not even dawn on me.

njl | March 10th, 2006

I have IBS and was looking towards a healthier lifestyle. I have started eating Activa and although I’ve started have a few stomach cramps still, I find that I’m not really that constipated any more, although it’s a bit painful to keep going the toilet. I hope these things dont contain laxatives!!

Linsey | March 7th, 2006

Okay, these words latin, in case some of you don’t realize that. All form of laboratory bacteria (penicillilin for ex.) are given names such as this. Nothing new. Yogurt has always had live cultures. They are trying to improve them – none of you are in grade school. Don’t buy stuff you think is a gimmick if you feel this way.

Sherry Baze | March 7th, 2006

Jo, if you had the symptoms of Adult Gastroenteritis (AKA A.G.E.) for more than 15 days, it certainly wasn’t AGE. AGE doesn’t last more than 10 days normally, unless there is something very wrong with your immune system (ie HIV). If these yogurts really are having an effect on your health, I’m afraid it is almost certainly psychosomatic.

Prof. Lucy Loo | March 5th, 2006

Having suffered miserably with gastroenteritis for 3 months a couple of years ago, with no known medical cure other than invasive testing & possible surgery – something had to be done! As a last resort before facing the consultants, I tried these probiotic drinks with very good results – after 3 weeks that is, to build up whatever it is that does the do. I’ve since been on 1 a day & have recommended it to friends & family with I.B.S. with similar good results. After a break of 2 – 3 days the symptoms do return…so back to Activia & Yakult I go. However, this Actimel is not the same beasty at all & even while still taking them regularly, the symptoms are back & I feel dire. No wonder they’re selling them off at half price!

Josie Jo | March 1st, 2006

This sort of bull must be stopped. It’s an insult and it’s brainwashing some dumb but otherwise decent folk. And TV stations turning up the volume during ads is not on either. These Danone marketing officials should be strung up by their essentials and see if their biffidus bovinemanuricus can save ‘em then.

Ooo Danone! | February 18th, 2006

I’d just love to know why there hasn’t been a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority yet? It’s selling something under the pretext that it has a real benefit for people (and probably charging a premium for it and all). Thanks for the info.

Paul Hanlon | February 6th, 2006

It’s the best sounding word I’ve heard in a long time. Although it’s made up which was a big disapointment to me! Love it.

Sarah O. | February 1st, 2006

Thanks for the info, I was so irritated by this advert I just had to look up this very bogus-sounding bacteria name. It’s just sad that THEY (the marketing bods) think WE are stupid, I think it’s the other way round. The ingredients of face rejuvenating creams and shampoos also make me laugh, just who do they think they are kidding? LOL!

Chris | January 16th, 2006

Just had to look bifidus digestivum up… Not in our average english dictionary, so to me it’s a made up name to sell a product and make it sound interesting and genuine.

Carol | January 12th, 2006

Thank Christ I’m not the only one who finds this unadulterated bullshit a sad indictment of our gullible society!

Mike Brooker | December 6th, 2005

I am glad that there are people like you around who are separating the holy shit from the bull shit.

The Girl Next Door | November 20th, 2005

Brilliant – exactly what I was looking for. Why don’t Danone have anything about it on their site?

Iain | November 10th, 2005

Sometimes I despair at people’s gullibility. Like Neave Blog I reckon they should call it Wemakeadis-Upie Aswegoalongum.

Sandra Jenkins | November 10th, 2005