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Keith McCord ReportingWhen you think of carbonated beverages, you think of a soft drink out of a vending machine, right? Well, one BYU professor plans to change this by introducing carbonated yogurt to your dairy selections.
A little fizzle on the tongue and a sharp taste, that's how Dr. Lynn Odgen describes his new carbonated yogurt. It's an idea he came up with back in 1994 while making root beer floats at home. It combines frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, and any kind of yogurt.
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Dr. Lynn Ogden: "So we got the idea one day, why not throw it in some yogurt and see what would happen? It was very pleasant".
And pleasant is an understatement if you ask some students who tasted samples of Sparkling Lemon and Sparkling Raspberry.
Student: "I definitely like it better then regular yogurt, because it has this zip that regular yogurt doesn't have".
So far Dr. Ogden, who heads up BYU's Food Science and Nutrition Department, has only sold a few batches to his students, but several large companies are gaining interest in the concoction.
Dr. Lynn Ogden: "But over the years we've had a lot of companies look at it, take a look at it. But there's one now that's really hot on it."
Ogden hopes this fizzy treat will target young adults and teens who are looking for a carbonation fix with the nutrients that most sodas lack.
Dr. Lynn Ogden: "You know, we think that it's perfect for the 'good for you' vending machine market. That's a hot item, hot idea now."
If all goes well you may start seeing carbonated yogurts on your grocery shelf sometime next year. Dr. Ogden is keeping the name of the company secret for now, but says he does have a patent for the treat.
