9 Comments
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Evelyn Skye's avatar

Great writing as always, Sam-- I laughed out loud several times as I "walked" through that grocery store with you. Very interesting interview, too, will have to check out the YDS podcast.

Sam Robinson's avatar

Too kind, Evelyn! Haha, I never thought I would spend 5 minutes every weekend trying to pick yogurt.

Madeline Harms's avatar

Great interview, huge fan of Zoe and the YDS pod here! But have to admit I do enjoy the "Icelandic" style yogurt.

Sam Robinson's avatar

Is it… denser??

Josh Hanna's avatar

“epistemic warren of the nut butter aisle.” Good luck to AI ever crafting such a phrase!

Sam Robinson's avatar

Hah! Thanks, Josh.

David Perlmutter's avatar

As a person of Icelandic descent, I must inform you that skyr is not the same as yogurt. It has a thicker texture and is almost never served in the processed form most yogurts possess.

Sam Robinson's avatar

Really? Is it just branding then for the yogurts at Whole Foods?? Are they just slapping “Iceland” on the tub and selling yogurt on vibes?

David Perlmutter's avatar

I believe you’re right. In the ‘70s and ‘80s Dannon used to sell Greek-style yogurt by having commercials with actual old Greek people touting its virtues. This is the same sort of thing minus the dumb commercials- they are selling the supposed “experience” as much, if not more, than the actual product. The very proud members of my maternal Icelandic family would be pissed to know that skyr was being commercially exploited by the U.S. in this way.