Yoplait Petits Filous: €2.09 for 360g, €5.80 per kg/Highs:This is a very, very well-known brand and the only one that crosses many people's minds when they think of fromage frais.
It has a very smooth texture and the six-pack comes in three varieties. It has a slightly more liquidy consistency than much of the competition and comes across a little more like a traditional yoghurt. It is also the cheapest option we tried.
Lows:We were mildly surprised by the pot's claim to be suitable for babies from four months when most modern baby books - and indeed the World Health Organisation - suggest delaying the weaning process until a baby is six months old. It might be too thin and watery for some.
Verdict:Perfectly pleasant
Star rating:***
Danone Danonino - €2.45 for 400g, €6.12 per kg
Highs:This is sweetened with concentrated fruit juice extract which is, we presume, better than using sugar. It comes in eight brightly coloured and dainty pots which little ones are sure to enjoy - they'd also get some mileage out of the animal magnets that were promised to us on the box.
Lows:There didn't seem to be any animal magnets in the box we got, however, which was mildly disappointing. Of more serious concern was the taste: this was the least fruity of the brands reviewed and the sweetest, which might appeal to some kids, but not to Pricewatch. It is also suitable only for children of three and older.
Verdict:Too sweet
Star rating:**
Glenisk Organic Fromage Frais - €2.19 for 360g, €6.08 per kg
Highs:It is only when this is tried alongside three or four rivals that it becomes clear how good it really is. It is fresh-tasting and fruity and the entirely organic ingredient list looks considerably more wholesome than any of the competition. It is slightly more thick-set than the others and there are tiny pieces of fruit still discernible in the mix. It also scores extra points for being an independently-owned Irish company that has managed to make a baby-friendly dessert that an adult will quite happily eat.
Lows:The nutrition info is given per 100 grams, but each pot is only 60 grams, making it considerably harder to work out the sugar content.
Verdict:Nearly perfect
Star rating:*****
Nestlé Munch Bunch - €1.85 for 252g, €7.35 per kg
Highs:These taste okay - a long way from nice, but they're certainly not revolting - and the lurid packaging and silly names are bound to appeal to many young kids.
Lows:We are, however, struggling to find nice things to say about this bunch. This is the most expensive brand we tasted and the most insipid. We found it to be thin of texture and short of flavour, which is hardly that surprising as each pot is made with just 5.5 per cent fruit. The pots are very small but the sugar content is the highest at 12.8 grams per 100 grams. There was also the lingering sugary aftertaste which wasn't all that pleasant.
Verdict:Not great
Star rating:**
Müller Little Stars - €2.29 for 360g, €6.36 per kg
Highs:This is another brand with a very creamy texture which is more reminiscent of a yoghurt drink than a fromage frais. It has quite a fruity flavour and a nice lightness about it. Kids might get a few minutes' diversion from the pictures on the inside of the cardboard case which need colouring in (although these pictures are easy to miss unless you know they're there - so now you do). It has a comparatively low sugar content which is also to its credit.
Lows:It is, if anything, a little on the dull side. It lacks the freshness and the zing of the best of its rivals and its washed-out colour makes it look just a little unappealing. It is also comparatively expensive.
Verdict:Only okay
Star rating:***
