Activia is a brand of yogurt owned by Groupe Danone (Dannon in the United States) and introduced in France in 1987.

[4] The claims of health benefits have led to lawsuits in the European Union, Canada, and the United States, all of which have resulted in Danone having to modify their advertisement and pay compensations to customers.

In 2023 Danone has decided to localize the international brand Activia under the new name AktiBio on the Russian market.

[18] In 2009, sales of Activia reach €2.6 billion globally, with key markets in Europe and the United States.

These foods are enriched with probiotics and provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.

According to the brand, Activia "helps regulate your digestive system" when eaten on a daily basis.

[31] While indicating Bifidobacterium lactis, the package does not list that Activia also contains strains[32] commonly found in Yogurt: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus (that produce high amounts of biogenic amines,[33][34] poorly tolerated by people with histamine intolerance) and Lactococcus lactis.

Some experts say there is evidence that probiotic strains reduce diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and duration of colds.

[40] Since 2007, European Regulation 1924/2006 demands that health food companies come up with the scientific evidence to back their labeling and advertising.

[41][42] Member states are asked to submit health claims from manufacturers who have to wait for the approval of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

[44] But according to the Federal Trade Commission, commercials and claims on Activia packages are deceptive and Danone exaggerates the yogurt's health benefits.

[45] In its 2010 charges against Danone, the FTC stated that "Eating one serving of Activia daily is not clinically proven to relieve temporary irregularity and help with slow intestinal transit time".

[46] The company thus agreed to stop advertising that Activia yogurt improves motility, unless the ad conveys that three servings must be eaten per day to obtain these benefits.

[48][49] In response to a similar lawsuit in Canada, Danone agreed to settle the suit by paying compensation and modifying its advertising.

[6] A class action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court on 25 January 2008, argued that Danone's own studies failed to support its advertised claims.

[50] The class action suit accused Danone of mounting a massive false advertising campaign to convince consumers to buy Activia products because of their health benefits.

[53] In 2009, as a part of the settlement, Danone agreed to create a $35 million fund to reimburse unsatisfied consumers who had bought its Activia and DanActive yogurts.

[6] In October 2009, Danone was sued in Quebec Superior Court over the nature of the health claims in its advertising.

[6] In September 2012, the parties elected to settle the case; Danone agreed to modify its advertising claims, but was not forced to admit wrongdoing.