Objective The 3MTM PetrifilmTM rapid yeast and mold count plate (RYM) method and the national standard method (GB 4789.15-2016) were compared for the consistency in yoghourt detection, and the specificity of the PetrifilmTM RYM was assessed. Methods Two quality control samples, 78 reference strains and isolated strains of yeast and mold, 50 yoghourt samples and 50 artificially contaminated yoghourt samples were detected by both method. Then the data of the two method were analyzed by the paired t test and the log difference (|dlog|); and PetrifilmTM RYM method was used to detect non-mold-yeast strains for specificity. Results There was no significant difference (P>0.05) among different samples in paired t test, and the ratio of |dlog|≤0.50 were 100.0%. There was no significant difference between the two method. The result of the yeast and mold count in non-mold-yeast strains were blank, indicating that the PetrifilmTM RYM had good specificity. Conclusion There was no significant difference between the result of the PetrifilmTM RYM method and the GB 4789.15-2016 method in detecting quality control samples, strains of yeast and mold, yoghourt samples and artificially contaminated yogurt samples, and the PetrifilmTM RYM had good specificity.