US yogurt producer Chobani has lost a court case in the UK over the “misleading” labeling of its Greek yogurts.
Following
a seven-day trial, which was initiated by a complaint from Greek rival
Fage, Chobani was told by a High Court judge that the labeling on its
product was “confusing” for UK consumers.
Mr
Justice Briggs granted a permanent injunction and said Fage had
succeeded in its claim to “restrain Chobani from passing off its
American-made yogurt in England and Wales under the description Greek
yogurt”.
Fage, which produces Total Greek yogurt,
had claimed buyers of “thick and creamy” yogurt generally believed Greek
yogurt came from Greece and that it mattered to consumers that it was
made in Greece.
By contrast, Chobani’s primary
case was that the description Greek yogurt denoted “no clearly
identified distinctive class” in the minds of the yogurt buying public.
Chobani
had started selling and promoting its Greek yogurt in the UK in
September last year, until an interim injunction was implemented
following Fage’s complaint in November.
Chobani did not return a request for comment at the time of going to press. (via WorldwideGreeks.com, JustFood.com)
Bravo and phew! and perdition to the cynical likes of Chobani who sank as low as one can get in the deception stakes and I hope will be monitored and brought to justice again and again. These types never just do it once, they have no feelings. To try to pass off their wares as Greek - no lower behaviour.
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