Danone to Cease Labeling New Brand as “Greek Yogurt”
According to a press report, the U.K. High Court has ordered Danone to
remove any reference to “Greek yogurt” on the packaging for its newly
launched product Danio®. The matter is currently before the court in litigation
involving Greece-based yogurt maker Fage, which sued U.S.-based Chobani
Inc. in November 2012 after that company launched its “Greek yogurt”
product line in the United Kingdom. While Danone is not apparently required
to remove offending products already on store shelves under the injunction,
it began complying with the January 30, 2013, court order on products made
after that date.
In a statement Danone said, “This ruling is in place until the High Court has determined, as part of a separate case with another manufacturer, whether the use of ‘Greek yogurt’ is only possible for yogurt produced in Greece or if it refers to a particular type of yogurt made using a specific process. In the meantime we will continue to consider our legal position with regard to these proceedings.” Danone also reportedly said that the term was used on Danio® labels because it refers to the straining process that thickens the yogurt and makes it high in protein. “We stand by our position that ‘Greek yogurt’ refers to the way in which the product is made and does not hold a protected designation of origin status, either in the UK or abroad.” See DairyReporter.com, February 13, 2013.
