MS Iceland Dairies (MS) will have to come up with a new name for their tart, white, cube-shaped cheese product. “Feta” is a Greek trademark, RÚV reports, and is protected by European Union law.
Greek EMP Emmanouil Fragkos submitted a formal question last April regarding MS’s use of “feta” in some of their cheese products. This is because under EU law, only milk products from Greece which have undergone a specific production process can call themselves “feta”.
In response, EU officials said that they have already been in contact with Icelandic authorities asking for confirmation that MS is using “feta” for some of their products, and if that turns out to be the case, “appropriate measures” will be taken.
For what it’s worth, Greece is not singling out Iceland in this matter. They have previously gone up against China and the United States over the use of “feta” for their cheese products, too.
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