Sochi Olympics: 5,000 cups of Chobani Greek yogurt are detained

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http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chobani-sochi-olympics-russia-20140207,0,6299504.story



A dispute between Russian and U.S. authorities has halted the shipment of 5,000 cups of Chobani Greek Yogurt bound for the Winter Olympics in Russia. Chobani is a Team USA sponsor.

Sochi Olympics: 5,000 cups of Chobani Greek yogurt are detained
By Ricardo Lopez
February 7, 2014, 8:05 a.m.

Team USA may not be getting its Chobani Greek yogurt any time soon as a shipment containing 5,000 cups of the protein-packed snack is snagged in a trade dispute between U.S. and Russian authorities.

While some athletes appear to be shrugging off the lack of Chobani, the conflict has become a punch line of late night television, and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is calling on Russian authorities to free the "yogurt trapped in a holding pattern at Newark Airport" in New Jersey.

Russian customs officials said the shipment doesn't contain the necessary paperwork to allow them to accept the yogurt. Schumer, however, said the customs certificate required is "unreasonable," especially since the product will be consumed only by U.S. citizens.

Political satirist Stephen Colbert on Thursday mocked the so-called yogurt blockade. "Yes, our athletes' yogurt is being embargoed -- but only because the Russians want to protect traditional family values," he said, a reference to Russia's law that prohibits propaganda of "non-traditional sexual relations."