A class action lawsuit has been filed against General Mills for misrepresenting the product it calls Yoplait Greek. It isn’t Greek, and it isn’t yogurt. The sales of Yoplait Greek already lag far behind other brands such as Chobani and Fage in an exploding Greek yogurt market, and this latest lawsuit won’t help any.
“Yoplait Greek does not comply with the standard of identity of yogurt,” the lawsuit states. “Indeed, Yoplait Greek contains Milk Protein Concentrate (“MPC”) which is not among the permissible ingredients of yogurt, non-fat yogurt, and low-fat yogurt (collectively “yogurt”) as set forth under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.”
Authentic Greek yogurt is thicker in consistency and richer in protein because it’s strained of liquid whey. But MPC offers an alternative to this process. It is, as described on FoodNavigator-USA, “a very high protein dry milk product, which has been touted for use in Greek-style products to increase their protein content and provide a thick, creamy texture without the need for expensive straining.”
In its corporate eagerness to claim a larger share of the Greek yogurt market, General Mills adds MPC to Yoplait Greek because, as reported in the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, it is “cheaper to store and transport than wet milk and costs less than dry milk due to minimal tariffs on MPC imports and lower foreign milk prices.” New Zealand is the biggest supplier of MPC to the United States. In short, as stated in the lawsuit, “The use of MPC is financially advantageous to defendants.” It allows General Mills to manufacture more product at lower cost, and that’s the only reason it’s in the yogurt.
Never mind that the use of the substance in yogurt flouts FDA rules for the standard of identity of the food. So far the extent of General Mills’s defense is that the FDA never explicitly prohibited MPC in yogurt. That’s a lesson in logic. Any substance that is not explicitly prohibited is officially permitted.
Never mind, as well, the questionable safety of the substance, which is not included on the FDA list of substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS) or on the FDA list of food additives. In other words, it hasn’t actually been approved for use in food.
1. The lawsuit against General Mills ( )
A. is a leading factor that has caused the sales of Yoplait Greek to lag behind other brands.
B. will make the sales of Yoplait Greek lag behind other brands
C. will help increase the sales of Yoplait Greek.
D. has no direct relationship with the fact that the sales of Yoplait Greek have already lagged far behind other brands.
2. Authentic Greek yogurt ( )
A. is strained of liquid whey.
B. thicker in consistency than Yoplait Greek.
C. richer in protein than Yoplait Greek.
D. contains MPC.
3. According to the lawsuit, it is ( ) that General Mills adds MPC to Yoplait Greek.
A. for the improvement of its quality
B. for the convenience of transportation
C. for the reduction of costs
D. for the extension of its shelf life
4. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The FDA has approved the use of MPC in yogurt.
B. MPC is on the FDA list of substances generally recognized as safe
C. The FDA has neither prohibited nor approved the use of MPC in yogurt.
D. MPC is on the FDA list of food additives.
参考答案：
1.D
根据第一段第三句话(The sales of Yoplait Greek already…)可知，Yoplait Greek的销售量在这起诉讼之前就已经远远落后其它品牌，和这场诉讼并没有直接联系，所以选D。
2.A
根据第三段第一句话(Authentic Greek yogurt is…)可知，真正的Greek yogurt与普通产品相比质地更稠、蛋白质含量更高(并没有与Yoplait Greek相比)，因为它是由液体乳清浓缩而成的。所以选A。
3.C
根据第四段最后一句话(It allows General Mills…)以及上文可知，通用磨坊(General Mills)将牛奶蛋白浓缩物加入Yoplait Greek的原因是为了降低成本，所以选C。
4.C
根据最后两段的相关句子(…FDA never explicitly prohibited MPC in yogurt… , …is not included on)可知，美食品及药品管理局既没有禁止也没有批准在酸奶酪中使用牛奶蛋白浓缩物，所以选C。
