Irish dairy exporter Ornua has confirmed that its butter brand Kerrygold is returning to the US state of Wisconsin after it was banned from sale there earlier this year.
“During our time away, we have been overwhelmed by the support of our loyal customers,” said Jeanne Kelly, Kerrygold spokesperson. “From emails, Facebook posts, tweets and letters, we would like to thank all who took the time to tell us how much you wanted to see Kerrygold back in stores.
“Kerrygold would also like to thank the authorities in the State of Wisconsin for their assistance over recent months.”
The staple Irish export was banned from the midwestern state due to an old law that required that state regulators approve the food safety of butter made outside of the US, the Irish Farmer’s Journal reported.
State Law
A 1953 state law strictly forbids the sale of butter which has not been rated by the federal government or people licensed as butter and cheese graders with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Since Kerrygold was graded, packaged and produced in Ireland, Wisconsinite retailers were forced to remove it from their shelves or face a fine of between $100-$1,000 and six months in jail.
The Irish butter is the number one imported butter brand in the US and the number three branded butter overall, according to Ornua. It is also the biggest-selling butter in Germany.
It had been on sale in American stores for over 15 before the local protectionist legal group the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty brought the issue to the attention of the state.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Kevin Duggan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
