Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Thursday that shipments of Chobani greek yogurt intended for American athletes at the Sochi Winter Olympics will instead be distributed to food banks in New York and New Jersey, but he appears to still be looking for a way to get the Olympians their American snacks.
This is great: http://t.co/BOmEFMx1Kh but still not giving up on getting US dairy products into Russia. pic.twitter.com/4MngIC7mBI
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 13, 2014
Russian officials have not allowed shipments of the New York-made yogurt due to lack of certification, and in the meantime about 5,000 cups have been sitting at Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
Schumer wrote a letter to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the International Olympic Committee seeking a resolution to the customs issue, but at least for now the yogurt will remain stateside.
“Chobani and I fought hard to deliver their yogurt to our Olympic athletes in Sochi. While we did not prevail, there is a silver – or gold – lining in the news that the yogurt will be donated to hungry men, women and children in New York and New Jersey,” Schumer told the Albany Times-Union.
Image via Schumer’s office
