ATHENS - Greece's armed forces on Tuesday announced tougher requirements for the soft Greek feta cheese fed to recruits amid reports of quality-skimping by feta producers.
The defence and agriculture ministries decided to boost checks on the soft white cheese that is a staple of Greek diet and promote fresh milk instead of the long-life variety, the semi-state Athens News Agency (ANA) said on Tuesday.
"We will not allow companies that violate the law on cheese and dairy products to participate in (armed forces) supply tenders," the ministries said.
The measure aims to support Greek farmers, ANA said.
Greek media recently reported complaints by dairy producers that competitors adulterate the sheep-and-goat's milk feta with powdered or imported cow's milk to cut cost, without informing consumers.
Greece waged a long legal battle to prevent producers elsewhere in Europe from using the 'feta' label for the brine-soaked cheese, winning a major victory at the European Union's top court in 2005.
03/13/2007 18:10 GMT