The Russian government has halted a shipment of 5,000 containers of Chobani Greek yogurt bound for American athletes competing in the Winter Olympics, saying American officials have not submitted the appropriate paperwork, the Associated Press reported.
Now, U.S. Olympians will have to make do without the team's official yogurt which could deprive them of a source of protein and potentially disturbing their daily routines as they prepare for the biggest competition of their lives, the AP reported.
U.S. halfpipe skier Aaron Blunck said Friday that to traveling athletes, getting food from home is part of feeling fit and healthy, according to the AP. "Having the yogurt there, that helps you, gives you protein, gives you nutrition."
But teammate Lyman Currier said part of being an elite athlete is dealing with the unexpected, "so whether we have our yogurt or not, we'll be able to adapt," according to the AP.
For now the protein-rich yogurt is sitting in a cold storage facility near Newark Liberty International Airport, according to the New York Times.
"I'd like to think that yogurt could have diplomatic immunity," Peter McGuinness, Chobani's chief marketing and brand officer, told the Times.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer released a statement appealing to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the International Olympic Committee to intervene on behalf of Chobani and the olympians, the Times reported.
"Chobani Yogurt is safe, nutritious and delicious and the Russian Authorities should get past 'nyet' and let this prime sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team deliver their protein-packed food to our athletes," Schumer said in a statement released Tuesday.
