Kosovo Dairy Industry Association flags imported food mislabeling

The Kosovo Dairy Industry Association (SHIQK) has called for an investigation into an imported product from North Macedonia that is being marketed as ‘grated cheese’ (kaçkavall i grirë).

According to SHIQK, the product’s declared ingredients consist of water, starch, palm oil, and other plant-based components, rather than milk. The association noted that milk is not listed as an ingredient, with the packaging only mentioning the potential presence of milk protein traces and lactose.

SHIQK argues that this labeling violates Kosovar food and consumer protection laws, specifically regarding deceptive practices and food falsification. The association emphasized that imported goods must adhere to local legal requirements and that presenting a plant-based product under a dairy name may mislead consumers during purchasing decisions.