Pinkberry's legal jam

Pinkberry's popular frozen concoction isn't yogurt in the eyes of the law in California, but the makers would like to fix that. Alexa Hyland in today's Daily Journal chronicles the back and forth:

To market their product legally as frozen yogurt, Pinkberry has been working with a dairy science expert from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, potentially to change their original dry mix formula and the manner in which it is manufactured.

The main issue of contention for Pinkberry and its lawyers is a provision in the California Food and Agricultural Code statutes that requires the product to be pasteurized at the plant where it is processed and packaged.

In May, lawyers from the company issued a letter from their expert to the department stating the pasteurization process compromises the product quality - its signature tart taste.

[snip]

The company has removed all references to frozen yogurt from its marketing materials, and its Web site describes the product as "chilly bliss, honest food and dessert reinvented." The site also posts a message to consumers: "As some of you are aware, claims have been made recently about the nature of our products. ...We are, of course, investigating these claims and look forward to being able to demonstrate the quality of our product."

Story is behind the Daily Journal pay wall.