Sometimes circumstances require a return to the biblical adage: An eye for an eye. It did not come as a surprise to many when Russia in 2014 responded to the sanctions imposed against it with a series of sanctions of its own, including on dairy products from EU member states. While farmers on both sides of the conflict are feeling the effects of ban – EU dairy providers have seen a market break away, whereas their Russian counterparts have made gains – the Russian consumer appears to be the real loser in this equation.

After all, buying locally produced cheese today smacks a bit of a game of Russian Roulette. Consumers may be lucky and find their product laced with palm oil. While there is no accounting for taste, that particular type of mould is much better than the other flavours on the menu today: plaster or plastic. Did someone say cheese...?