Those touchy Italians were no match for the Arkansas-backed power of Asda, which was given the go-ahead to slice its Parma ham wherever it liked.
A judge cleared Asda of breaching EU rules by selling Parma ham that has been sliced elsewhere. It's strange to think that someone could go to so much trouble over where you slice your ham.
The good news is at least it is ham, unlike some food brands, which were exposed this week for not quite being what they pretended to be. Food watchdogs hit out saying that if people knew what they were eating they wouldn't buy it.
Harsh words, but when you hear what some manufacturers have been up to you may think not harsh enough. Among those picked up were Princes Crab Paste, which is made mostly of mackerel, and McVitie's Butter Puffs, which, and you've guessed it, contain no butter. Somehow McVitie's Vegetable Oil Puffs doesn't have the same ring.
Heineken's image was suffering a similar problem. The Dutch beer firm is having to dump its famously watery beer (3.2% alcohol), which is no longer finding favour with the equally famous British drinker who prefers the premium beers (5% alcohol or more) to get their rocks off.
Heineken is introducing its continental premium beer, also known as a bog standard European beer, to compete with another British premium beer Stella Artois, a standard beer across the channel.
Having seen Microsoft's Xbox blown away before it reached the end of the first level, Nintendo is following suit with its GameCube and cutting its price. The difference here is that while Microsoft struggled with its overpriced games console before lopping 拢100 off the 拢299 price tag, Nintendo has fired first and reduced its box from 拢150 to 拢129 before its May 3 launch.
Fans of Lenor will be relieved. Procter & Gamble has spared the fabric conditioner the axe. The consumer products giant was to replace the UK brand with its US name Downy. Sounds too much like downer to me, but what do I know.
While the Lenor brand is thankfully safe, the same can not be said of Philip Morris. The Marlboro Light-owning Morris has dropped its chummy name in favour of Altria Group. As far as we can tell, it doesn't actually mean anything, but probably cost at least $5m so somebody got paid. Phil should talk to our friends at Consignia; they know a thing or two about daft names.
The UK's top literary prize, the Booker, looks set to be opened up to American writers. This follows the news that London-based engineering firm, The Man Group, is to stump up 拢2.5m, but wants to expand the prize across the Atlantic. We'll have to wait and see whether twee Hampstead twitter will be able to stand the assault of New York's literary talent.
And finally, there was more bad/good news from the US this week. Anne Robinson, the most unlikely of TV hosts, looks set to see US version of 'The Weakest Link' axed. Ratings on the NBC show have begun to rapidly fall in recent weeks and network executives are currently reviewing the show's performance. No such luck on this side of the Atlantic where the BBC shows no sign of following the lead of our American cousins. Oh well, whatever, never mind.
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