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Cheese War Breaks Out in Wisconsin

Cheesehead maker fumes over billboard warning by doctors

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 27, 2011 2:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – When in Wisconsin, don’t talk trash about cheese. A group of physicians is bold enough to do so—near the Green Bay Packers’ stadium, no less—and now it's being threatened with a lawsuit, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The group rented billboard space en route to the stadium to install a sign picturing a Cheesehead-wearing Grim Reaper; the sign, scheduled to go up this week, warns that “cheese can sack your health,” and the makers of the iconic hats aren’t happy about it.

“We by no means would condone that. We're a dairy state, for gosh sakes,” says a rep for the company, which may sue. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine doesn’t need a “Foamation-brand Cheesehead in order to convey its message. That scythe could be cutting a block of cheese and the Grim Reaper wouldn't have to wear a Cheesehead hat,” says a lawyer for the firm. The doctors say they have “no intention of impugning Cheeseheads as individuals,” but that cheese-eaters should know that “eating cheese is bad for you.” See the Journal-Sentinel for an image of the billboard.

A Packers fan wears his cheesehead. (Getty Images)

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Cheese War Breaks Out in Wisconsin

Cheesehead maker fumes over billboard warning by doctors

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