Danone hit back at claims by Nikolai Fyodorov, the Russian agriculture minister, that the dairy giant was "deceiving" consumers, demanding a retraction of allegations it termed "deeply" insulting and slanderous. French-based Danone, the water-to-yoghurt giant, said that it was "not only outraged" by Mr Fyodorov accusation "but regard them as defamation, causing damage to our reputation both in Russia and around the world".