Language inspectors clearly are very passionate about their work. So much so that, according to one Ben & Jerry's store manager, an off-duty inspector started pointing out various "violations" to him while in line waiting for his ice cream.

Among the violations were the English names of some products displayed on their menu - some of which are, I'm sure, copyrighted. But here's the kicker: Even though most product names are in French and the descriptions are all-Franco as well, this still constituted a violation in the eyes of the OQLF inspector, who later returned to file a formal report.

The Put Back the Flag blog has more on Ben & Jerry's version of events and the "offending" photos. 

Listen to Ben & Jerry's manager Luke Brown describe what he says happened by clicking play to the right.

This is an American multinational that is clearly making an effort to respect the French language, but those efforts are fruitless. The OQLF's soldiers are going to force more businesses out of this province in their quest for the perfect pure laine society. It's another pathetic example of how there are only two kinds of people for many language zealots in Quebec: Nous autres and les autres. And if you fall into the latter category, there's really nothing you can ever do to please the ultranationalist elite.

Update (3:15pm): OQLF spokesperson Martin Bergeron questions whether or not the original complaint came from an off-duty inspector and said most of the violations in question aren't really violations.

Listen to his comments by clicking play to the right.

Update (Jan. 18): After my coverage on CJAD 800, and more attention from CTV, we all thought the matter was settled. But the OQLF is again going after Ben & Jerry's (more from Put Back the Flag). The reasons, according to Brown, seem so ridiculously petty: Two words printed on receipts, "GST" and "phone" are, apparently, the source of the new violations. This is just so stupid.