US bans Vegemite

[chriz]

Because it contains folic acid (http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20623014-948,00.html).

Folic acid is a damn vitamin.

[Morgrim]

That is...insane. That's more than insane! I'm going to have to build secret compartments in my luggage!

[LV426]

I can't see as it's a huge loss, the stuff is quite vile.

Doesn't orange juice have folic acid?

[Morgrim]

I can't see as it's a huge loss, the stuff is quite vile.

Blasphemy! :D

Yes, I know most people can't stand it. I think Vegemite is something you either love or hate. But the vast majority of Australians fit in the 'love' catagory.

And that article was from the Sunday Times, which is also an Australian paper, I doubt it would make more than a ripple in the US. But I agree with one of the people that commented on that site- if Vegemite is illegal and hated in the US, then Kraft can bloody well leave it alone for an Australian company.

[GhostBat]

And that article was from the Sunday Times, which is also an Australian paper, I doubt it would make more than a ripple in the US.

To prove a point: I have never even heard of Vegemite. I'm guessing it's a spread of some kind?

[ThrasherCub]

It is. If you haven't had someone smuggle it into the country for you, do so. It kicks spreadable ass.

[Ves]

Vegemite is like Marmite and thus is the cousin of evil.

[Morgrim]

Vegemite is nothing like marmite.

[Lady Macbeth]

Can someone please tell me what Vegemite is?

[LV426]

It's an australian thing. A a dark brown, salty food paste made from yeast extract. It's really vile. Marmite is supposed to be the same thing but I've never tasted Marmite.

We're hap-py lit-tle veg-e-mites
as bright as bright can be,
we all en-joy our Ve-ge-mite
for break-fast, lunch, and tea
our mum-mies say we're grow-ing stron-ger
eve-ry sin-gle week
be-cause we love our Ve-ge-mite
we all a-dore our Ve-ge-mite
it puts a rose in eve-ry cheek.

[LV426]

Vegemite Ban is False!

The US government has dismissed media reports it had banned Vegemite.

"There is no ban on Vegemite," US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesman Mike Herndon said.

Media reports claimed American border officials were confiscating Vegemite from Australians as they entered the US.

The FDA, charged with policing America's food supply, has not issued an "import alert" to border officials to halt the import of Vegemite.

Mr Herndon said the FDA was surprised by the media reports.

The controversy centres on folate, an ingredient in Vegemite.

Under US regulations, folate can be added only to breads and cereals.

"One of the Vitamin B components (in Vegemite) is folate," Mr. Herndon said.

"In and of itself, it's not a violation. If they're adding folate to it, boosting it up, technically it would be a violation.

"But the FDA has not targeted it and I don't think we intend to target Vegemite simply because of that."

Joanna Scott, spokesperson for Vegemite's maker, Kraft, reportedly has said, "The Food and Drug Administration doesn't allow the import of Vegemite simply because the recipe does have the addition of folic acid".

But Mr. Herndon said, "Nobody at the FDA has told them (Kraft) there is a ban".

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/vegemite.asp

[Tiamot]

Well dammit all! There goes my excuse for throwing out the two jars that Locksmyth has in the cupboard!

[West]

I just tried Vegemite.

It's like a solid version of Soy Sauce.