Vegemite is definitely "an acquired taste." We got some recently as a gift, presumably from someone who confused Australia with America and who thought all "anglos" eat alike. My youngest son acquired an immediate appetite for running to the toilet and chucking it up upon its consumption. We all tried the stuff, Poizonmyst, even our housecat, who conspicuously stayed away from the sample offered, but some tastes refuse to be acquired....

Eventually the street cats of Ma'aleh Levona got to sample the stuff. They're hungry and will eat almost anything. There were no reports from that feline population... None of us can meow in Hebrew.

It's an outrage that vegemite is banned. Please consider signing my petition and help get our favourite Aussie icon unbanned.
WE ARE NOT HAPPY LITTLE VEGEMITES!!!!

Well you don't won't to put much on toast. It's VERY strong.

The yanks are right on this.
Came to Oz in the 60's.
Love meat pies..great tucker
aussie beers..good stuff, and
aussie women..great fuck. Vegemite?
Yucks! Should be classified prohibitive
substance. No way to get your folate.

Maybe its just in the genetics of our Aussie tastebuds to have a positive disposition towards Vegemite. We are trained, from our first slice of toast cut into "fingers", how to apply our Vegemite correctly so that it tastes mmmmm just right. I believe other cultures take to slathering it on like peanut butter when they first try Vegemite, which is an immediate turnoff. It must be applied sparingly, people - it takes many years of seasoned Vegemite experience before you can confidently eat it by the teaspoonful. Most of our kids are raised on the stuff - many wont eat anything else on their morning toast - so there must be something yummy about it.

Kraft have said that it's no great loss as the US is a "minor market" for Vegemite sales, but as I said, we Aussies are being deprived the opportunity to share this wonderful product with our American buddies, and that is a real shame - is it true that we will never get to see your cringing faces again when we serve you our fav snack?

Poizon: I don't know whether you're living at home or "over there" .... but here's my favourite trick to play on American visitors to Australia (apart from the drop-bears gee-up):

Tell them this is our national spread, the Aussie eqivalent of peanut butter. Take some out of the jar on a spoon in front of them and swallow a bit as quickly as possible without actually getting the whole lot on your tongue. Say: "Mmm, geez that's good stuff. Try some."

Then offer them a fresh spoon with a dirty great glob of vegemite on it.

Watch the grimace as their faces turn purple and they grab their throats histrionically, rushing off on a mad dash for water. Cruel but fun and a salutary lesson (don't trust Australians to always do the right thing).

And as all Aussies know, and the FDA obviously doesn't, but all visitors soon discover, when using Vegemite a thin smear is best.

This is one case where less is always more.

Banning vegemite in the US is ridiculous. Its a very strong tasting spread. Most Aussies would find it difficult to eat too much of it. If Americans have not aquired the taste for it, then what is the problem?

"If Americans have not aquired the taste for it, then what is the problem?"

Australians living in the United States NEED it. So badly, Americans would never understand. A man (or woman) must have Vegemite. It's not about them, for once.

It's about US!!

Banning Vegemite is pure bullshit. Vegemite is good for you. So good American folate-cornering grain-producer lobbies have got the FDA to ban it. And the ban seems to have carried over, in terms of importation, to the Canadian market. The shops here have stopped stocking it and my household is making do with Marmite. If anyone knows where I can get some Vegemite in Toronto, please let me know. We're jonesing.

Oh, it makes me mad. As if Americans should get nasty about Vegemite when they're known internationally as the sickos who eat deep fried Twinkies.

Glenda Bell #7: I don't think Aussies really want Americans to "aquire the taste for it" - if that happened, then how would we play pranks such as those suggested by S.T.M #6 - such social antics are tradition in themselves! Anyway, Im sure the US are a lot tougher than a spoonful of Vegemite -lets look at "Jackass" as an example ... I'm yet to see a Vegemite stunt from them, and most probably never will now. How unfortunate.

S.T.M #8: Youve got that right ... our poor Aussie expats being forceably weened from the Vegemite on which they were raised. I fear there is more to this ban than meets the tastebuds, so to say. Think border security. Think billions of biddy yeast bacteria. Think of a reason to search foreigners ... oops didnt mean to go there.

So true Mistress La Spliffe #9 ... certainly a conspiracy theory in it's own right! It's possible the FDA regulations meant that folate HAD to be added to grain products, and the intention was never really to ban it from use in other foods. Of course, as logical and well intentioned as the FDA always is (please read sarcasm), some twit has simply reinterpreted the ruling to their own economic advantage.

This is yet another example of the Food and Drug Administration being overzealous about stupid things while at the same time not protecting Americans from actual dangerous drugs.

I've never been to Australia but I aquired the taste for Vegemite when I had some on a dare. I'm more a fan of Marmite (which as I look at the ingridients also has the forbidden folic acid), but I like both! Am I going to have to get black market yeast extract now?

Ridiculous and sad.

When it comes to Stuff To Smear On Bread, I much prefer the Israeli choice: Chocolate spread! (I love this country!)

The FDA can't or won't do work on serious issues, so they work on bullshit like banning Vegemite. Rise up, all you Aussies (or anyone else who can stand it)! Have it mailed to you in bulk from Home! Serve it on toast at the Aussie Embassy & invite Bush; make sure he gets a whopping big helping ....

What MAOZ said.

All due respect you guys from Oz, I much prefer the chocolate spread (and the dentist bills that come with it) to Vegemite any day of the week.

I can cope with the idea of the water going down backwards in the toilet or the sink. After all, when I'm writing or reading in Hebrew I go from right to left and increasingly view left to right as the wrong direction. And I don't care what the weather is like for my holidays (as in NOT Christmas or Easter), so long as nobody cramps my style in celebrating them. Besides, they are all based on the weather patterns here.

But Vegemite is nasty - even in tiny thin little bits on bread. I tried it that way, too. Ground white horseradish is much much more to my taste. And boy, does it clear the sinuses!!

You know, in Australia you can get both Vegemite AND chocolate spread. Wow, eh? It's called a fucking free market.

BTW - why is Australia called "Oz"?

Mistress la Spliffe,

You know what, we can get both here in Israel, too. Maybe the Americans can learn something about a free market from us, eh?

Maybe they can learn alot about the free market from lots of people around the world, Ruvy. The number of artificial controls on the market of capitalism's supposed ringleader . . . I bet they can't get Pocket Coffees either.

Remember the mention of "vegemitamin sandwich" in Men at Work's song "Who Can It Be Now?" Now what could be wrong with something that a man from Brussels who was six foot tall and full of muscles ate religiously?

Let's all have a Fosters and lighten up!

Didn't Lucille Ball have a pretty wonderful episode where she was selling "Vegemeatamin" or something close to it?

Didn't Lucille Ball have a pretty wonderful I Love Lucy episode where she was selling "Vegemeatamin" or something close to it?

Vitameatavegamin!

do you pop out at parties? are you unpoopular?

weeeellll, the answerrto all yer questions isin this bittlelottle... *hick*

total fucking classic!

First Foie Gras, then horse meat, now Vegemite. What are they going to ban next, spam?

Dave

You need to redact the part about folate. This has nothing to do with whether or not it's good for you. That's not the issue. According to FDA,
Reason: NEEDS FCE
Section: 402(a)(4), 801(a)(3); ADULTERATION
Charge: It appears the manufacturer is not registered as a
low acid canned food or acidified food manufacturer pursuant
to 21 CFR 108.25(c)(1) or 108.35(c)(1).

and

Reason: NO PROCESS
Section: 402(a)(4), 801(a)(3); ADULTERATION
Charge: It appears that the manufacturer has not filed
information on its scheduled process as required by 21 CFR
108.25(c)(2) or 108.35(c)(2).

Looks like it's Kraft, not Uncle Sam, who's slacking here.

That's all well and good, Niels--except I have no freakin' idea whatsoever what the hell it means!

I also don't understand warnings like "Women who are pregnant, or may become pregnant should not use this product." or "Trained stuntperson. Do not attempt." And on and on and on...

Nancy asked: "BTW - why is Australia called "Oz"?

Oz-tralia, Nancy ... the short form. Rhymes with Aus ...

We love to shorten everything, like McDonald's becomes Macca's - or lengthen everything to add a vowel, like John becomes Johnno.

We are a weird mob. But Vegemite is sacred, a bit like Oreo cookies.

The FDA should be strung up by the orchestras for this one.

Nancy #17: Because we have an Emerald City and our Prime Minister looks like a Munchkin.

Victor Lana #20: The song was actually called "Down Under", ironically - but your point stands firm.

Dave Nalle #24: Seems the FDA is implemeting a pretty well constructed set of sanctions on the mighty US of A.

Niels Olson #25: And when did a product MADE in Australia have to conform to licensing requirements of another country? Oz is not, as much as our Johnny would like it to be, a state of the Americas. Nevertheless, seeing as Kraft is the slacker, and remembering that they are the largest food and beverage company in the USA, I wonder if they are registered to produce grain products such as Macaroni & Cheese (and other pasta products - including canned pasta meals), Crackers, Vegetarian Burgers, Cookies, Frozen Pizzas, Mini hotdogs, and a variety of other products. If they haven't, expect some big changes coming to a supermarket near you! Im sure Uncle Sam has got bigger fish to worry about than a humble, healthy jar of Vegemite.

Victor Lana: The man in Brussels eating a vegemite sandwich was supposed to be an Aussie ... the whole song's about Aussies turning up everywhere.

Aussie culture ... now there's an oxymoron, if ever there was one. But we do love our Vegemite.

Poizon wrote: "our Prime Minister looks like a Munchkin."

Geez, that's a bit strong isn't it. Garden gnome would have been my observation.

But a very naughty little garden gnome with sharp teeth.

Poizon & STM, I stand corrected on both counts. Cheers!

No problem, at least I still have my haggis.

There's no ban of any kind. It's a fast traveling urban legend. BSometer pegged on this one. Lesson for today. Aussies are a tad credulous.

Yes, Pelicanman, there is a bloody ban.

And it's a bloody disgrace. Dangerous-looking Australians (that's all of them, especially if they've just crossed the Pacific non-stop) are being stopped at the borders and frisked down AND body searched for jars of Vegemite.

Dave Nalle wrote: "First Foie Gras, then horse meat, now Vegemite. What are they going to ban next, spam?"

Spam: great breakfast food for happy campers. Great cure for a camping hangover when nothing else is left. We should, however, retaliate Down Under with a ban on Oreo cookies, the eating of which by minors has led to a regular depletion of milk stocks - in my fridge.

Milk moustaches mean I'm driving to the shops, usually about the time the football is starting.

ROTFLOL-! Well, whatever else, Aussies certainly have an immense sense of humor. You may have a munchkin, but we've got a DELUSIONAL, megalomanical munchkin with adnoidal problems who has not only decided he's the Decider, but that no one else on earth shall go into or make use of space (the final frontier) without HIS specific permission. Which is worse?

Ref: spam, they won't ban spam; most of Hawaii lives on spam. Hawaiians adore spam. So I would surmise that spam is sacrosanct. For the moment.

Meanwhile I would encourage all with access to Vegemite to defy the FDA and get your friends & family back home to MAIL IT TO YOU in BULK so you don't run short! Sell it on the black market! Refuse to knuckle under to BushCo's conspiracy to deprive the world of Vegemite!

Well, although I'm pro-folate, I'm sure we'd just mess it up through over-consumption (supersize that ozwich please).

But...now that we are "controlling" it at the boarders, perhaps we will reap the benefits of another American pattern. We'll encourage a black market, as anything denied is near automatically a forbidden fruit. Soon it will be available outside 7-Eleven's across the country.

Crikey! You guys are an excitable lot. Too laid back to start your own wars, you sure can fret like blue arse fly over nothing. Why get your jocks in knots....ok. ok. cottontails, too..over a goey black paste that taste like you know what, that could be mistaken for a treatment for haemorriods.

That gooey black paste is what makes us great. That and the fact we don't give a rat's arse about anything ... except winning at sport.

And beer. Oh, and Milo, the malty-chocolate milk drink of young champions. Forgot about that.

Marmite is soooo much better than Vegemite. I've been living in Australia far longer than I did in the UK but for the life of me, no matter how hard I try to "assimilate" as the conservative government would say, Vegemite just wants to make me hurl.

Perhaps the applicable American businesses are just pissed they didn't come up with it first. Oh boy, I'm going to get flamed now, eh?

With all the CRAPPY take out food in this country, they worry about Vegemite. Who's idiotic idea was that? The FDA!! How about before concerning themselves with Vegemite, they check the content of the road kill that comes out of Mickey D's, Taco Bell, KFC and the like. I bet they are more harmfull to everyone's health than Vegemite is to the handfull of American's who eat it. Get a clue FDA and get a life, stay out of ours!

so i still don't quite understnd why Vegmite is banned in the U.S. or is it?

I think that it can't be sold in the US. However, if you have a friend that that sends you some from australia then it was never sold in the US and was just a gift. It is not like you are receiving drugs or something. http://www.ozemartdirect.com is my friend.

I think that it can't be sold in the US. However, if you have a friend that that sends you some from australia then it was never sold in the US and was just a gift. It is not like you are receiving drugs or something. http://www.ozemartdirect.com is my friend.

From Wikipedia:

"In October 2006, the Melbourne newspaper, the Herald Sun incorrectly reported that Vegemite had been banned in the United States, and that the United States Customs Service had gone so far as to search Australians entering the country for Vegemite. The story appears to have originated from an anecdote from a traveler who claimed to have been searched, and a spokesperson for Kraft who made a misinformed comment to reporters. The story led to some anti-American comments in blogs and newspapers. The Herald Sun blamed the US President for the ban, and encouraged readers to post comments on its website and send emails to the White House.

"The US Food and Drug Administration later stated that although it is technically illegal in the US to add folate to food products other than grains, there were no plans to investigate whether Vegemite contains folate, to subject it to an import ban, or withdraw it from US supermarket shelves. The United States Customs and Border Protection also tried to dispel the rumor, stating on its website that "there is no known prohibition on the importation of Vegemite" and "there is no official policy within CBP targeting Vegemite for interception". The story of the "ban" later took on the status of urban legend. While Vegemite has never been popular in the U.S., it can still be purchased at supermarkets that stock imported food items."

Having said that, could someone send me a jar? :D

Also, look here.

And About Australia sells it in 5,14, and 21-oz. jars.

There is no ban on Vegemite. If you want to mail some up or bring some to the U.S. for your friends go right ahead. If you bring 500 pds there would be a problem as it would be deemed a commercial shipment. Five or ten jars for gifts or personal use is no problem. If an officer feels otherwise on your trip ask to speak with a supervisor. Cheers!!

"And About Australia sells it in 5,14, and 21-oz. jars."

We get it in a 2.5kg bucket.

Fuk the USA then they can go stick it up there FAT "and most of em r fat" Assers they got owe beer and they buy owe other shit and call it there own so maybe its a good thing fuk em at lest they aint getting this and if they ever ban the word mate then well thats just the fuked up world we live in haha I will never stop saying MATE and same with u cant take Australian flags to same games hahaha fuk em Im goin to still take it its owe FUKIN PLACE there only doing this coz of all the fukin over seas kock heads who moved here and wonted there stuff to be here and fort and said shit like Australia words and flags is rong and thats why we cant do alot of the stuff we use to do bak in the 80's or 90's when Aus was good now u cant even seen an australian with out seeing a over seas fuk head who thinks there shit has to be seen over here FUK OFF HOME I dont hate blacks coz black AUSTRALIANs are still Australian and white australians are australians its the none australians who hate owe way of life if u dont like it go home we dont wont u here FUKKKKKKKKK OFFFFFFFF MATE

Geez, Stephen, sucked right in, and shouldn't you be doing your homework about now, not farting about on the computer ... and giving us Aussies a good name there with that little rant. If it's caused by smoking something, please tell me where you got it so I can get mine somewhere else.

Seriously though, chill out mate ... they're not really banning our Vegemite.

It's an urban myth, but a good one.

hi i dont blame the usa banning vegemite ,i live in australia and i hate the smell of it the taste of it as well ,people over here in australia call it axle grease bcz it looks like grease you grease your bike chains with etc,regards davids nsw australia

i think they should ban smoking and alcohol here or make it 21 to buy it etc and to get into clubs and hotels ,thanks david nsw australia.