Well, this is a curious issue, and I’m not a happy little Vegemite!
Well this IS a curious issue… and I’m not a happy little Vegemite!…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Well, this is a curious issue, and I’m not a happy little Vegemite!
Well this IS a curious issue… and I’m not a happy little Vegemite!…
Article comments
26 - Ray Ellis
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...
27 - S.T.M
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.
28 - PoizonMyst
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.
29 - S.T.M
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.
30 - S.T.M
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.
31 - Victor Lana
Poizon & STM, I stand corrected on both counts. Cheers!
32 - Mohjho
No problem, at least I still have my haggis.
33 - pelicanman
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.
34 - STM
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.
35 - S.T.M
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.
36 - Nancy
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!
37 - Rob
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.
38 - jethru
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.
39 - S.T.M
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.
40 - Snarkattack
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?
41 - P.D.
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!
42 - Holley
so i still don't quite understnd why Vegmite is banned in the U.S. or is it?
43 - Jo
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.
44 - Jo
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.
45 - torgman
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
46 - torgman
Also, look here.
And About Australia sells it in 5,14, and 21-oz. jars.
47 - CBP Officer
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!!
48 - Gladdy
"And About Australia sells it in 5,14, and 21-oz. jars."
We get it in a 2.5kg bucket.
49 - Stephen Lambert
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
50 - STM
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.
51 - david jones
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
52 - david jones
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.
53 - Beth
I noticed in your blog that you mentioned the company About Australia. About Australia does still sell Vegemite. I have ordered some from there in the past month.