# Vegemite Is Now BANNED In America! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429 "2006-10-22T07:59:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/1 "2006-10-22T07:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > THE US has banned Vegemite, even to the point of searching Australians for jars of the spread when they enter the country. > > The bizarre crackdown was prompted because Vegemite has been deemed illegal under US food laws. > > The great Aussie icon - faithfully carried around the world by travellers from downunder - contains folate, which under a technicality, America allows to be added only to breads and cereals. Source: [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20623973-2,00.html](http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20623973-2,00.html) I bet the real reason for the ban has something to do with terrorism. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/2 "2006-10-22T08:15:15Z")
Whatā€™s wrong with Folic Acid? I was actually suffering from a deficiency of it recently and had to take a supplement. It seems to me itā€™s important to have. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/3 "2006-10-22T08:17:09Z")
If it is banned, I donā€™t think it would be solely because it has folate in it. Ah, ok now I see. Here is the missing bit of information, at least according to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folic_acid#Dietary_fortification_of_folic_acid). It doesnā€™t say if itā€™s outright banned completely now or not. [QUOTE=Wikipedia] Conversely, in the early 2000s, the US FDA prevented the import of Vegemite from Australia, **citing, as the reason, that the folic acid levels are too high**. In 2005 it was impossible for Australian expatriates to buy Vegemite in jars of larger than 113 grams (4 oz.). [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/4 "2006-10-22T08:26:44Z")
Uh, somebody better alert **Elfbabe** that **QtM** ā€™s going to be having withdrawls pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/5 "2006-10-22T08:34:35Z")
Sigh. When you make vegemite illegal, the only people who will have it are criminals. mm ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Push\_Up\_Bra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/edb3f5/32.png) [@Freudian\_Push\_Up\_Bra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Push_Up_Bra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/6 "2006-10-22T09:58:05Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Uh, somebody better alert **Elfbabe** that **QtM** ā€™s going to be having withdrawls pretty soon. [/QUOTE] [Quote=mamboman] Sigh. When you make vegemite illegal, the only people who will have it are criminals. [/quote] These two are bizarrelyā€¦appropriate? Hilarious. Interesting. Help me here literate Dopers! ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/7 "2006-10-22T10:08:40Z")
I know a guy who once ate a whole jar of Vegemite at a sitting, for $50 (which was a lot at the time - about 30 years ago) Note to the uninitiated ā€¦ you just DO NOT do this normally if you are sane. You need maybe half a teaspoon of Veg to a piece of toast. You donā€™t slather it on like peanot butter ā€¦ which may be where the FDA got it wrong. Anyway, my friendā€™s still alive, last time I checked. And all this talk of Vegemite is making me hungry for some toastā€¦(mmmmmmm) ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/8 "2006-10-22T11:21:34Z")
Nooooo! Never tasted the stuff (hear itā€™s pretty awful if you werenā€™t brought up on it), but how shall expatriate Australians comfort their brethren in the States? How shall they recognize them? ā€œI said, do you speak-a my language? He just smiled, and gave me a Vegemite sandwich.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/9 "2006-10-22T11:50:28Z")
Everybody should taste Vegemite once, and once is enough for most of us. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/10 "2006-10-22T12:04:19Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] Everybody should taste Vegemite once, and once is enough for most of us. [/QUOTE] And Marmite too. It tastes a little stronger to my palate, but theyā€™re both great on toast. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/11 "2006-10-22T12:19:23Z")
My stepdad is from South Africa. He and his daughter love the stuff. I think it smells worse than my catsā€™ litterbox. Eh, to each his own. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/12 "2006-10-22T12:47:56Z")
[QUOTE=gabriela] Nooooo! Never tasted the stuff (hear itā€™s pretty awful if you werenā€™t brought up on it), but how shall expatriate Australians comfort their brethren in the States? How shall they recognize them? [/QUOTE] Tim Tams ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/13 "2006-10-22T13:00:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Vegemite Is Now BANNED In America! Well, I _knew_ that the new Anthrax Flavor was pushing things. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/14 "2006-10-22T13:33:41Z")
Hah! More for the rest of us, say I. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/15 "2006-10-22T13:35:34Z")
Banned!!! Butā€¦butā€¦Iā€™ve never tasted it! Now that just makes me want it. Where did I put the number for my Vegemite smuggler? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/16 "2006-10-22T13:44:54Z")
[QUOTE=pimaspinner] Banned!!! Butā€¦butā€¦Iā€™ve never tasted it! Now that just makes me want it. Where did I put the number for my Vegemite smuggler? [/QUOTE] I tried the Marmite version, and the answer to your question is ā€œNo it doesnā€™tā€. Imagine burning tires at a dump, and then congealing that smoke into a thick, brown, near jelly-like viscous goo, and then adding an entire box of Mortonā€™s salt into the mix. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/17 "2006-10-22T13:45:10Z")
> [@](#): > > In 2005 it was impossible for Australian expatriates to buy Vegemite in jars of larger than 113 grams (4 oz.). Well, that explains why the nice lady in Washington didnā€™t have any 2.5kg pails available for sale. Banning Vegemite is just wrong. ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/18 "2006-10-22T14:10:20Z")
I prefer Marmite to Vegemite (itā€™s a nursery food thing, you like what you grew up with) and it is the only thing for hot buttered soldiers and a soft-boiled egg. Are they banning Marmite too? Folic acid is good- it prevents neural tube defects and every woman of child-bearing age should be making sure she gets at least 400mcg daily. Since women at high risk of neural tube defects can safely be given ten times that dose of folic acid daily, Iā€™m not sure how a dab of vegemite can be seen as a health hazard. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/19 "2006-10-22T14:24:16Z")
It appears that the problem is that Folic Acid is ADDED to vegemite/marmite, and the regulations say you can only add it to breads and cereals. I presume if Kraft made a vegemite without added folate, they could export it to the US. The only possible reason I can see is Folic Acid masking a B[sub]12[/sub] deficiency, but the wikipedia entry on Folic Acid made that seem a fairly unlikely problem. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/20 "2006-10-22T14:28:45Z")
[QUOTE=irishgirl] Since women at high risk of neural tube defects can safely be given ten times that dose of folic acid daily, Iā€™m not sure how a dab of vegemite can be seen as a health hazard. [/QUOTE] Not only that, but there are _millions_ of people who eat it every day. One would think that if there were any health problems from eating Vegemite, Marmite, and the others that they would have popped up sometime in the past eight decades. A guy I worked with in the '80s used to be a missionary in Papua New Guinnea, where he ate quite a lot of Vegemite. He said when he returned to the States his blood pressure was much lower than when he left, and he attributed the improvement partially to the Vegamite. Isnā€™t there an American version of Vegemite/Marmite? A coworker mentioned it a few months ago and said he ate it as a child. ISTR that it started with a ā€˜Vā€™. (And no, itā€™s not Vitameatavegemine.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429.md?page=2)