# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/21 "2006-10-22T14:54:51Z")
To me, it smells like my cat’s hairball medicine. I could never get past the smell to taste it. But does the size limitation mean that it’s completely banned, or it’s just banned in containers over 4 oz? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/22 "2006-10-22T14:55:39Z")
[QUOTE=mamboman] Sigh. When you make vegemite illegal, the only people who will have it are criminals. [/QUOTE] Well, it IS an Australian product, after all. _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/23 "2006-10-22T15:33:46Z")
[QUOTE=Mama Tiger] But does the size limitation mean that it’s completely banned, or it’s just banned in containers over 4 oz? [/QUOTE] Just the larger containers. I saw some in the market the other day, so I know for a fact it’s still available. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/24 "2006-10-22T15:54:05Z")
[QUOTE=astro] 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 Morton’s salt into the mix. [/QUOTE] Yeah, it isn’t too bad is it? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/25 "2006-10-22T16:18:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Uh, somebody better alert **Elfbabe** that **QtM** ’s going to be having withdrawls pretty soon. As long as they don’t ban neutronium… ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/26 "2006-10-22T17:16:53Z")
**NOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!** I’ve only got about a kilo left in the big bucket! What about marmite? Marmite’s okay, isn’t ? Tell me it’s okay! For Og’s sake, **tell me marmite is okay???** ---
**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, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/27 "2006-10-22T17:27:52Z")
If folate is the bad stuff Marmite likely to be banned also [Marmite Ingredients:](http://www.marmite.co.nz/home-page/nutritional-info) > [@](#): > > Yeast (80%), Sugar, Salt, Mineral Salt (508), Wheat Maltodextrin, Colour (Caramel), Herbs, Spices, Vitamins (Niacin, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Folate, B12), Mineral (Iron). Contains Derivatives of Barley, Wheat and Soy. But don’ t expect much to happen. You’re apparently a “minor market”. > [@](#): > > Kraft spokeswoman Joanna Scott said: "The (US) Food and Drug Administration doesn’t allow the import of Vegemite simply because the recipe does have the addition of folic acid.‘’ > > The US was "a minor market’’ for Vegemite, she said ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Sweet\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/28 "2006-10-22T17:29:47Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] 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. 😃 [/QUOTE] I think this means that if vegemite crosses our sacred borders, then the terrorists truly win. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/29 "2006-10-22T17:31:33Z")
Canada! What about Canada? I can get it there, can’t I? I can, right? Right??? **elfbabe**! **elfbabe!** ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/30 "2006-10-22T17:55:40Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Canada! What about Canada? I can get it there, can’t I? I can, right? Right??? **elfbabe**! **elfbabe!** [/QUOTE] Jeez, calm down! I’ll look! I’ll look! Doesn’t want Cuban cigars or absinthe or anything, just Vegemite… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/31 "2006-10-22T18:03:05Z")
I’ve had a jar of Marmite sitting on a “shelf of oddities” in my kitchen for the past two years or so. How long does that stuff last? I hear it’s inedible regardless of age, but how can you tell fresh inedibility from Marmite that’s gone bad? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/32 "2006-10-22T18:09:40Z")
That stuff will keep forever. As will vegemite. The salt load will prevent spoilage for decades. I took a quick inventory: I have about a kilo of marmite, and about a kilo plus a bit of vegemite. I should be okay for a while. I think I’ve got some promite stashed somewhere too, for real emergencies. Gotta go check… **elfbabe** , no cigars. No absinthe. Vegemite, marmite, and some Old Tyme ginger beer ought to do it. Gotta check on that Bovril you got me, too. If the government won’t let me have it, I’ll want more! 😉 ---
**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, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/33 "2006-10-22T19:01:35Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] That stuff will keep forever. As will vegemite. The salt load will prevent spoilage for decades. I took a quick inventory: I have about a kilo of marmite, and about a kilo plus a bit of vegemite. I should be okay for a while. I think I’ve got some promite stashed somewhere too, for real emergencies. [/QUOTE] I have over a kilo in the pail, plus two or three small jars stashed someplace and a small jar of Marmite. From the sound of things, the small jars will probably be available. I’ll be looking forward to **elfbabe** ’s response. White Rock, Surrey, Richmond and Vancouver are close to my house. Not that I’d violate any laws, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/34 "2006-10-22T19:04:16Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] That stuff will keep forever. As will vegemite. The salt load will prevent spoilage for decades. I took a quick inventory: I have about a kilo of marmite, and about a kilo plus a bit of vegemite. I should be okay for a while. I think I’ve got some promite stashed somewhere too, for real emergencies. Gotta go check… **elfbabe** , no cigars. No absinthe. Vegemite, marmite, and some Old Tyme ginger beer ought to do it. Gotta check on that Bovril you got me, too. If the government won’t let me have it, I’ll want more! 😉 [/QUOTE] What type of Bovril have you got? Are you aware that a couple of years ago they changed the formulation? It no longer contains beef, but is now made from yeast extract just like Marmite ---
**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, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/35 "2006-10-22T19:10:59Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] That stuff will keep forever. As will vegemite. The salt load will prevent spoilage for decades. [/QUOTE] I meant to include this in my last post: I used to have a neighbour from Australia. I had some Vegemite that was past its expiry date, but she chuckled and said it lasts forever. (I knew that, and was eating it anyway; but I liked having it confirmed by a native.) ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/36 "2006-10-22T19:12:37Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] I have over a kilo in the pail, plus two or three small jars stashed someplace and a small jar of Marmite. From the sound of things, the small jars will probably be available. I’ll be looking forward to **elfbabe** ’s response. White Rock, Surrey, Richmond and Vancouver are close to my house. Not that I’d violate any laws, of course. [/QUOTE] Hello! The Buy-Low at 1405 Johnston Road, White Rock has a section of Brit-chow (cans of spotted dick, assorted packets of weird gravy) and has \_\_\_mite (I forget if it is Vege-or Mar-). Perhaps we can arrange a trade- Vegemite for Aleve? Still an Rx here :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/37 "2006-10-22T19:16:02Z")
CRAP! A few years ago, I participated in the SDMB Secret Santa program, and happily recieved a small jar of Vegemite in my gift. This past year, I was deployed with an Australian Major who happily ate the stuff (and gave me a little smattering every now and then too). I want to get my hands on some of the stuff, so I’ll have to go hit up a supermarket before word spreads and they turn the existing supplies into toast, by order of the jackbooted thugs at the FDA. Next thing you know is that they’ll tell us _drinking_ is bad for us, and that we’ll have to cut back on our intake of red meat! I mean, c’mon! If you can’t have steak, eggs, Vegemite, and beer for breakfast, the terrorists have already won! My SIGO did ask: is there any way we can make the stuff ourselves? I mean, I I have an old beer homebrewing kit back home I could use . . . Tripler All puns in this post are fully intended (and compliant with all FCC guidelines). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/38 "2006-10-22T19:23:11Z")
Yes, it does last forever, but if you have an opened jar, it will slowly dry out, and become more difficult to spread. Still tastes the same, however. ---
**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, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/39 "2006-10-22T19:40:51Z")
[QUOTE=Annie] Hello! The Buy-Low at 1405 Johnston Road, White Rock has a section of Brit-chow (cans of spotted dick, assorted packets of weird gravy) and has \_\_\_mite (I forget if it is Vege-or Mar-). Perhaps we can arrange a trade- Vegemite for Aleve? Still an Rx here :mad: [/QUOTE] Making a note of the address. We really should put together a White Rock DopeFest when I get back up to my house. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429/40 "2006-10-22T19:55:32Z")
The image of **Quadgop** , and **Elfbabe** tiptoeing across the great northern wilderness, smuggling two pound buckets of Vegamite across the border is gonna stick in my mind. How long does a kilogram of this stuff last you? Even with a shelf life that rivals the actual shelf itself, isn’t a couple of pails of the stuff gonna last you a reasonable expectation of a lifetime? Let’s see, a teaspoon a day, if the stuff has a density anywhere near one is about two kilos a year. Yikes! Okay, so you need a closet full, fast, before it goes on the controlled substances list. Tris [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegemite-is-now-banned-in-america/377429.md?page=3)