Vegemite banned in US
Posted on October 22nd, 2006 by Jackie Danicki
The Beach
Originally uploaded by stuandgravy.
This is what you get when you allow the state a stake in the public’s health, and give it the thumbs-up to legislate what it considers ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods: The United States government is cracking down on the import of Vegemite, which is banned in America. Why? It contains folate, which by US law can only be added to breads and cereals.
We happen to have a jar of Vegemite in the kitchen right now (Antoine’s Australian relatives were visiting us recently), so I think this calls for a round of toast smeared with sticky brown goo. Knowing the American government, that might just be grounds for an arrest warrant.
Filed under: Life
Please consider signing my petition at http://www.savevegemite.com and get our Aussie icon unbanned!!!!
WE ARE NOT HAPPY LITTLE VEGEMITES!!
“I think this calls for a round of toast smeared with sticky brown goo.”
Fraternity flashback!
That’s just bizarre. If it contained a banned additive, well, that’d still probably be wrong unless the additive was really really nasty, but kind of fair enough. But that the additive is allowed in bread implies that the state has decided it’s not bad for you. Or, if they think it is bad for you, they’ve decided that it’s OK to put unhealthy things in bread for some reason. And then, when you spread Vegemite on bread, the whole thing gets even stupider.
Anyway, toast? Nah. Nice fresh white bread with plenty of butter; spread the Vegemite roughly, so that it mixes with the butter a bit and you get brown and yellow swirls. Mmmm.
Nigella has a recipe for Marmite sandwiches in one of her books (she says they’re a hit at kids’ parties, with little ones and adults), and she actually creams the Marmite and butter together, then spreads it on the white stuff. It sounds dreamy. (Par-boiled potatoes tossed and coated with a bit of Marmite, then roasted, are yummy - I imagine you could do the same with Vegemite.)
Oddly enough, I can’t stand Marmite. But I love Vegemite. And I know that they taste almost identical. I have noticed that many Marmite-lovers hate Vegemite, while also acknowledging that they taste very similar. Whatever the small subtle difference in taste between them is, it seems to be crucial.
Anyway, spread a very small amount on a crumpet underneath a layer of cream cheese. Mmmmm. The potato idea sounds good, too.
While we do have some Vegemite in the cupboard, I’ve never actually tried it. I just assumed it would taste the same as Marmite (which is why I was puzzled that the Aussie rellies insisted on having Vegemite, even though we had a big jar of Marmite on hand). Now I’m intrigued.
You should live-blog a blind taste test. With volunteers. From different countries. That would be the best blog post anywhere ever.
I was told that Marmite is savory and Vegimite is sweet. I’ve tried neither.
I think you ought to do a taste test.
Well, I AM looking for activities to fill the evening hours while Antoine is away in America later this week…
it strikes me as a little warped that vegemite is banned because it contains a vitamin (something that is essentially good for you) and yet ciggarettes are being sold freely everywhere you look. i know what i’d rather be pumping into my body every morning and it aint a lung full of cancerous tarry smoke. GIMME THE FOLATE THANX!