THE United States has slapped a ban on Vegemite, outraging Australian expatriates there.
The bizarre crackdown was prompted because Vegemite contains folate, which in the US can be added only to breads and cereals.
Expatriates say that enforcement of the ban has been stepped up recently and is ruining lifelong traditions of having Vegemite on toast for breakfast.

Former Geelong man Daniel Fogarty, who now lives in Calgary, Canada, said he was stunned when searched while crossing the US border recently.

"The border guard asked us if we were carrying any Vegemite," Mr Fogarty said.

"I was flabbergasted." Paul Watkins, who owns a store called About Australia in San Antonio, Texas, said he had been forced to stop importing Vegemite six months ago.

"We have completely stopped bringing it in," he said.

"(US authorities) have made a stance and there is nothing that can be done about it."


http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20620744-953,00.html



Really WTF is this all about.

10/26/2006 10:50:05 PM

we're turning the corner

10/26/2006 10:51:26 PM

?

10/26/2006 10:53:19 PM

WTF?^^

fuckin kangaroos

[Edited on October 26, 2006 at 10:53 PM. Reason : but i am le tired]

10/26/2006 10:53:30 PM

Can you hear, can you hear the thunder?

10/26/2006 10:56:20 PM

should be banned cuz it tastes like ass, not cuz it has folate in it.

10/26/2006 11:05:11 PM

OMG government cover-up!!!! This is more ridiculous than I thought. There are people who say they have been stopped with vegemite and those who say that they can't import it. The government says this isn't happening.

Really what is going on?

FDA DENIES BAN ON VEGEMITE IMPORTS
Thursday, October 26, 2006 - FreeMarketNews.com

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that recent media reports that the agency had banned imports of Vegemite - a yeast spread popular in Australia - are false. "There is no ban on Vegemite," said FDA spokesman Mike Herndon, who said he was surprised by the media reports on a possible ban. Over the weekend, media outlets began reporting that border officials were confiscating Vegemite from travelers entering the country, based on the folate content of the spread. Under FDA regulations, folate (folic acid) can only be added to cereals and breads, but Herndon says the agency does not plan to target Vegemite. - News Target

http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=24603

10/26/2006 11:05:58 PM

what the fuck is vegemite?

10/26/2006 11:10:02 PM

its nasty shit that australians put on toast and other bready items (and im sure in other stuff). it is black and pasty and i have no clue what it is made of but it tastes terrible.

10/26/2006 11:12:43 PM

I've found some stuff on the FDA's site about banning some vegemites but never because of the folate.

United Kingdom GX5-9910400-5 32 3
Nisaway Ltd
Lincolnshire , GB LOS-DO
37KCT99 VEGEMITE VEGETABLE EXTRACT
27-FEB-2006

Reason: UNSAFE COL
Section: 402(c), 801(a)(3); ADULTERATION
Charge: The article appears to be, or to bear or contain a
color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section
721(a).

Reason: LIST INGRE
Section: 403(i)(2), 801(a)(3); MISBRANDING
Charge: It appears the food is fabricated from two or more
ingredients and the label does not list the common or usual
name of each ingredient.

Reason: LACKS N/C
Section: 403(e)(2), 801(a)(3); MISBRANDING
Charge: The food is in package form and appears to not have
a label containing an accurate statement of the quantity of
the contents in terms of weight, measure or numerical count
and no variations or exemptions have been prescribed by


and


United Kingdom 084-1013637-1 47 1
Nisa International
Grimsby , GB NYK-DO
25HCT99 KRAFT VEGEMITE SANDWICH SPREAD, DOES NOT REQUIRE FCE/SID
19-JAN-2006

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).

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).

10/26/2006 11:25:55 PM

You better run
You better take cova'!

10/27/2006 12:06:25 AM

this doesn't affect me...vegemite is gross.

[Edited on October 27, 2006 at 12:39 AM. Reason : .]

10/27/2006 12:39:17 AM

Ten bucks says he was trying to buy bread from a man in brussels. I'd say he was of muscular stature, standing about 6'4". When asked if they spoke his language, he just smiled.

10/27/2006 12:44:37 AM

i got a jar of it last November

it sucks

10/27/2006 12:50:14 AM

The FDA is here to protect us all from evil unhealthy foods, folks.

In the future, they'll probably spread the fat ban from the liberal cities to the states, to the whole nation.

10/27/2006 12:52:18 AM

Is Folate deadly when not in bread or some shit?

Why isn't it killing the Australians?

10/27/2006 7:37:05 AM

Quote :

""There is no ban on Vegemite," said FDA spokesman Mike Herndon, who said he was surprised by the media reports on a possible ban."

10/27/2006 7:42:13 AM

Even if there is no ban, is there something bad in Folate that would kill me if it wasn't in cereal or bread?

10/27/2006 8:03:26 AM

Well when the story about Vegemite being banned was proved false I automatically assumed that the reasoning behind the supposed ban was also false.

10/27/2006 8:08:09 AM

Yes, HORRIBLE taste! That is why only Australians seem to be able to handle it.

(And I am very sad that no one got the song references from earlier. You all suck )

10/27/2006 8:08:09 AM

We didn't get the reference or we just didn't feel like pointing out the obvious?

PS. You must have missed AxlBonBach's reference.

10/27/2006 8:14:40 AM

Have you ever tasted that shit?

THIS IS A GOOD THING.

10/27/2006 8:20:33 AM

^^ Haha. I just read it for the first time.

btw, why is this even in the Soap Box?

10/27/2006 8:30:55 AM

Quote :

"The FDA is here to protect us all from evil unhealthy foods, folks. In the future, they'll probably spread the fat ban from the liberal cities to the states, to the whole nation."

ha i was waiting for some Randy post blaming liberals for this.

also this is hilariously stupid and makes no sense but ive never had vegemite.

[Edited on October 27, 2006 at 9:02 AM. Reason : oh and i agree Randy, they should legalize drugs b/c im jonezin for a fix.]

10/27/2006 9:01:22 AM

that really is some nasty shit

10/27/2006 9:21:18 AM

My ladyfriend was in Austrailia all summer doing research and got hooked on the stuff. There's a jar of that vile shit tainting one of our shelves as I type this.

Nasty, nasty, nasty. I'd rather just eat a bouillon cube instead.

10/27/2006 12:45:18 PM

Has anybody in here ever eaten Vegemite again after they tried it? Not me

10/27/2006 12:50:11 PM

Quote :

"what the fuck is vegemite?"

leftover brewer's yeast ..and some spices.

Quote :

"Is Folate deadly when not in bread or some shit?"

no.. it's a B vitamin ..well, Folate is the natural variety you get from fruits, veggies, and beans. Folic Acid is the synthetic supplement you can get from fortified cereals, multivitamins, or any pregnant woman with decent prenatal instruction.

Not getting enough folate is bad..it is needed in DNA/RNA production & maintenance. Not having enough can screw you in various ways, though often subtly, like digestive disorder, increased risk for coronary disease... However, an expecting mother not having enough can give birth to an underweight or premature baby, or one with neural tube defects...not good.

Excess intake of Folate is in itself not bad. It is a water-soluble vitamin, so you'll just piss out whatever your body doesn't need. However, folate can mask some symptoms of B12 deficiency, which would allow a person to overlook the deficiency until permanent nerve damage results.

10/27/2006 1:14:17 PM

Why is this making news everywhere? I didn't even know what vegemite is, let alone care about whether it's banned.

10/27/2006 1:17:34 PM

Probably because our international reputation is on the line and we don't want Australia to hate us

no on second thought who gives a damn

10/27/2006 1:21:49 PM

Our international reputation is in danger because of a hoax that says Australian visitors can't bring along some paste they put on toast?

10/27/2006 1:40:55 PM

no but i'm sure somebody would try to convince you that

10/27/2006 1:46:24 PM

The Brits also make their own.

Called marmite there. They gotta have it everyday at breakfast!

Good for vegetarians, as it contains B-vitamins, and they are not easy to get if you are a vegetarian.

11/1/2006 5:35:39 PM