But now, the U.S. Government is looking at a Coast-to-Coast Aussie Riot as the pink, not-so-indiginous people of God's nightmare land begin sharpening their bowie knives to fight a national Vegemite ban. The issue is not the gooey paste's inherent inedibility, but folate, which can only be added to breads and cereals according to the FDA.
We would advise the U.S. Government to consider reversing their ban, pronto. The average Australian shakes things out of their shoes every morning that could kill Robocop. They're tough. Sure, they're obnoxious, but can the U.S. Government really afford getting between them and their sannies?
US bans Vegemite [News.com.au]
]]>Gypsychk: that's the first thing most Americans do. I go especially easy on Vegemite virgins and give them just the barest suggestion of the stuff, on top of an extra-thick layer of butter. It's like learning to drink liquor - if you go all out on your first try, you're screwed.
Pelagius: thanks for the reminder, I need to add Berocca to the shopping list!
And Kerry: Marmite just isn't the same.
]]>That said, TSA rules are not always being applied in foreign countries the way they are here. I flew back to the U.S. from Mexico last weekend and at the Mexico City airport, NO gels or liquids were being allowed in carryons, not even drinks bought in the secure area or 3 oz. containers in quart-size ziploc bags.
But again, this seems to be FDA, not TSA. But maybe an FDA staffer got overzealous. A staffer with a sinister, anti-Aussie agenda...
]]>That's disgusting. And not really funny. :(
]]>However the filing you shared is an import denial. It seems that Vegemite has no FCE registration or SID filing, so it cannot be imported into the US. Of course, there's not much of a market here, so Kraft has never seen a need to import it.
I don't believe the denial of import applies to bringing your own jar of Vegemite over for personal consumption.
]]>I lived near one of the plants for while. They had a tower painted like a package of the wafers and when you drove by you could smell them making them.
]]>The green ones were my fave.
]]>A little hunting around and this looks to be bogus, or at least misrepresented. Check out the links:
The initial story:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20623973-2,00.html
Overview:
http://www.souzouzone.jp/blog/2006/10/substance_abuse.php
It appears that the FDA has not made a statement on Vegimite, and that this could be a misunderstanding regarding Vegimite imported to the UK.
The first grouping between rows of asterisks is the page header. The second grouping shows the refusal of Vegemite in particular. The third grouping defines the reasons "needs FCE" and "no process."
Refusal Actions by FDA as Recorded in OASIS
Country of Origin Entry # DOC Line Suffix
Manufacture Name
City / ISO Country Code District
Product Code Product Description
Date Reason
*************************************************
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 NEEDS FCE
NO PROCESS
*************************************************
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).
BUT none of them seem to be primary sources, just rip & read type articles.
]]>If this gets double-posted, I apologize.
This article doesn't make much sense to me. As far as I know, folates, AKA folic acid, are not limited by the FDA, in fact the FDA regulations REQUIRE folic acid to be added to breads, flours, cereals, etc. This doesn't mean they are only allowed in those foods.
Folic acid occurs naturally in spinach, peas and other foods, and is taken as a supplement by many people, especially during pregnancy.
I would have liked the linked article to provide some references, especially information about who exactly may have passed down the order to ban Vegemite.
It's just ridiculous.
]]>As far as I know, the only FDA regulations concerning folic acid is that it is REQUIRED to be added to breads, cereals, flours, etc. to improve general public health. It is not limited to those products.
I wish there were more references in the linked article about who exactly passed down the order to start blocking Vegemite.
]]>Now I have that damn song in my head all day. Thanks a lot, Consumerist!
]]>I was going to come up with something witty but you stole my thunder. Kudos! :o)
I tried marmite in 1979 in England. The fact that I can remember the year shows what an imprint it left on my tongue.
How about marzipan? (mit iodine!)
Or those nefarious purple Necco wafers that seduce every unsuspecting child with the anticipation of a grape delight only to gag on the bitter revelation it tastes like tarragon and ammonia. A little older, a little wiser.
A naturopath I used to know often recommended this stuff (eaten correctly, see above) to depressed people, since they often suffer a vitamin B deficiency, and the yeast in Vegemite/Marmite is a great source of it.
Speaking of, what's the FDA so worked up about anyway? So it's not bread. It's almost pure yeast! Isn't that good enough?
]]>