Vegemite ban: back off, Bush!

Herald Sun ^ | Oct 23, 2006

[Kiss Me Hardy]

Shock, incredulity and downright horror – that has been Australians’ reaction to the news that US has banned Vegemite. And even Americans who can’t stand the stuff think their government has gone too far. “We have terrorists trying to smuggle in weapons, dirty bombs, WMD, we have druglords smuggling in tons of illegal hallucinogen drugs,” writes an American poster going by the screen name of Fair Opinion at the US-based Free Republic bulletin board. “And border security is spending time and effort to stop people from bringing in vegetable extract!” Another US poster observed, “It's pretty silly for the government to ban something that no native born American will eat in the first place!”

[Zhang Fei]

Marmite is the sludge from the bottom of beer-brewing vats which some marketing genius convinced the unsuspecting public was health food a century or so ago. Vegemite is essentially the same product. I haven't tasted Vegemite, but Marmite is extremely bitter and salty and I can't believe that Vegemite is too much different. Marmite is foul muck, considered edible only by those who have been accilmated to it since early chidlhood.

Thanks for clearing that up. I had thought Marmite, Bovril and Vegemite were all made from salted axle grease with food coloring added.

[Rte66]

Well, I just checked my pantry and it appears either Rove or Cheney has confiscated my box of Weetabix.

No, wait, I ate it all. *Never mind.*

[MarkL]

” Another US poster observed, “It's pretty silly for the government to ban something that no native born American will eat in the first place!”

Hey!!!! I'm famous! I was quoted in an Aussie Newspaper web article!!!!! Yippie! (but they didn't site me :-( ) I'm "another US poster." Maybe I should talk to JimRob about changing my handle!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1723623/posts?page=63#63

Oops... I just thought of something. I may have just angered a hugh, multinational food conglomerate (Big Food!), plus now the Food Cops might be on to me about eating illegal Jelly Babies while I was in college!

Mark

[Liberty Valance]

"...an American poster going by the screen name of Fair Opinion at the US-based Free Republic..."

LOL - Take a bow ;o) The Herald-Sun in Oz is now using FR as a source. Congratulations!

[AlaskaErik]

I tried it once. Yuk! Tasted like solidified soy sauce.

[Liberty Valance]

[sageb1]

I never heard of this stuff before. What the heck is it?

[sageb1]

beer sludge???

[Kaylen]

Please consider signing my petition at www.savevegemite.com and get our Aussie icon unbanned!!!!

[quidnunc]

Zhang Fei wrote: Thanks for clearing that up. I had thought Marmite, Bovril and Vegemite were all made from salted axle grease with food coloring added.

Bovril is liquified cow parts.

[quidnunc]

sageb1 wrote: beer sludge???

Yes, some English brewer decided that if they could convince people that the yeast sludge left over from the brewing process was health food because it contained some vitamin b then they could augment their profits.

Enough people fell for it to make it a profitable sideline.

[Piefloater]

ping

[Liberty Valance]

[NapkinUser]

A google news search for this only brings up articles from Australia. Either this is a rumor that is not really true or no one in America cares (I know I don't.)

[decal]

"They can take my Vegemite from me only when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers."

Tried the stuff once; it's not THAT bad. The trick is in spreading it reeeeeeeally thin - even Aussies don't glop it on as though it were jam.

Makes Lamington cakes taste even sweeter afterwards, too :9

[Central Scrutiniser]

I like it.

And, I like Durian, it scares the hell out of people at work.

[Rurudyne]

Vegemite is some great medicine for morning hangovers for foreigners in AU. Once the first bite hits your tongue, you have a "Am I eating salty beer vomit?" moment, and all the other ills you have fade away in comparison.

Maybe if we force fed it to the people is Washington and numerous State capitals we could snap them out of their delusions about their spending habits too? (Not to mention making it safer to ride with a Kennedy)

No, Vegemite may be strong but nothing is THAT strong.

[decal]

"And, I like Durian, it scares the hell out of people at work."

You bring durians to work? Where do you work, a sewage treatment plant?

[Mobile Vulgus]

Looks to me like another newspaper trying to gin up anti-Bush and anti-American feelings.

Who GIVES a crap about their stupid Vegamite???

We have a right to ban ANYTHING from any other country.

[xp38]

way way way too much for that cracker....no wonder people not used to it hate it if they try it like that...its a flavoring that is very salty....something like that would be like swallowing a couple of tablespoons of salt.