US has banned Vegemite

[one-eyed]

Happy Vegemites? We don't think so
Kelvin Healey
October 22, 2006 12:00am
Article from: Sunday Herald Sun

THE US has banned Vegemite, even to the point of searching Aussies for jars of the spread as they enter the country.

The bizarre condiment crackdown was prompted because Vegemite has been deemed illegal under US food laws.
The great Aussie icon -- faithfully carried around the world by travellers from Down Under -- contains folate, which under a technicality, the US allows only to be added to breads and cereals.

Australian expatriates in the US said enforcement of the ban had been gradually stepped up and was now ruining lifelong Vegemite on toast breakfast traditions.

Former Geelong man Daniel Fogarty, who now lives in Calgary, said he was stunned when searched for Vegemite while crossing the US border on a trip to Montana recently.

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

"I was flabbergasted.

"The official said Vegemite wasn't permitted in the US."

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, which has been hard," he said.

Mr Watkins said some companies were flouting the law by continuing to import Vegemite and hoping the shipments would not be inspected.

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,20623197-662,00.html

[Ox]

what a crock

[mightytiges]

Vegemite - officially now a WMD  .

The wife of a mate of mine living in LA (both Aussies) loves the stuff. It's her favourite food. They've lived in the US for 3 years and she often would specially order in a slab of Vegemite jars from Oz so she didn't get homesick. She'd be horrified if this is true although they are moving back to Oz in a few weeks so she's getting out just in time lol.

How stupid a decision can you get  .

[julzqld]

We should ban Americans.

[tiga]

Vegemite is owned by the Americans (Kraft) Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Maybe it's in retalliation for the Ugg boot fiasco.

You can legally carry a semi-automatic pistol that can kill people in seconds but you can't carry a Jar of Vegemite?? How long would it take for someone to die of excessive vegemite consumption??   

Where's Michael Moore when you need him!

[mightytiges]

Vegemite is owned by the Americans (Kraft) Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Maybe it's in retalliation for the Ugg boot fiasco.

You can legally carry a semi-automatic pistol that can kill people in seconds but you can't carry a Jar of Vegemite?? How long would it take for someone to die of excessive vegemite consumption??   

Where's Michael Moore when you need him!

Even the Americans can't believe how stupid this is. US customs wasting their time searching for yeast extract instead of bombs, bio and chemical weapons and drugs  .

[Rodgerramjet]

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

Click Here For The Full Story

[one-eyed]

Black in the USA
Kelvin Healey
October 29, 2006 12:00am
Sunday Herald Sun

KRAFT will fight for the right to resume importing Vegemite to the US after the country reconsidered its restriction on the famous spread.

The US Food and Drug Administration said this week that travellers carrying Vegemite would not be stopped, in response to revelations in the Sunday Herald Sun that Australians had been searched for the sandwich spread at the US-Canadian border.

While travellers are in the clear to pack their traditional breakfast fare, Kraft has not yet been given a green light to export Vegemite to the US, Kraft spokeswoman Joanna Scott said.

However, the American-owned company is in talks to end the deadlock, which has resulted in many stores in the US being unable to source supplies.

"We would hope to be in a position to be able to export and at the moment we are in discussions with authorities," Ms Scott said.

"(Exporting) would be something we would try and do in the future."

According to Kraft, the crackdown on Vegemite was prompted because it contains folate, which the US allows to be added only to breads and cereals.

http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,20661347-662,00.html