PROOF THERE IS A G_D AND SHE LOVES AUSTRALIA

US govt denies it's banned Vegemite


Australians travelling to the US can breathe easy. So can the 100,000 or so Australian expatriates living in America.

The US government dismissed media reports it had banned Vegemite.

"There is no ban on Vegemite," US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesman Mike Herndon told AAP.

Media reports at the weekend claimed American border officials were confiscating Vegemite from Australians as they entered the US.

The FDA, charged with policing America's food supply, has not issued an "import alert" to border officials to halt the import of Vegemite.

Herndon said the FDA was surprised by the media reports.

The controversy centres on folate, an ingredient in Vegemite.

Under US regulations, folate can be added only to breads and cereals.

"One of the Vitamin B components (in Vegemite) is folate," Herndon explained.

"In and of itself, it's not a violation. If they're adding folate to it, boosting it up, technically it would be a violation.

"But the FDA has not targeted it and I don't think we intend to target Vegemite simply because of that."

Joanna Scott, spokesperson for Vegemite's maker, Kraft, reportedly has said, "The Food and Drug Administration doesn't allow the import of Vegemite simply because the recipe does have the addition of folic acid".

But Herndon said, "Nobody at the FDA has told them (Kraft) there is a ban".

To eradicate any grey areas or potential regulation breaches, Herndon said, Kraft could petition the FDA, something other food manufacturers have done.

While many Aussies living in the US rely on visiting Australian relatives and friends to bring them a jar or two of Vegemite from Australia, the product is available in some US supermarkets.

The price slapped on Vegemite, however, is tough to swallow.

A tiny, four ounce jar of Vegemite sells for around $US4.80 ($A6.33) in US supermarkets.

OK looks like someone stuffed something up .. ... maybe me for taking notice of a FOX owned media ... shame on me ... I will take back some of the bad things i said about the USA in the last 2 days ....

anyway good news

Your not taking my vegemite .... I'll fight ya for it

Just when you think the frickin US of A has done enough harm in the world ... news comes in that they have baned vegemite !!!!!! omgosh ... they are even searching cars and bags on Aussies for the stuff .... why .. cause the land of the free people is not so free .. but you already knew that ... vegemite is great for you not to mention it tastes fantastic .... what is the world coming to .. as a friend of mine said quote " why do we help them fight their shitty wars when they are searching us for spreads" totally agree ...



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."

Another reasion I will never go to the usa ... lets make that number 1001 wankers lol