Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
MerBear OriginalsJust saw this on a news site.
NEW YORK, Oct 23 (Reuters Life!) - Reports that U.S. customs agents are searching people from Australia and New Zealand for Vegemite, a popular yeast extract spread, has created consternation among antipodean expatriates living in America.
The Australian Embassy in Washington said on Monday it was looking into Australian media reports that customs officials were checking people for the salty brown spread.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has long prohibited imports of Vegemite because it contains folate, a B vitamin approved as an additive for just a few foods, including breakfast cereals.
But until recently there was no difficulty bringing in a few jars for personal use. Nearly 100,000 Australians and New Zealanders live in the United States.
Like a similar British favorite called Marmite, it is usually spread on toast with butter or cheese.
"Vegemite made me the man I am today," said Brad Blanks, a reporter with a New York breakfast radio show. "In Australia the slogan is that Vegemite puts a rose in every cheek; but today America has slapped the cheek of every Australian."
Weekend reports from Australian and New Zealand media said some people had been searched or asked by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents if they were carrying Vegemite.
Agency officials were not immediately available for comment.
"From our perspective there is no food safety issue with Vegemite and we had been advised recently by US authorities that Vegemite was not of concern to them," an Australian embassy spokeswoman told Reuters.
Vegemite is made in Australia by U.S.-based Kraft Foods Inc.
Pumpkin & Pickle BearsStuart (my other half, who's Australian) read this out to me a few nights ago - I can't believe it's being 'banned'...how ridiculous! Stuart would have serious withdrawral symptoms if he went without Vegemite for more than a few days!! 
Posts: 3,540I've never had the heart to try Vegemite after having tried Marmite...still feel like I licked a carpet 
However, what on earth has possessed the Customs to panic over Vegemite? I mean, so what if it contains a Vit B that's found in breakfast cereals?? Hellooooo, I think these people have too much time on their hands 
Posts: 1,836Good grief we're constantly looking like goofs aren't we. Let the terrorists/drugs in, keep the vitamin B out.
Who decided vitamin B was a threat and why are they making more money than the rest of us?? 
:hug:
~Chrissi
Teddy Bear and FriendsC'mon, these are the same people who made us pour out coffee, wine, shampoo, and Chanel No. 5 because we might mix them together and make a bomb. The same people who all but strip search little old ladies, despite the fact that no terrorists are little old ladies. They ban toddlers from flying because they happen to share names with a bad guy. They'll refuse to let you on a plane if your ticket says "Bill" and your ID says "William" -- apparently nicknames are for terrorists. Vegemite a threat? In the eyes of the US government, absolutely.
(Sorry, I have a real bitter streak about airports these days. I'm flying tomorrow, so I'm hunting around for my tiny bottles of shampoo and moisturizer and a Ziploc bag to carry them in. Grr.)
Mindy
Good grief !!!!!!!!!!
PottersHouse BearsI don't know about the rest of you Americans, but I can't hardly sleep at night for fear that someone may smuggle deadly vitamin B into our country and destroy us all. Actually, I have some real gripes with our government control right now. They shut down an Amish man's farm because he sold a gallon of milk to someone. The government says it may not be safe for you to drink raw milk, but you have their permission to light up a cigarette and kill yourself. My grandma drank raw milk for 93 years and I grew up on the stuff. Milk the way God made it. I wonder what the next thing will be. Excuse me I will now step down from my soapbox.
What will be next???
Posts: 1,836(Sorry, I have a real bitter streak about airports these days. I'm flying tomorrow, so I'm hunting around for my tiny bottles of shampoo and moisturizer and a Ziploc bag to carry them in. Grr.)
Mindy
:crackup:
Saturday Night Live did an airport security sketch about this a few weeks ago.... it was pretty funny but pretty sad/pathetic too....in that we some how are convinced that allowing several 3oz bottles onto a plane is better or safer than allowing one or two 8 oz bottles onto the same plane :doh: (scratching head)
QueenslandGawd am so glad my daughter in in London now as she was working in the USA and i used to send vegemite over to her all the time with tim tams(chocolate biscuits) but thank gawd she is in the UK and they haven't banned it.........thought vitamin b was good for you but only takes one person to come up with that..........grrrrrrrrrr
Take care
Be Safe :hug:
Vegemite spread is a real Aussie tradition, and we were all brought up on it. Vegemite spread on your toast in the morning, Vegemite sandwiches for lunch at school, and often Mum would put a spoonful of it in the casserole for extra flavouring. It is really an acquired taste, and I have had overseas friends say that they thought they were going to die after tasting it. If I were ever going to visit America, it would be on the condition I could bring my Vegemite with me. We Aussies can't survive without the stuff. Please Mr. President, give Vegemite the thumbs up!!
Jellybelly BearsWhhhhat???? Geez louise!!!
Rufnut Teddy'sOhhh Man, what next.... Poor vegemite.... 
LutonVegemite = bad
Global warming = who cares !!!!!
The ozone layer at the moment is the biggest it has ever been. Terrorism is a threat but right now I'm more worried about global warming!!!
Mother nature can do more damage than man ever could !!!
Claire
Matilda Huggington-beareI have lost count on how many jars I have hidden in socks while travelling :crackup:
Mountain Dreamer BearsWhat is wrong with folate? You can buy it at Wal-Mart in capsule form! Good grief!
Forget about drug smugglers and terrorists, but be sure to stop the influx of vitamin rich bread spread!! Shheeesh!
Things are getting really strange.
