File this one under I-didn’t-ever-think-that-would-happen, but the US has banned imports of Vegemite, a savory spread which is made from yeast:
An Australian has revealed that US border security police questioned him recently on suspicion of carrying Vegemite into the country.
The yeasty spread is banned because it contains folate, which in the US can be added only to bread and other grain products such as cereal.
Daniel Fogarty told the Geelong Advertiser that he was amazed when he and his partner Sarah Egan, who live in Canada, were asked if they had any Vegemite at a border crossing between the two countries. […]
As it turns out, I haven’t actually tried Vegemite — but I do rather enjoy Marmite. As I understand it, they’re similar in taste in some ways; however, proponents of each product typically declare that the other is a mere impostor and therefore vastly inferior ;).
That aside, I’m not sure if or whether Marmite is affected by this ban. It’s not that easy to find on store shelves to begin with — it’s typically relegated to a grocery store’s import or specialty sub-aisle, if anything — so it could be tough merely figuring out if a given store is no longer stocking Marmite or if it never stocked any in the first place :-/.
It looks like Marmite’s safe. The ban on Vegemite is because it contains folate, which it appears Marmite doesn’t contain.
The US ban isn’t new, it is just apparently being enforced now. Folate’s not allowed in anything but bread and cereal.
Ah, good detective-work, Adrian. If Folate is just a “water-soluble B vitamin”, though, what’s the deal?
This is false, keep up w/ snopes :)
Vegimite Urban Legend
Good call, Matt. Indeed, Slate Explainer covered this as well.