‘Unhappy Vegemite’: PM backs expat following ban on Aussie spread
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind an Australian businessman fighting to be allowed to sell Vegemite in Canada.
Leighton Walters, a dual citizen, says he is an “unhappy Vegemite” after the Canadian Government ordered him to pull Vegemite from his Australian-inspired cafes in Toronto.
The demand could lay waste to $9000 of product, which is produced in Australia.
Walters’ business, Found Coffee, has been importing Vegemite and selling jars of the yeast spread to customers, as well as Vegemite on toast and pastries.
He said he was facing a “huge battle” that he didn’t want to have to fight.
“I am torn and shocked to have awoken from surgery to receive a demand for destruction of our entire supply of our iconic Aussie Vegemite claiming “non-compliance” citing concerns due to added B Vitamins,” Walters wrote on Instagram four days ago.
“Despite Amazon and major grocery stores continuing to profit (from) the sale of Vegemite and similar products like Marmite, for some reason, our genuinely Australian/Canadian coffee shops offering a healthy slice of home away from home, is seemingly worth targeting.
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“I don’t expect Canadians to care about Vegemite, I know it’s an acquired taste, but the principle and double standard doesn’t make sense to me… and it doesn’t seem right.”
CBC reports that issue reportedly relates to the addition of vitamins in the savoury foodstuff, which is restricted in Canada under Health Food Regulations.
The ingredients listed on the back of a Vegemite jar in Australia are Yeast Extract, Salt (508), Malt Extract, Colour (150c), Flavours, Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin and Folate.
“The Vegemite product being sold was found to have added vitamins which are not permitted in this product as per the Food and Drug Regulations and is therefore not permitted to be sold in Canada,” a CFIA spokesperson told CBC Toronto.
Under Canada’s food regulations, spreads and condiments cannot be sold with added vitamins to ensure Canadians are not exceeding their daily requirements, CBC Toronto was told.
Found Coffee is a chain of Australian-inspired shops in Canada. Image: Instagram
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However, Australian food safety auditor Gary Kennedy told the ABC there were no B vitamins added to Vegemite. The vitamins were, in fact, naturally occurring at high levels because of the yeast extract.
He said Vegemite was safe to eat and someone at Canada Health had “made a mistake”.
Walters said the issue was deeply personal for him as someone with spina bifida, which can be prevented by folate supplements during pregnancy.
“Vegemite is high in B Vitamins and Folate, that helps minimise the likelihood of babies being born with conditions like mine and living through the pain my family and I have throughout my life so far.”
Asked about the issue on campaign trail, Albanese said: “I stand with the Aussie cafe owner.”
“To some Vegemite is Vegemite, but to me it’s more about trying to make sure that no on else has to go through what I’ve been through with my life,” he said.
“I can confirm here today that I am pro-Vegemite. And, indeed, I actually put a lot of Vegemite on my toast when I ate bread.
“So, I love Vegemite. It’s a good thing. I did hear the report on that. It’s rather odd that they’re letting Marmite in – which is rubbish, frankly.
“Let’s be clear here. Pro-Vegemite, anti-Marmite. That’s my position.”
Walters told CBC Toronto that pulling Vegemite off his shelves hit at the “core and the heart of our brand”.
“It would be similar to a Canadian entrepreneur moving to Australia, starting an amazing poutine shop and then bringing in this beautiful, sort of high quality, unique maple syrup from Canada, and then the Australian government turning around and saying, ‘No you can’t serve that maple syrup because the trees weren’t in a controlled environment when they were tapped’ or ‘They’re too sweet.’”
