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Vegemite sucks did, Marmite is better.
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox product
| title = Vegemite
| image = vegemiteontoast large.jpg
| image_size = 235
| caption = Vegemite on toast
| inventor = ]
| creation year = 1922
| launch year = 1923
| company = Fred Walker & Co.
| current supplier = ]<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/krafty-changes-in-vegemites-new-look-with-new-tag-line/story-fneuz8wn-1226750506271 | title=Krafty changes in Vegemite's new look with new tag line – News.com.au}}</ref>
| notes =
}}
'''Vegemite''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ɛ|dʒ|ɨ|m|aɪ|t}} {{respell|VEJ|ə-myt}})<ref>'']'' (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3</ref><ref>. ''Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)''. Random House. 4 May 2009.</ref> is a dark brown ]n food paste made from leftover brewers' ] with various vegetable and spice ] developed by ] in ], ], in 1922.<ref name="Story">. Kraft Foods.</ref>

A ] for sandwiches, toast, ] and ] as well as a filling for pastries, Vegemite is similar to British, New Zealand and South African ], Australian ], MightyMite, OzEmite and D Swiss ]. With the brand now owned by American company ], other Australian-owned spreads have entered the market to provide an alternative, such as the yeast-based ].

Vegemite is salty, slightly bitter, ]y, and rich in ] – similar to ].

==History==
In 1919, following the disruption of British ] imports after ] and prior to the introduction of Vegemite, Callister's employer, the Australian company Fred Walker & Co., gave him the task of developing a spread from the used yeast being dumped by breweries. Callister had been hired by the chairman ].<ref>{{cite web| last =Farrer| first =K.T.H. | title = Walker, Fred (1884–1935) | publisher=Australian Dictionary of Biography|url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120399b.htm | format =Web Bio| accessdate =8 February 2008 }}</ref> Vegemite was registered as a ] in Australia that same year. Callister used ] to break down the yeast cells from waste obtained from the ]. Concentrating the clear liquid extract and blending with salt, celery and onion extracts<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian food – breaking the rules of fine dining |url=http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/foodwine.htm |publisher=Convict Creations.Com |accessdate=10 May 2009}}</ref> formed a sticky black paste.

]

Following a nationwide competition with a prize of £50 (2010:$3,527) to find a name for the new spread, the name "Vegemite" was selected out of a hat by Fred Walker's daughter, Sheilah. The winners, local sisters Hilda and Laurel Armstrong (aged 18 and 20 at the time) of ], were known as "The Vegemite Girls" for the rest of their long lives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deliciouskitchen.com.au/products/krafthistory/fredwalkerfounder/fredwalker.aspx|title=Fred Walker, Founder|publisher=Kraft Foods|year=2010|accessdate=23 April 2013}}</ref> Vegemite first appeared on the market in 1923 with advertising emphasising the value of Vegemite to children's health but failed to sell very well.<ref name="100gi">{{cite book |title=100 Great Icons |last1=Sheedy |first1=Chris |author2=Jenny Bond |year=2006 |publisher=Random House Australia |location=Milsons Point, New South Wales |isbn=978-1-74166-501-7 |pages=34–35 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OJgQh7pd8Y4C |accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref> Faced with growing competition from Marmite, from 1928 to 1935 the product was renamed as "Parwill" to make use of the advertising slogan "Marmite but Parwill", a convoluted pun on the new name and that of its competitor; "If Ma might... then Pa will." This attempt to expand ] was unsuccessful and the name was changed back to Vegemite; but did not recover lost market share.<ref name="Story"/>

In 1925, Walker had established the Kraft Walker Cheese Co. as a joint venture company with ] to market ] and, following the failure of Parwill, in 1935 he used the success of Kraft Walker Cheese to promote Vegemite. In a two-year campaign to promote sales, Vegemite was given away free with Kraft Walker cheese products (with a ] redemption) and this was followed by poetry competitions with imported American ] cars being offered as prizes.<ref> ]</ref> Sales responded and in 1939 Vegemite was officially endorsed by the ] as a rich source of ]. Rationed in Australia during World War II, Vegemite was included in Australian ] and by the late 1940s was used in nine out of ten Australian homes.<ref> About NSW NSW.gov</ref>

In April 1984, a 115-gram jar of vegemite became the first product in Australia to be electronically ] at a ].<ref name="Story"/><ref name="100gi"/>

Vegemite is produced in Australia at Mondelez's ] manufacturing facility which produces more than 22 million jars per year. Virtually unchanged from Callister's original recipe, Vegemite now far outsells Marmite and other similar spreads in Australia. The billionth jar of Vegemite was produced in October 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24449523-953,00.html | agency=AAP | title=Vegemite produces billionth jar | first=Winston | last=Tan | date=5 October 2008}}</ref>

Vegemite was also produced in New Zealand for over fifty years, but as of August 2006 New Zealand production had ceased.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/australians/5/4|title=New Zealanders take to Vegemite|author=John Wilson|work=]|publisher=]|date=4 March 2009|accessdate=26 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10793281|title='Marmageddon': There's always Vegemite, says PM|newspaper=]|date=20 March 2012|accessdate=19 February 2014|quote=Mr Key told ''Firstline'' this morning that he also likes the Australian-made rival Vegemite.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vegemite.com.au/Pages/vegemite-faqs.aspx|title=Vegemite FAQs|accessdate=19 February 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126183329/http://www.vegemite.com.au/Pages/vegemite-faqs.aspx|archivedate=26 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marmite.co.nz/home-page/faqs |title=Marmite FAQs |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829214640/http://www.marmite.co.nz/home-page/faqs |archivedate=2006-08-29 |accessdate=2015-01-31 |deadurl=yes |quote='''Are Marmite and Vegemite both made in NZ?''' They used to be – Vegemite recently pulled out of NZ and have gone back home to Australia where they belong. Marmite was not only the first, but is also the ONLY yeast spread made in New Zealand. }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.marmite.co.nz/home-page/fact-or-fiction |title=Marmite Fact or Fiction |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829215322/http://www.marmite.co.nz/home-page/fact-or-fiction |archivedate=2006-08-29 |accessdate=2015-01-31 |deadurl=yes |quote=...Vegemite first came to us from Australia and they even made it here for a while. But as you can see from their packaging, they have buzzed back home to Australia.}}</ref>

==Consumption==
A common method of eating Vegemite is on toasted bread with one layer of butter or ] before spreading a thin layer of Vegemite. A Vegemite sandwich may consist of two slices of buttered bread, Vegemite, and cheese, but other ingredients such as ], ] and tomato can be added as well.<ref></ref>

Vegemite can be used as a filling for pastries, such as the ] or it may even be used in more exotic dishes.

The official Vegemite website contains several recipes using Vegemite in foods such as pasta, burgers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vegemite.com.au/Pages/lunch-recipes.aspx|title=Lunch recipes|publisher=Mondelez Australia|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> pizzas<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vegemite.com.au/Pages/snacking-recipes.aspx|title=Snacking recipes|publisher=Mondelez Australia|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> and casseroles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vegemite.com.au/Pages/dinner-recipes.aspx|title=Dinner recipes|publisher=Mondelez Australia|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref>

===Kosher and halal===
Limited quantities of ] Vegemite were first produced in the 1980s;<ref>{{cite web|last=zsero|title=Re: Vegemite |url=http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/682953#5357328|work=Chowhound » Kosher|accessdate=9 August 2013|date=28 January 2010|quote=Back in the '80s Kraft started distinguishing the first batch of vegemite made on the newly-kosher equipment, by putting a K next to the use-by date.}}</ref> a 2004 decision to cease certification was reversed after a backlash from Jewish consumers.<ref name="Herald Sun">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vege-spite-spreads/story-e6frf7jo-1225822877705|title=Vege spite spreads|last=Hargreaves|first=Wendy|newspaper=Sunday ]|date=24 January 2010|accessdate=8 August 2013}}</ref> Around 2009, Kraft contracted with the ] Authority in ] for their kashrut supervision services, and by 2010, all jars and tubes of ordinary Vegemite were labelled with the authority's ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kosher Product Directory » Spreads|url=http://www.ka.org.au/index.php/component/option,com_kosherdb/Itemid,102/catid,90/|publisher=Kashrut Authority|location=Sydney, Australia|accessdate=6 August 2013|quote=Vegemite: all sizes. Updated: Tue 11 Aug 2009.}} The procedure for obtaining Kashrut Authority certification is detailed in: {{cite web|title=KA Certification Guidelines|url=http://www.ka.org.au/index.php/Kosher_Certification_Guidelines.html|publisher=Kashrut Authority|location=Sydney, Australia|accessdate=9 August 2013}}</ref> In 2010, Vegemite also received ] certification.<ref name="Herald Sun" />

==Nutritional information==
Vegemite is one of the richest sources of ], specifically ], ], ] and ]. Unlike Marmite and some other yeast extracts, the base version contains no ] although both B6 and ] are both added to the low-salt formulation.<ref name="Reduced Salt Vegemite">{{cite web|url=https://www.vegemite.com.au/products/vegemite-reduced-salt|title=Reduced Salt Vegemite|work=FAQs|publisher=Kraft foods|accessdate=23 March 2016}}</ref>

The main ingredient of Vegemite is ], which contains a high concentration of ], the source of Vegemite's rich ] flavour. Vegemite does not contain any fat, added sugar or animal content. Vegemite contains gluten.<ref name="auspopcul">{{cite book |title=Australian Popular Culture |last=White |first=Robert |authorlink= |editor1-first=Ian |editor1-last=Craven |editor2-first=Martin |editor2-last=Gray |editor3-first=Geraldine|editor3-last=Stoneham |chapter=A Brief Cultural History of Vegemite |year=1994 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |isbn=0-521-46667-9 |pages=19–20 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bLbo4sr-xfwC |accessdate=12 November 2011}}</ref>

Vegemite contains 3.45% sodium, which equates to a salt content of approximately 8.6%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kraftbrands.com/kraftvegemite/Pages/product-information-vegemite.aspx|title=Vegemite|publisher=]|accessdate=31 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://foodwatch.com.au/handy-stuff/how-to-convert-sodium-to-salt-and-vice-versa.html|title=How to convert sodium to salt (and salt to sodium)|work=foodwatch.com.au|accessdate=31 January 2012}}</ref> Australia only defines low salt foods, but by UK standards Vegemite is classified as a high salt content food.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awash.org.au/cons_faqs.html|title=How do I know when shopping which are low and high salted foods?|work=FAQs|publisher=Australian Division of World Action on Salt & Health|accessdate=31 January 2012}}</ref>

The low-salt version of Vegemite with a distinctive pale orange lid, was introduced to the Australian domestic market in September 2014,<ref name="Reduced Salt Vegemite"/> offering a 25% reduction in sodium content. The low-salt version is also fortified with vitamins B6 and ].

Vegemite contains 2.3% ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aminoz.com.au/vegemite-food-5212.html |title=Vegemite – Food Nutritional Information Panel |deadurl=no |accessdate=28 August 2012}}</ref>

==Advertising and branding==
Originally promoted as a healthy food for children, during ] advertising emphasised its medicinal value:
<blockquote>Vegemite fights with the men up north! If you are one of those who don't need Vegemite medicinally, then thousands of invalids are asking you to deny yourself of it for the time being.<ref name=eurekacouncil>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurekacouncil.com.au/Australia-History/History-Pages/1922-vegemite.htm |title=History of Vegemite – 1922 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723130242/www.eurekacouncil.com.au/5-Australia-History/History-Pages/1922-vegemite.htm |archivedate=23 July 2008 |publisher=The Eureka Council |accessdate=23 September 2010}}</ref></blockquote>
At the same time "] MacDonald" insisted that Vegemite was essential for "infant welfare" in magazines. Later advertisements began to promote the importance of the B complex vitamins to health.

Vegemite's rise to popularity was helped by the marketing campaigns written by ] that began in 1954, using groups of smiling, healthy children singing a catchy ] entitled "We're happy little Vegemites".<ref>. australianscreen.</ref>
:We're happy little Vegemites
:As bright as bright can be.
:We all enjoy our Vegemite
:For breakfast, lunch, and tea.
:Our mummies say we're growing stronger
:Every single week,
:Because we love our Vegemite
:We all adore our Vegemite
:It puts a rose in every cheek.

First aired on radio in 1954 the jingle was transferred to television in 1956. This advertising campaign continued until the late 1960s but, as they were targeted to children, discontinued in favour of ads promoting the product to all ages. In the late 1980s the original black and white television commercial was ]ed, partially ] and reintroduced. This commercial was to be broadcast periodically from 1991 to 2010.<ref name="Story"/> The two young twin girls who sang this advertising jingle were known as the "Vegemite Twins".

In March 2007, Kraft announced that they were trying to trace the eight original children from the campaign to celebrate the advertisement's fiftieth anniversary and to take part in a new campaign.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=] | title = Modern tots replace the veteran happy Vegemites| first = Simon | last = Canning | department = Features | page = 13 | date = 15 March 2007 | accessdate =17 October 2010 |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21383399-7582,00.html}}</ref> The 1956 commercial was to be remade with the original children, now grown, to forge a link between "the new generation and the old ad". The media took up the search on Kraft's behalf with all eight children identified in eight days and resulted in many TV specials and interviews in the Australian National media. The 50-year reunion campaign won the ''Arts, Entertainment & Media Campaign of the Year'' award at the November 2007 Asia Pacific ] Awards.<ref>(14 November 2007) </ref>

] jars and in sizes up to a {{convert|6|lb|kg|order=flip|abbr=on}} tin, from 1956 Vegemite was sold in clear glass jars.]]

==Variations==

===Vegemite Singles===
During the 1990s, Kraft released a product in Australia known as Vegemite Singles. It combined two of Kraft's major products, ] and Vegemite, into one, thus creating Vegemite-flavoured cheese. This extension of the Vegemite product line was an attempt by Kraft to capitalise on the enormous popularity of Vegemite and cheese sandwiches (made by placing a slice of cheese into a Vegemite sandwich). Vegemite Singles were later taken off the market.

===Vegemite Cheesybite===
]
On 13 June 2009, Kraft released a new version of Vegemite. The formula combines Vegemite and Kraft ], spreads more easily and has a considerably less salty and milder taste than the original. To coincide with the release of the new recipe, Kraft ran a competition to give the new flavour a name.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=] |title=Quite a crafty spread Vegemite and cheese join forces in the jar |first=Megan |last=McNaught |page=13 |date=15 June 2009 |accessdate=5 September 2009 |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25633920-661,00.html |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617053028/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25633920-661,00.html |archivedate=17 June 2009 }}</ref> The new name was announced during the broadcast of the ] as ''iSnack 2.0''. The name was chosen by a panel of marketing and communication experts to appeal to a younger market, capitalising on the popularity of Apple's ] and ].<ref name="Pepper">{{cite news |last=Pepper |first=Chris |date=27 September 2009 |title=So, how bad were the other Vegemite names? |work=] |page=7<!-- |accessdate=29 September 2009-->}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/new-vegemite-spread-named-isnack20/story-e6frf7l6-1225780035024 |title=New Vegemite spread named iSnack2.0 |publisher=] |date=27 September 2009 |accessdate=28 September 2009}}</ref> The choice immediately drew universal criticism and ridicule within Australia. Within days, opinion columns and social networking sites were flooded with derision and vitriol,<ref>(30 September 2009). . ''The West Australian''. West Australian Newspapers.</ref> and after only four days, Kraft released plans to abandon the ''iSnack'' name, admitting that it may have been a mistake.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6128164/vegemite-abandons-isnack2-0-name/ |title=iSnack 2.0 crashes |last=Prior |first=Flip |date=30 September 2009 |work=The West Australian |accessdate=30 September 2009}}</ref> Two days later, Kraft opened a new poll on its website, and the final name was announced on 7 October 2009 as "Vegemite Cheesybite", with Kraft claiming that it had received 36% of the 30,357 votes that were cast for a name option, or approximately 10,900 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vegemite.com.au/vegemite/page?siteid=vegemite-prd&locale=auen1&PagecRef=758|title=Vegemite Name Me|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5kLgMrCNU|archivedate=8 October 2009|publisher=Kraft|accessdate=7 October 2009}}</ref> It was noted that the popular suggestion "Cheesymite", long associated with the popular ], was already trademarked by other organisations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/vegemites-cheesybite-neck-and-neck-with-none-of-the-above-10196|title=Mumbrella|accessdate=8 October 2009}}</ref>

===My First Vegemite===
In 2011, Kraft Foods Australia launched "My First Vegemite", a special formulation of original Vegemite for children aged older than one year. According to Kraft, the new formula has a "milder taste" and "additional health benefits including iron, B6 and B12 vitamins as well as 50% less sodium", and was designed in response to consumer demand for foods with lower sugar and salt content plus additional health benefits. Immediate reaction and media reports regarding the new formula were largely positive, but Kraft Foods Australia discontinued the "My First Vegemite" product line in 2012 due to poor sales performance.

===Chocolate and Vegemite===
In April 2015, ] announced that it was to release a Vegemite-flavoured block of chocolate on 1 June. The chocolate block is Cadbury's ] block updated by mixing vegemite with the chocolate. Critics described the taste as similar to salted caramel with a pleasant ] aftertaste. Criticism varied from "love it" to tasting like a "] and ] filling with a lot of salt" to "needs more salt" with several tasters commenting that they thought the aftertaste was unpleasant.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Delaney|first1=Brigid|title=Vegemite chocolate taste test: is Cadbury's new block awesome or evil?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/australia-food-blog/2015/may/18/vegemite-chocolate-taste-test-is-cadburys-new-block-awesome-or-evil|accessdate=23 May 2015|publisher=]|date=18 May 2015|ref=Delaney}}</ref><ref name="Time out">{{cite web|title=Cadbury has released that Vegemite chocolate block – and we tried it|url=http://sydneyland.au.timeout.com/2015/05/20/cadbury-has-released-that-vegemite-chocolate-block-and-we-tried-it/|website=Sydneyland|accessdate=23 May 2015}}</ref>

==Bans and rumours of bans==
In October 2006, an Australian news company reported that Vegemite had been banned in the United States, and that the ] had gone so far as to search Australians entering the country for Vegemite because it contains ], a B&nbsp;vitamin approved as an additive in the United States for just a few foods, including breakfast cereals.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Authorities-probe-Vegemite-ban-reports/2006/10/24/1161455698167.html|title=Authorities probe Vegemite ban reports|newspaper=]|date=24 October 2006|accessdate=26 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/us-denies-vegemite-clampdown/story-e6frf7l6-1111112414389|title=US denies Vegemite clampdown|author=AAP|newspaper=]|date=25 October 2006|accessdate=26 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/155019/us-govt-denies-its-banned-vegemite|title=US govt denies it's banned Vegemite|author=AAP|work=news.ninemsn.com.au|date=25 October 2006|accessdate=26 June 2011}}</ref> The story appears to have originated as an anecdote by a traveller who claimed to have been searched by U.S. Customs{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} and a spokesperson for Kraft made a misinformed comment to reporters.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}} The U.S. ] later stated that there were no plans to subject Vegemite to an import ban, or withdraw it from supermarket shelves. The ] tried to dispel the rumour, stating on its website that "there is no known prohibition on the importation of Vegemite" and "there is no official policy within CBP targeting Vegemite for interception".<ref name="cbp-rumor">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/highlights/cbp_responds/rumor.xml |title=Why is CBP Seizing Vegemite? |publisher=U.S. Customs and Border Protection (via www.cbp.gov) |date=31 October 2006 |accessdate=31 October 2006 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The story of the "ban" later took on the status of ].<ref name="snopes">
{{cite news
|url=http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/Vegemite.asp
| title = Vegemite Ban
| publisher=Snopes (via snopes.com)
| date = 28 October 2006
| accessdate =22 December 2006
}}</ref> While Vegemite has never been popular in the US, it can still be purchased at supermarkets that stock imported food items.<ref name="aap-2">{{cite news
|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20641599-1702,00.html
| title = US denies Vegemite ban
| publisher=AAP (via News.com.au)
| date = 25 October 2006
| accessdate =25 October 2006
| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301195633/http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20641599-1702,00.html
| archivedate=1 March 2009
}}</ref>

Following newspaper reports in May 2011 that Vegemite and Marmite had been banned and were being removed from shelves in ], outraged fans set up several Facebook groups. In response, Denmark's ] stated that neither spread had been banned but that the respective companies had not applied for licences to market their products in Denmark. In 2004 Denmark had passed legislation prohibiting the sale of food products fortified with vitamins as a danger to health.<ref>"Ban shows Danes not happy little Vegemites", '']'' p. 63, May 27, 2011</ref>

Vegemite is banned from ] prisons, with the bans beginning to come into effect from the 1990s, to prevent inmates from brewing alcohol using the paste's high yeast content, despite the fact that Vegemite contains no live yeast.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|title=Mite not right – in prison|author=Reid Sexton|date=14 October 2007|accessdate=9 August 2015|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/mite-not-right--in-prison/2007/10/13/1191696241416.html}}</ref> Similar bans were proposed in 2015 for a number of dry communities in outback Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/vegemite-ribena-being-used-to-brew-alcohol-in-dry-communities/5084488|title=Vegemite, Ribena being used to brew alcohol in dry communities in Queensland's Gulf region|work=ABC News|date=12 Nov 2013}}</ref> but were not enacted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-09/vegemite-watch-unlikely-pm-says-after-home-brew-reports/6684188|title='Vegemite watch' rejected by PM after reports spread used to brew alcohol in dry communities|publisher=]|date=9 Aug 2015}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The Australian rock band ] refer to a "Vegemite sandwich" in the second verse of their 1981 hit song "]", from their debut album '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8178913.stm |work=BBC News | first=Classic | last=Pop | title=Down Under-covered | date=1 August 2009}}</ref> Vegemite was mentioned in the original version of ]'s song "]".<ref name=Lyrics1986>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnwilliamson.com.au/music/true_blue.html|title=True Blue|publisher=John Williamson|accessdate=9 August 2013}}</ref> He removed the reference in a later version of the song<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnwilliamson.com.au/music/true_blue_21.html|title=True Blue, 21st Anniversary|publisher=John Williamson|accessdate=9 August 2013}}</ref> because Vegemite was not Australian-owned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallipolicruise2015.com.au/entertainment/6-john-williamson|title=John Williamson|publisher=Gallipoli Cruise 2015|date=10 August 2013}}</ref> According to Williamson's web site, it was "carelessly sold off ('like ]') to the multi-national Kraft".<ref name=Lyrics1986/> Two song titles from ]'s 2011 album '']'' reference the product: "We're Happy Little Vegemites" and "Vegemite (The Black Death)".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/amandapalmer/vegemite-the-black-death-5?in=amandapalmer/sets/amanda-palmer-goes-down-under|title=Vegemite (The Black Death)}}</ref>

U.S. President ], in response to a question in March 2011 during a joint visit with Australian Prime Minister ] to a high school in ], gave his impression of Vegemite by stating "It's horrible". Following a description by Gillard, he said: "So, it's like a quasi-vegetable by-product paste that you smear on your toast for breakfast – sounds good, doesn't it?"<ref>{{cite news|title=Obama not a Vegemite-terian|publisher=]|date=8 March 2011|url=http://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/08/obama-not-a-vegemite-terian/ |accessdate=13 November 2011}}</ref>

In a 2013 episode of ], ] was offered a jar of Vegemite by an Australian audience member. After tasting a small amount of it, he stated: "Vegemite sounds like a pesticide. That about damn near what it tastes like."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ask Steve - The Vegemite Challenge |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1gs796k6H8|publisher='']''/]|date=10 April 2013}}</ref>

] demonstrated how to correctly spread Vegemite on the U.S. talk show '']''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hugh Jackman Shows Jimmy How to Really Eat Vegemite|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_sUhTWtvG4|publisher='']''/]|date=19 May 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Australia|Food}}
* ] (yeast extract)
* ], ] (beef extracts)
* ] (beef and yeast extract)
* ]

==Further reading==
* Jamie Callister with Rod Howard (2011, 2012) ''The man who invented Vegemite: The true story behind an Australian icon'' Millers Point, N.S.W.: Pier 9.ISBN 9781742668567

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.vegemite.com.au/}}
* at
*
*

{{Kraft Foods Group|state=collapsed}}

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Revision as of 14:46, 13 September 2016

Vegemite sucks did, Marmite is better.