U.S. bans Vegemite because it contains folate

[bananas]

The FDA war on folic acid continues...

http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/10/24/us-bans-vegemite/

U.S. bans Vegemite?
By Michael Hampton
Posted: October 24, 2006 6:23 am

<snip>

Apparently the ban has something to do with folate (folic acid), a B vitamin, which it’s said the Food and Drug Administration only allows to be added to breads and cereals. Why exactly would the FDA be complaining about vitamins being added to food?

Kraft spokeswoman Joanna Scott said: “The (US) Food and Drug Administration doesn’t allow the import of Vegemite simply because the recipe does have the addition of folic acid.”

<snip>

[TAPat]

1. As I'm sure you know

folic acid is absolutely imperative for the proper formation of the central nervous system in developing fetuses.

Guess the FDA doesn't want women giving birth to healthy babies...

[sweetheart]

4. That was my first thought too

hmmm... this goes towards explaining this:
U.S. has second worst newborn death rate in modern world
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/parenting/05/08/mothers.index/

When all rights are economic, how much does free speech cost?

[havocmom]

9. Yep. We've even had ad campaigns to get women to take the stuff.

And they want to ban Vegemite? Gads, the stuff is dangerous! It's a healthy food substance which is plentiful! Can't have people knowing about THAT! :sarcasm:

This is REALLY gonna send my daughter over the edge. She may march on D.C. all by herself.

Folks, we're always gonna have beer... so there will always be the makins of Vegemite. But there is no record of anyone being pulled over for driving under the influence of Vegemite! ;)

[noonwitch]

5. There are lots of sources of folic acid beside Vegemite

Spinach is one of the better ones, most vitamins have it in them and most prenatal vitamins have a full day's supply in them.

For pregnant women, eating spinach or other dark green, leafy vegetables daily is better than some packaged product, anyways. If you don't like just plain old spinach, try spanokotopita at a greek restaurant.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. I can see a war on Vegemite

Have you ever tasted that stuff? Ew...

But what's wrong with folic acid?

[sweetheart]

6. then the price will come down

kids'll be selling vegemite at street corners, just tell them that they'll get high off it
if they eat a full jar with a spoon.

[bryant69]

3. We should ban it because it's gross

See also Mussels.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[baldguy]

7. So, put a label that says "bread" on it.

After all, Spam is "meat", Velveeta is "cheese", and Budweiser is "beer".

[GreenPartyVoter]

32. *lol*

[tabasco]

8. The function of our government has little to do with our health & welfar...

It has more to do with enriching US corporations at the expense of the People.

Sad but true. The US government can no longer be trusted to do the right things.

[havocmom]

10. Thought about that. But Corps don't make a lot on folate supplements

Cheap stuff. Prevents horrible birth defects. Available in many foods. And, I believe, many Americans are deficient in it.

Also, lots of depressed people are found to be very folate deficient, as are many people with insomnia.... oh, now I get it! Protected Big Pharma from suffering a drop in lucrative sleep aids and anti-depressants! da rat bastards!

[tabasco]

11. How about US meat producers?

Ya' think they might be interested in keeping meat substitute out of the country?

[havocmom]

27. Possibly, but I don't think they have the pull Big Pharma has

But, it was cattle that managed to poison all that good spinach, wasn't it? ;)

[sweetheart]

13. The government is the perfect contrarian

If you want to know what is right, find out government policy, and the direct opposite is right.

Its a perfect weather vane.

[Dick Diver]

20. Kraft makes vegemite n/t

[tabasco]

21. How about meat?

Kraft will have to suck it up because US meat producers contributed more $$$$$$$$$$.

On edit: Kraft is an international corporation that sells vegemite in Australia.

[Dick Diver]

24. Yep, exactly the type of meats...

that would "substitute" (in the sense of a compatible meal, not compatible nutrition) for vegemite -- Kraft owns Oscar Mayer. And yes, Kraft sells vegemite in Australia where it's obviously much more popular than in the US.

[havocmom]

28. Could be a warning shot across the bow of Aussies who balk at being allied

with a rouge state like the US has become.

Ban Vegemite now... then refuse all those terrarist lambs next time?

[BonnieJW]

12. Many people don't know

that folic acid is also VERY effective for nasal allergies. I used to be plagued with sinus infections and asthma. I saw a pulmonary specialist on a regular basis. Five years ago, I started taking 1600 mcg of folic acid a day. No more sinus problems, no more asthma; no more sneezing seven times in a row. I don't even know I have a nose. And it lowers homocystine levels, a leading cause of heart attack.:loveya:

[KittyWampus]

17. didn't know that, I shall investigate this as a possible suppliment

[Stephanie]

31. thanks, I'm going to try that

how long did it take to work?

[rman]

34. Ok here's the plan: first impeach Bush and his band of crooks,

then we ban the Food and Drug Administration. Then we make folic accid available to everyone - for free.

[Fierce]

14. Folate? I thought they banned it because it tastes like crap.

Just me, though, I guess.

[magellan]

15. Uh oh. They'll have to ban British Marmite as well then

Marmite is made from (greater quantity first):

* Yeast Extract
* Salt
* Vegetable Extract
* Vitamin: Niacin
* Spices
* Vitamins: B1, B2, Folic Acid, B12

My husband will FLIP when he hears this....

[TlalocW]

16. You know...

I once bought bread from a man in Brussels
He was 6 foot four and full of muscles
I asked do you speak-a my language
He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich

TlalocW

[Ian David]

18. May not be true. And there is such a thing as taking too much of a vitamin or nutrient

If you don't believe me, go eat a bottle of Vitamin C... and then let me know how it feels the next time you pee.

Carbon Dioxidide is life...

“I think here at this point we have run into the surreal,” writes Cerebral Soup, noting that some media outlets are beginning to question the original story.
http://www.souzouzone.jp/blog/2006/10/why_does.php


Here's a discussion of the story on Snopes.com:

<snip>

Tabby Cat
Bone Appétit!


Icon 1 posted Profile for Tabby Cat Send new private message Edit/Delete post Reply with quote Honeybunch, I presume you're referring to the Melbourne Herald Sun article? A search of the ABC Geenews site (usually pretty reliable) came up with no traces of the story.However I did find a copy in the Geelong Advertiser of the incident in question here and also in the Courier Mail here.

Did the MHS article vary much? Reading it, the evidence they provide is rather anecdotal - no comments from either Kraft or US authorities in question.
BTW Jocko Lantern that link appears to have been removed - was it similar to these two? Was there a name for the Kraft spokesman?

Personally I have my doubts about the veracity of the story - a percieved attack on an Australian icon would be frontpage news on every newspaper, TV and radio source. The fact that up until now I haven't heard of it except for a rather bemusing editorial cartoon in my local paper (the paper itself never caried a story related to it) strikes me as somewhat odd.

The fact that the majority of the article relies on the words of "former Geelong Advertiser reporter Daniel Fogarty" also strikes me as somewhat suspicious.

More:
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=58;t=001040;p=1

[trotsky]

22. Quiet, you!

You're interfering with a great opporunity to go off on the evil big pharma corporate medical conglomorate control of the government!

[Ian David]

23. Evil Big Pharma is guilty of many things... but maybe THIS isn't one of them. n/t

[marions ghost]

36. ha ha

I would believe this could be a big Australian joke -- the prank of a "former Geelong Advertiser reporter."

Oh yes, entirely possible. IF SO = :rofl:

[populistdriven]

19. this was pushed by peanut farmers

[lectrobyte]

25. Glad we've solved all the big problems. Vegemite is nasty, someone

actually thought it was worth the effort to import here? And someone else in gov't has banned it? I never cease to be amazed.

[yellowcanine]

26. Folate is a two edged sword. Eat fresh fruits, veggies and beans.

You will get plenty of folate. No need for Vegemite. If you are pregnant and really think you are not getting enough folate, whip up a batch of chicken livers a couple of times a week. Or go ahead and buy the fortified bread or breakfast cereal.

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/N3401.pdf

Too much folate in the diet can mask signs of B-12 deficiency, a common problem in older adults.
Usually there is no problem just eating foods naturally containing folate. But it can be a problem from taking too many dietary supplements. Essentially when folate is added to a food you have now made a dietary supplement. If someone is eating the vegemite and doesn't know that it is a source of folate they could get too much.

This is an example of too much of a good thing.

The take home message is that people should eat good balanced diets containing plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and they will get plenty of the folate they need and everything else. Then there would be no need for companies to add stuff to food or for people to spend hundreds of dollars on dietary supplements.

[marions ghost]

30. most people cannot eat too much Vegemite

a little goes a LONG way.

"People should" eat a balanced diet. People don't. A concentrated food source such as Vegemite is a helpful addition.

Banning it is ridiculous. I don't want to have to tell my Aussie inlaws I have no Vegemite for them when they visit because America has stupidly banned it. They think this country is strange enough.

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Not sure about Vegemite, but the British Marmite has B12 in it too

Per 4g 'serving':

# Folic Acid – 100 µg – 50.0 % RDA
# Vitamin B12 – 0.6 µg – 20 % RDA (based on recent change in RDA for B12 from 1.0 µg to 3.0µg)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite#Nutritional_information

(though the label in Britain still quotes the RDA for B12 as 1.0 µg)

[yellowcanine]

39. No B-12 in Vegemite. But I think the FDA is being silly here.

The amount of folate in 5 g is only 100 ug. How much of this crap can a person eat in a day?
Doesn't it get spread on toast or crackers? Tell the old folks to have an egg along with their Vegemite toast and there should be no problem.


% Proportion of Recommended
Daily Intake (RDI) Per 5g Per 100g

Thiamin 550 µg (50% RDI) 11.0 mg


Niacin 2500 µg (25% RDI) 50.0 mg


Riboflavin 430 µg (25% RDI) 8.6 mg


Folate 100 µg (50% RDI)** 2000 µg


**Recommended Dietary Intake for adults is 200µg or for women of
child bearing age, 400µg. It is important to maintain a varied diet.

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. The links in post #18 seem to show this could be a bogus story

either got up from a sacastic remark, or a publicity stunt by Kraft Foods, or from when a British importer didn't file some paperwork, and so was told it couldn't send Vegemite to the USA.

[rman]

35. Maybe. But what about all the hormones and anti-biotics in milk and meat?

Aren't those much more damaging to our health than folic acid? Those are examples of to much of a bad thing.
Yet the FDA doesn't even do so much as mention it.

[yellowcanine]

38. Hmm. It is illegal to sell milk or meat containing anti-biotics. In fact,

anti-biotics in a farm milk tank is cause for rejecting the whole tank of milk. And if the milk was already loaded into the milk tanker, the farmer has to pay for the whole tank load of milk. So dairy farmers are extremely careful not to allow anti-biotics into their milk. I don't know that the FDA gets involved, as milk and meat is regulated by the USDA. The real problem with adding anti-biotics to cattle or chicken feed is not that they will end up in the meat. It is that resistant bacteria will develop. So the practice should be banned and anti-biotics should only be used prescriptively for sick animals, just as with people. As for hormones, there is enough doubt about their safety, that yes, they should not be added to feed, either. But how does that relate to the folate issue? Each should be examined on their merits. If there is a reason to do something, we should do it, regardless of all of the other things out there that are or are not being done.

[kestrel91316]

41. You mean "antibiotics", right? There's no hyphen.

[porphyrian]

29. They haven't bought the right FDA official yet.

They must be cheap, because I doubt it's gotten harder to do it with six years of republican rule.

[Yavin4]

37. Does That Stupid Song, "Man from the Land Down Under", Get Banned as Well?

I say yes!

[Garbo 2004]

42. Hmn..."ban" not confirmed, vegemite still sold in US stores?

"AUSTRALIAN authorities have launched an investigation into reports Vegemite has been banned in the United States.

Supermarkets in the US continue to stock Vegemite and say they have no plans to remove Australia's iconic savoury spread from their shelves.

Adding to the confusion, a spokesperson from the Australian embassy in Washington DC said US officials had recently said they had no concerns about Vegemite." http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20636429-1702,00.html