Australian minister fights for his Vegemite in US
By ROD McGUIRK, Associated Press
Sunday, September 18, 2011
(09-18) 22:05 PDT CANBERRA, Australia (AP) --
Australia's foreign minister said American authorities tried to confiscate his supply of Vegemite as he entered the U.S. It's the second time this year that Australia's signature yeast extract spread has sparked high-level — if lighthearted — diplomatic disagreement.
Foreign Minster Kevin Rudd tweeted Sunday that airport authorities in New York had questioned his bringing in the dark brown paste, a byproduct of brewing beer that is popular among many Australians on sandwiches, toast and crackers but is widely recognized as an acquired taste.
"Only problem traveling to NY is that they tried to confiscate our Vegemite at the airport. Needed Foreign Ministerial intervention," Rudd tweeted from New York.
"Airport staff were surprised when I said it is good for you & I ate it for breakfast. They then waved me through," he added.
Vegemite also was a source of disagreement when Julia Gillard made her only visit to the United States as prime minister in March. She and President Barack Obama visited a high school in Virginia where an 11th grade student asked what Vegemite was.
"It's horrible," Obama exclaimed.
"I love Vegemite," Gillard said, noting that their opinions of the spread serves as a "little bit of division" between the two of them.
The Australian invention, launched in 1923, has a high Vitamin B content and is marketed heavily on its health benefits for children. Australians abroad commonly bemoan how difficult Vegemite is to find outside Australia.
It sparked international curiosity when "a Vegemite sandwich" was mentioned in the lyrics of Australian band Men at Work's hit song "Down Under" that topped the U.S. and British charts in 1983.
Former Prime Minister John Howard claims that more Australians know the lyrics of a Vegemite advertising jingle written in 1954 than know the Australian national anthem.
Rudd, a former prime minister and avid tweeter with more than 1 million followers, arrived in New York from Mexico on Saturday. He will address the United Nations General Assembly before he is scheduled to leave New York on Friday.
On Monday, his office in Canberra was unable to provide further details of the airport dispute.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... 539D16.DTL
© 2011 HeaBrst Communications Inc.
Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
They didn't claim it was a "security risk". They didn't know what it was. Considering that it is illegal to bring in all sorts of food products, it's hardly surprising that they would question the admissability of something as dubious-looking as Vegemite.
"The dildo of consequence rarely comes lubed." -- Eileen Rose
"Colonialism is not 'winning' - it's an unsustainable model. Like your hairline." -- Candace Linklater
"Colonialism is not 'winning' - it's an unsustainable model. Like your hairline." -- Candace Linklater
Re: Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
Lite humor.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
-
Sue U
- Posts: 8988
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 4:59 pm
- Location: Eastern Megalopolis, North America (Midtown)
Re: Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
No punchline necessary.... is widely recognized as an acquired taste.
GAH!
Re: Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
Obama doesn't like vegemite?!?!?
That's almost as bad as dissing broccoli!
Not.
That's almost as bad as dissing broccoli!
Not.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Vegemite - Security Risk At US Airports - Claims TSA
His approval rating could only go up!bigskygal wrote:Obama doesn't like vegemite?!?!?
