Vegemite 'abuse'

[Ken L]

I'm confused. There are lots of articles today about Vegemite 'abuse' leading to a limitation of sales in Queensland.
All link the story to aboriginal alcohol problems but I fail to see where the Vegemite enters the equation.
Vegemite is (like Marmite) made from brewers yeast but it is boiled, evaporated, processed and sterilised prior to packaging. There's no live yeast or alcohol in it when it hits the stores. Even if there where, so what, wild yeasts are everywhere and bakers yeast (which is very much alive) can be brought dried anywhere.

 

The only possible use I could see for the stuff would be as a source of B vitamins which might act as a yeast nutrient but that's only really needed if you are brewing with just sugar and water and even then, there are easier and better tasting ways to achieve the same result.

 

I actually found myself checking the dates on the articles to be sure they weren't hangovers from April 1st.

 

Any ideas?

[Paulg]

It's all a big media ploy to stop everyone talking about their cricket team

[chesters1]

i think it should be banned anyway as its a nasty sweet poor imitation of the real stuff.

 

as for the story some made up page filler with little understanding of the real world ,the reporter was just out of school or stuck for his days page fill i guess

 

me and my mate in the 70's struggled to drink 4 gallons of strawberry ' beer' ,vegemite flavoured would only be drunk by the drunkest drunk or as a joke

Edited August 9, 2015 by chesters1

[Steve Walker]

I guess it's being used as yeast nutrient, but as you say, there are plenty of other ways round that.

[Steve Walker]

vegemite flavoured would only be drunk by the drunkest drunk or as a joke

On the other hand, if the alternative is Australian lager... Tough call.

[chesters1]

On the other hand, if the alternative is Australian lager... Tough call.

I remember drinking the unusually large cans of fosters export when it started to become popular ,compared to the fosters later brewed here it was very nice

Not a lot australian about fosters other than it was brewed originally in oz ,even the worst oz lager was better than that sewage water orangeboom

Edited August 9, 2015 by chesters1

[Phone]

Ken,

 

""""The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has long prohibited imports of Vegemite because it contains folate, a B vitamin approved as an additive for just a few foods, including breakfast cereals."""""

 

The product Vegemite F A R exceeds the FDA recommended daily allowance. Even in very small quantities.

 

Does that help?

 

Phone

 

PS: while the same - artificial folate is "folic acid" - it, "folic acid" is highly regulated.

[Ken L]

It's starting to look more and more like nonsense. While I'm sure you could brew up a tub of cane juice with some Vegemite and yeast , with the Vegemite providing the nutrients, the 12 jars at a time cited in some versions of the story would be OTT.

Interestingly, it looks like all of the news articles are based on one account and there is no mention anywhere of any previous incidents.

The only follow up is from a guy in a QLD community saying he's never heard of it but it might be happening in the Territory.

 

I'm thinking viral advertising campaign.

[Phone]

Ken,

 

Almost always every such story has a "thread of truth" somewhere within.

 

Phone

[Bobj]

Any help?

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/vegemite-ribena-being-used-to-brew-alcohol-in-dry-communities/5084488