y dont americans like vegimite?

Question

i am a born and bred australian and i was bought up on vegimite at 32 yrs of age i still eat it every morning .America bought the company that makes it but americans dont eat it and have now banned it so why buy something you dont like .Y is it that americans hate it ?

Answer 1

I have an American aunt and she and her kids couldn't get enough of the stuff when they were living in America. THEY ALL LOVED VEGEMITE!!!

Whenever we went to America we would always take several large jars of it in our suitcases to give to them.
Last time I was there I went grocery shopping with her and to our surprise we both saw...you guessed it...a lone jar of Vegemite on the shelf. She instantly bought it and it was consumed within days by her, me and my Amercian cousins.

To all Americans out there who don't know what it is, Vegemite is a bit like marmite...but it tastes A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER if you are Australian and a thousand times worse if you are American

Answer 2

What you have with Vegimite is an example of a culturally acquired taste. I wasn't aware it was banned, so I can't comment on that. I would suspect it had something to do with the beef base, and all the hoopla over mad cow disease, but don't know for certain. Anyway, I tried Vegimite when I was posted in Britain. It was just a rather strong flavor, and one I was not accustomed to, with a strange texture to match. On the other hand, we eat peanut butter- which seems pretty much an American taste item. I've met only a handful of non-Americans who liked it, even though it's something our children eat in large quantities. I can't give you any better reason than that. You either grow up eating it, and liking it- or you don't. It's not sold in many places in the States, so we just don't grow up eating it. There are lots of other examples of cuisine items which are considered extremely yummy in one culture that are rejected by others from different cultures. I live in Korea at the moment, and boiled silk worms are a popular street vendor item. I find the smell nauseating to say the least, and the appearance is revolting. Yet I see folks stand in line to buy them and eat them with great delight. I can't speak for the taste, as my nose would never allow my hand to get close to my mouth with one to find out. Given the choice, I would eat the Vegimite before the silkworms, but I'd rather have peanut butter over both. Just depends on what you grow up eating. The Koreans would most likely pick the catepillars, you know?

Answer 3

I'm sorry, but what exactly is this "vegimite", in the first place?

By the way, the correct spelling appears to "vegemite", which is some kind of food supplement from Australia.

If it didn't catch on in the American Market, I can only say that it probably didn't taste too good.

And if the FDA banned it, there must be some very serious reason why they did it. The fact that the Australian Governmentr and the Company did not fight the ban, which they have the right to here, also raises some doubts, doesn't it?

Answer 4

Well, me fine fabulous bird, we Americans ain't nevah heard of no "vegimite"! Seriously, I just asked half a dozen folks here in Upstate New York, and nobody knows what it is - so we can't really tell ya whether or not we like it.

Answer 5

It is definitely an acquired taste, in my opinion! I'm from the States.

It is VERY hard to find here; not widely available AT ALL.

We simply aren't used to it.

I can eat Marmite, on hot, buttered toast, a very thin little spread of it, but I can't say I'm crazy about it.

Vegemite just tastes weird to me, very strong and WAY too salty. I've never acquired the taste.

I'm sure if I'd been given it since I was tiny, I'd love it, but my Mom doesn't even know what it is! :-))

I love root beer. Do you know what that is? Have you ever tried it? It is an American soft drink (fizzy drink). My ex is a Brit. He never had it until he came to the States. He says it tastes like toothpaste! :-))

It's all about what one is accustomed to...

Answer 6

I say GO VEGEMITE !!!!
Love the stuff, but yeah you probably need to be bought up on it to like it. A chinese girl in my school ( where I work ) makes the funniest faces each time we ask her does she want a vegemite sandwich. LOL
There is nothing in Vegemite that will hurt anyone, folate is like the last thing on the list of ingredients so that means there isnt much in there compared to the other ingredients.

Answer 7

I'm an Aussie too and I personally dont think most Americans have a clue to what it is.Some US company must have brought it at a bargain price and didnt even bother to market it in the US. Its our loss Australians are the only one's eating it but the US is reaping the profits. Typical.

Answer 8

I can see your point about why buy it if they don't like it???
I think they are crazy!!
Its all the more for us LOL hahaha

it was only banned because it had foliate in it & that is only allowed in bread & cereal in America they said on the news last night!!

Answer 9

It's also forbidden in France, because there is yeast and extracts of ox ... unless this is "marmite"... but i like Vegemite, but you cannot find it in France. I suppose they assimilate "Vegemite" and "marmite" the same, that might be the reason why it is banned in some countries in world, including the USA.

Answer 10

Im an Aussie but I think vegemite is somthing you need to have a "taste" for.
I dont like it myself but my 3 year old daughter smothers it on everything