Marmite Ban - Worldwide!

[Rob McCow]

Marmite has been BANNED (apparently) in Denmark. Where else to go for a story of this magnitude than The Daily Mail?

They say you either love it or hate it.
But it seems that people in Denmark definitely hate Marmite as the country has banned it from its shelves.
The sticky brown yeast extract, commonly spread on toast and sandwiches, has built up millions of admirers around the world - and just as many who grimace at the merest thought of the dark paste.

VITAMINS IN MARMITE
Thiamin (vitamin B1): Helps digestive system break down food and protects muscle tissue and nervous system.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2): Ensures the body absorbs nutrients from food and converts it into energy efficiently. Keeps skin and eyes looking healthy and assists with the production of red blood cells.

Niacin (vitamin B3): Supports nervous and digestive systems and helps produce energy from food.
Vitamin B12: Makes red blood cells and protects nervous system. Helps release energy from food and processes folic acid.
Folic Acid: Works with vitamin B12 to produce healthy red blood cells. Beneficial during pregnancy as combats risk of central nervous system defects in unborn babies.

The divisive vegetable spread has been banned in Denmark because it breaks food laws passed in 2004 governing the sale of products fortified with added vitamins.

And until now, Marmite had escaped the attention of food chiefs.

It is unclear exactly why the Danish authorities have launched a crackdown on foods with too many vitamins.
But Marmite now joins the ranks of Australian alternative Vegemite, Horlicks, Ovaltine and Farley’s Rusks - all products the Danes have an apparent aversion to.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is responsible for the ban which has ex-pat Britons living in the country fearful for their culinary future.
'What am I supposed to put on my toast now?' said British advertising executive Colin Smith, who has lived there for six years.

'I still have a bit left in the cupboard, but it's not going to last long.'

HOLY CR@P. Don't tell the world you've got a bit of Marmite in your cupboard, you're inviting a RIOT on your DOORSTEP.

He and others fear they will have to subscribe to a black-market trade in the sticky brown stuff, smuggled in from nearby Sweden or Germany where it is still legal.

British foodstuff shops in Copenhagen are worried about the economic impact on their businesses as Marmite has been a staple of their turnover for years.
The ban highlights the absurdity of the EU which states that it is a legal product, but which has no authority over nation states about what can and cannot be sold.

'They don't like it because it's foreign,' Lyndsay Jensen, a Yorkshire-born graphic designer in Copenhagen, told the Guardian.
'But if they want to take my Marmite off me, they'll have to wrench it from my cold dead hands.'

You won't take a stand over rainforests, war in Iraq or hospital closures, but as soon as Marmite is threatened... (exaggeration)

Abigails, a shop in the centre of Copenhagen that specialises in English foodstuffs, has begun a 'Bring Back Marmite' campaign.
'Marmite was one of our best-selling products. Not a day goes by without someone coming in and asking for it,' said Marianne Ørum, who together with her Scottish partner owns the food store.
'It’s becoming impossible to run a business in this country,' continued Ørum, herself a Dane. 'The government keeps making things illegal!'
The Danish government had no immediate comment on its decision.

For me, the banning of Marmite in Denmark simply doesn't go far enough. In my opinion, the only reasonable course of action is to nuke the Unilever factory in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire where Marmite is made. Only then can the world rest easy.

[Jon Masters]

If you're planning to create some hellish post-apocalyptic wasteland in Staffordshir then I think you'll find Burton on T already fulfils those criteria (apolgies Mike )

[Stephen Morgan]

This from the Daily Mirror online:

"Marmite's makers have been urged to apply for a licence to sell the product in Denmark and end a temporary ban on the spread which has upset its fans living in the country.

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, who represents Burton upon Trent, in Staffordshire, where Marmite has been made since 1902, said: "I was appalled to hear the initial reports of a Danish ban of this much-loved British product.

"I immediately took my Danish (MEP)colleagues to task, only to find that no licence had been granted in Denmark for the sale of Marmite in the first place."

She went on: "It is vital that either the importer or the UK producer of Marmite applies for a licence as soon as possible to test whether Marmite would really be banned or not under Danish legislation."

The MEP said she had urged Marmite manufacturer Unilever to submit an application, adding: "Marmite lovers should be able to enjoy their favourite spread wherever they are in the EU."

The application could still be rejected, however, if the Danish authorities deem the product contains more added vitamins then allowed by national food laws.

EU officials confirmed that there are no standardised Europe-wide regulations on such additives, but the European Commission raised the issue with the Danish authorities, to be told that the temporary ban has been imposed because the importer has not applied for the necessary marketing licence for Marmite.

A commission spokesman explained: "There are currently no harmonised EU rules governing the maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals that may be added to foods. Consequently, member states can set, through national legislation, the maximum and minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals used in food supplements."

Denmark is one of a handful of EU countries requiring a licence before a "fortified food" can be sold to the public.

Marmite, made from yeast extract, is in that category as it is enriched with vitamins including B6 and B12. Voluntary fortification of foods is allowed in the UK, on condition that the product meets general food safety standards and has all ingredients on the label."

As it's a Unilever product we heard about this in fliers last week.
It's not the only product that's been "banned" there's also Ovaltine, Horlicks Vegemite, and Farley's Rusks amongst other thing. Not all Unilever products are evil you know.

[Zbigniev Hamson]

This must be a strange new usage of the word "worldwide" of which I was previously unaware.

[SiHart]

I think he was hoping. Mr McCow is no great lover of Marmite, much to my disgust!

[Philipnet]

Quite frankly, Marmite could be banned world wide and I wouldn't give a hoot

[Anthony Williams]

Thank God it's not banned over here.

If I don't get my taste of home in the mornings, I'll be upset!

Ant x

[WhiteCrowNZ]

In my opinion, the only reasonable course of action is to nuke the Unilever factory in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire where Marmite is made. Only then can the world rest easy.

Yeah - there's a reason I grew up in Burton wanting desparately to get out of that place.

The absolute tragic thing is when I reached my early 30s, I was desparate to get back. What a strange love-hate thing we've got with our hometowns!

[Lissa]

My maybe-girlfriend has Marmite pop art on her kitchen wall. It says it's "100% vegetarian" which is good to know. I'm not sure how it could be 90% vegetarian but I'm glad they've counted.

[Rob McCow]

It's made from 100% Vegetarians?[/oldjoke]

[Awesome Wells]

Marmite is made from distilled whippet shit and should be erased from existence.

[Stuart Wallis]

Of course not all Unilever products are evil Steve! It's just that not even i would inflict it on my worst enemy.

[Dirk Gently]

Mr McCow is no great lover of Marmite, much to my disgust!

I LOVE Marmite. (as you may have noticed, Si ) Not only can you get those Marmite rice crackers but also the larger rice cakes & Marmite cerial bars.

[Stuart Wallis]

Just as a thought, can you still get Marmite crisps?

[SiHart]

A look of disgust came over Steve's face as I put a big jar of Marmite in the trolley in Sainsbury's yesterday. It's prejudice, pure and simple prejudice!

[Rob McCow]

Prejudice implies judging something before you've tried it. I have tried Marmite and my mind still burns with the horror. It's memory, pure and simple memory!

[Awesome Wells]

Prejudice implies judging something before you've tried it. I have tried Marmite and my mind still burns with the horror. It's memory, pure and simple memory!

I've smelt it and that was enough. Does my lack of actually tasting it mean I'm guilty of anti-marmitism?

[SiHart]

You're all anti-Marmitists!

[Jason Thompson]

You can't beat a bit of Marmite on toast!

[Rob McCow]

I agree Jason, it's the absolute top of my 'most disgusting things to have on toast' list.

[Si Hunt]

Why does Denmark ban products with added fortified vitamins? That sounds like a good thing to have added to food.

Si.

[Rob McCow]

A good question! I can't believe that they've banned additives of all kind, because surely it must be hard to define the difference between 'additives' and 'ingredients'.

[WhiteCrowNZ]

You can actually have too much of a good thing. I remember hearing body builders used to drink loads of carrot juice, and get a fatal overdose of vitamin B.

[Larry]

Why does Denmark ban products with added fortified vitamins? That sounds like a good thing to have added to food.

Si.

I find is rather ammusing that they are banning a food product with a few added vitamins yet things that can kill you like booze and cigeretts they are quite happy to keep selling.

[Stuart Wallis]

You can't beat a bit of Marmite on toast!

You can - with whips, sticks, baseball bats...