Australian prisoner sues for his ‘human right’ to eat Vegemite

AP ^ | 11/18/25 | ROD MCGUIRK

[DallasBiff]

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A prisoner is challenging an Australian state’s ban on inmates eating Vegemite, claiming in a lawsuit that withholding the polarizing yeast-based spread breaches his human right to “enjoy his culture as an Australian.”

Andre McKechnie, 54, serving a life sentence for murder, took his battle for the salty, sticky, brown byproduct of brewing beer to the Supreme Court of Victoria, according to documents released to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Food
KEYWORDS: australia; vegemite

[DallasBiff]

Never had that stuff, but it looks like sh!t on a shingle.

[kaktuskid]

Similar to sucking on a bullion cube.

[chajin]

I said, “Do you speaka my language?”
He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich,
and I said, “OH, you come from a land down under....”

[Myrddin]

One evening a Brit expressed the opinion that a glass full of Marmite topped with shaving cream looks exactly like a glass of Guiness and has the advantage of tasting better. Marmite is similar to Vegemite.

[Tax-chick]

Yes, very much. It’s not bad with a fried egg on toast.

[decal]

Then eat a Lamington cake for afters - makes it even sweeter.

[coloradan]

How much did he respect his victim’s right to continue eating vegemite?

[Getready]

Yeast extract of the yeast which is used in fermenting beer. Salty, sticky brown stuff. Vegemite brand has some additives, but things like vitamins...looks like chocolate frosting. If you ain’t ready for it .. you’ll probably hate it. Also has “umami” flavor.
I got used to it. Don’t mind it. Use it in my vegetarian soups..Adds salt and umami ...tolerable substitute for meat...IMHO

[bakeneko]

Is he 6 foot 4 and full of muscles?

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

I used to work with a bunch of Aussies. One of them had a bunch of this stuff shipped from home and offered to let us try it. Let’s just call it an acquired taste.

[Zathras]

Tried it in Australia.
Yuck in the Southern Hemisphere too.

[xp38]

It is. I grew up with it but since I’m not in Oz I only have it rarely now. I use it sparingly as a flavouring for buttered toast when I do.

[decal]

That’s the key; you don’t spread it thick like marmalade or jam. A very, very thin layer is plenty enough.

[dfwgator]

That song is the only reason people outside of Australia know what Vegemite is.

[Repeal The 17th]

Vitameteavegaman>

[Liz]

Vegemite in progress.

[Salamander]

I clicked the link in hope and I’m not disappointed by epic quick response.

😁

[Getready]

The English use “Marmite”...yeast extract.

[AlaskaErik]

Tried it once and it was awful. I first had SOS in Marine Corps boot camp and it tasted absolutely wonderful.

[clearcarbon]

"Australian prisoner sues for his ‘human right’ to eat Vegemite"

The wrong stuff.