Canada Bans Marmite

Canada has banned imports of Marmite – not because it’s made from British brewery waste, but because it’s artificially fortified with vitamins to back up dubious health claims, and food spreads in Canada aren’t allowed such fortification.

The stuff was imported by Brit Foods, a Canadian retailer specializing in British comestibles. The yeasty brown gunk is an iconic UK product, a cherished symbol of the Empire to which Canada once belonged. We have not been able to determine if the Marmite ban endangers Canada’s membership in the Commonwealth.

To avoid the appearance of favoritism in the upcoming independence referendum, Canada also banned imports of Scotland’s Irn-Bru, a ghastly orange-colored soft drink and symbol of modern Scottish identity. That color is supplied by Ponceau 4R, a pigment derived from coal tar which, unlike clubbing baby seals to death, is prohibited in the Great White North.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also banned imports of UK Ovaltine, but you’ll have to use your Secret Decoder Ring to find out how it differs from the product’s formula in USA. But judging by the lack of media coverage, no one cares about Ovaltine, anyway. And that goes double for Bovril.

More:

“Canada bans sale of Irn Bru, Marmite and Ovaltine,” Miranda Prynne, The Telegraph

“Canada bans ‘illegal’ British favourites including Marmite, Irn-Bru and Ovaltine,” Steve Robson, Daily Mirror

“Irn-Bru ban due to illegal ingredient gets Scottish Canadians fizzing,” David Scott, Scottish Express

“Saskatoon shop’s future uncertain after banned products pulled from shelf,”  Lasia Kretzel, CKOM

“The consolations of Irn Bru and Marmite,” Jon Kelly, BBC News blog

Brit Foods on Facebook

The Mish-Mash Dictionary of Marmite, Maggie Hall

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Tags: Bovril, Britain, Canada, CFIA, ethnic identity, food, food safety, imports, Irn-Bru, Marmite, national identity, Ovaltine, Scotland, soft drinks, UK