Latest news with #Australian-Canadian
CBC
19-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Vegemite can stay on Ontario cafe chain's shelves for now, Canadian food regulators say
Social Sharing An Ontario café chain has scored a win in its fight with Canadian food regulators to keep selling Vegemite at its stores. Earlier this year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) told Leighton Walters, an Australian-Canadian dual citizen who owns the Found Coffee chain located in Toronto and Guelph, that the batch of Vegemite he'd imported to sell at his stores was non-compliant with Health Canada regulations. That put roughly $8,000 worth of Vegemite, which Walters has already paid for, in jeopardy. But in an email to CBC News sent late Friday, the federal agency says a health risk assessment from Health Canada has since determined that the level of risk to human health from the added vitamins in Vegemite is low when consumed in suggested serving sizes. "As such, the CFIA will work with the importer to allow the product to be sold in the short-term, including revised labeling, while we collaborate with Health Canada, the manufacturer, and the importer, to find a longer-term plan for Vegemite sales across Canada." Ordered to take Vegemite off shelves Walters had been importing jars of the Australian staple for five years to offer at his Australian-inspired cafes. "It's an iconic Australian product ... we've been so proud to serve it to thousands and tens of thousands of Australians, Canadians, travelers and tourists," he told CBC Toronto last week. WATCH | Toronto café owner fights to keep Vegemite on his shelves: Australian owner of Toronto café chain fighting Ottawa to save $8K of Vegemite 5 days ago Duration 2:13 But he recently stopped selling the product after Canadian regulators flagged his latest shipment of Vegemite from Australia because the spread is enriched with Vitamin B, which is only permitted in certain products in Canada. Walters also told CBC Toronto that CFIA has also ordered him to destroy the Vegemite he removed from his shelves, but an agency spokesperson denied that in an email, saying Walter was only ordered to remove it from his shelves. After going public with his story last week, and contacting the Australian Trade and Investment Commission for help, he gained the support of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In a post to X Friday, Albanese said his government had discussed the issue with Canadian officials and thanked them for allowing Walters to have Vegemite back on the menu. "This is a win for Australian industry, but it's also a win for those people in Canada who get to enjoy this wonderful product that is so much a part of Australian culture and indeed, Australian pride as well," he said.
CBC
15-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Australian PM says he stands by Toronto café owner in Vegemite fight with Canadian regulators
Social Sharing A Toronto café chain fighting Canadian food regulators for permission to keep selling Vegemite now has the backing of the Australian prime minister. Leighton Walters, an Australian-Canadian dual citizen who owns the Aussie-inspired Found Coffee chain in Ontario, was recently ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to remove $8,000 of Vegemite from his shelves and products. After an inspection of a shipment he'd imported this winter, the CFIA deemed the Vegemite non-compliant with Health Canada regulations. Although it's a staple in Australian households, the yeasty spread is enriched with Vitamin B, which is only permitted in certain products in Canada. Walters has stopped selling the product, but is still fighting the decision. After taking his story to the media last week and contacting the Australian Trade and Investment Commission for help, he's now garnered the support of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. At a news conference in Australia Tuesday, reporters asked Albanese if he had a message for Canada in response to the dispute. "I stand with the Aussie café owner," Albanese said. "I love Vegemite. It's a good thing. I did hear the report on that. It's rather odd that they're letting Marmite in, which is rubbish, frankly." Marmite, a similar yeasty spread made in the U.K. that's also enriched with vitamins, was explicitly deemed legal for import by the CFIA in a statement in 2020, after a shipment was mistakenly rejected. Albanese didn't say whether he'd be contacting Canadian officials about the CFIA decision. WATCH | Australian-Canadian café owner fighting regulators over Vegemite removal: Australian owner of Toronto café chain fighting Ottawa to save $8K of Vegemite 16 hours ago Duration 2:13 An Australian-inspired café chain in Toronto is fighting Canada's food regulation rules after the owner was forced to remove Vegemite from his shelves and menus. CBC's Tyler Cheese has the story. The CFIA said in a statement Sunday that Vegemite is not prohibited for sale in Canada, but manufacturers must alter the product to make it compliant with regulations. However, the CFIA isn't aware of any Vegemite product that is produced to be sold in Canada in compliance with Canadian regulations, according to the spokesperson. Since all Vegemite products are enriched with vitamins, that would suggest the product should be prohibited for sale in Canada. Despite that, the product is available for purchase on Amazon Canada's website and at specialty retailers around the country. A spokesperson for Health Canada said in an email that the addition of vitamins is limited to certain foods "to help ensure that Canadians get sufficient but not excessive amounts of certain nutrients in their diet." Walters says he'd been selling jars of Vegemite and offering it on toast and in pastries at his cafés for five years before any issue arose. Walters told CBC Toronto that CFIA has also ordered him to destroy the Vegemite he removed from his shelves. The agency's spokesperson denied that in an email Sunday, saying Walters was only ordered to remove the product from his shelves.
