Cafe owner in Canada praises Aussie PM for helping in Vegemite row

An Australian cafe owner in Canada has praised Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for intervening in a row about a popular dark food spread on the other side of the world – while fighting for re-election.

Toronto-based Leighton Walters said he had been told by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to remove the jars of Vegemite from his shelves, because they did not meet local standards.

After posting about the issue on social media, Mr Walters was surprised to hear a response from Albanese, who gave his vocal backing to the Australian-made product.

Mr Walters ended up claiming victory after the agency changed course and said he could continue selling the spread.

Recounting the events, Mr Walters told the BBC World Service’s Newshour programme that the inspector’s original decision had been “a bit confusing” to him.

“The reason the inspector gave was that there’s added vitamin B in Vegemite,” Mr Walters said. “But most of it is naturally formed through the fermentation process”.

“So, it seemed to be a misunderstood product, and the inspector didn’t really want to hear about its cultural significance. And so we basically had to comply.”

Mr Walters said he had to deal with a lot of disappointed locals from all over the province of Ontario because he was their only affordable Vegemite supplier, and they were all puzzled as why they could not get it anymore.

Responding to Mr Walters’ social media post, Albanese said he stood with his compatriot – telling reporters it was “rather odd” that Canada was allowing in the “rubbish” rival product Marmite. He was “pro-Vegemite, anti-Marmite”, he stressed.

After the lobbying, CFIA paused its decision – which was described by Albanese as a win for Australian industry and national pride.

In a statement to Canadian broadcaster CBC, the agency said the risk of the added vitamins in Vegemite was low when consumed in the suggested serving sizes.

CFIA said it would “work with the importer to allow the product to be sold in the short-term, including revised labelling, while we collaborate with Health Canada, the manufacturer, and the importer, to find a longer-term plan for Vegemite sales across Canada.”

Mr Walters told the BBC: “It was beautiful to watch the Australian culture on full display, caring about a small cafe owner like me on the other side of world. So, hats off to Albo [Albanese] for stepping in to do that.”

The dispute came as Canada finds itself in a stand-off with the United States over a variety of regularly traded products that are now subject to trade taxes after President Donald Trump unveiled a range of tariffs.

Meanwhile, Albanese is facing off against Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton in a federal election scheduled for 3 May.