Marmageddon: Crisis in New Zealand!

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

In New Zealand, Marmite supplies are on a knife edge, with lovers of the spread being urged to ration their use as supermarkets run low on stock.

Manufacturing of the popular breakfast spread has been halted by earthquake damage to Sanitarium's Christchurch plant - the only plant where Marmite is made.

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This crises is 'spreading' from the Prime Minister down... even to the point of suggesting that we can use the rival Australian product, Vegemite.

Prime Minister Key said he too will have to spread thin to ensure his supply lasts.

"I only have got a very small amount in my office and once that runs out I'm aware supplies are very short."

However Mr Key told Firstline this morning that he also likes the Australian-made rival Vegemite.

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[Deathtoall 28]

However Mr Key told Firstline this morning that he also likes the Australian-made rival Vegemite.

I see no problem there, as Vegemite is far superior. I am pretty sure if things get worse we can always send you tonnes of the real yeast spread.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Sounds like a real yeast infection you fellow have down there. Up here we tend to use marmalade. I have both Seville Orange and Stem Ginger. I also have strawberry jam for emergencies and whims.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Well, something like this could potentially spread beyond our borders causing wide spread panic and ferment!

After all it is not the first time an alleged 'spreadable yeast like substance' has almost caused a major diplomatic incident!

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*Note this unseemly incident was not caused or associated in anyway with Marmite.

Meanwhile in the UK a product which purports to be Marmite, but which Kiwi's know is not the really real Marmite, caused a bit of bother on the M1.

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Of course if you live in Denmark... you are going have to bootleg your black market spreadable supplies in, because it is a banned substance. After all we can not be having dangerous chemical substances sold openly on the Danish streets now can we?

The Ex-pats living in Denmark are not going give in without a fight...

"If they want to take my Marmite off me they'll have to wrench it from my cold dead hands."

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[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

For those who are wondering what on earth the fuss is about the video on this new article explains all...

[Click Here for explanatory video]

Meanwhile our national Marmite crisis is now being reported internationally...

The Guardian: Marmite shortage leaves New Zealander's spreading themselves thin

Mail Online: Earthquake leaves New Zealand facing a Marmite shortage... and supplies could run out in weeks.

[hym 358]

I hope Sanitarium's employees aren't being "spread" too thin as they work to resolve the crisis. If the company cannot restore supplies quickly and contain the "spread" of this crisis, the company executives will have to "butter" up the populace, otherwise they'll be "toast."

[Duke87 1,070]

So, all of this stuff is made in one factory...

Well that's a dumb idea. Since, as we see here, something happening to that one factory shuts everything down. In engineering we call this being "failure critical", and it is desirable to minimize the number of elements that can be described as such.

[Easy Bakes 253]

And dont forget Sanitarium is a Metallica song.

[Easy Bakes 253]

So, all of this stuff is made in one factory...

Well that's a dumb idea. Since, as we see here, something happening to that one factory shuts everything down. In engineering we call this being "failure critical", and it is desirable to minimize the number of elements that can be described as such.

I think Katrina shut down production Tabasco brand pepper sauce for a while.

[hym 358]

So, all of this stuff is made in one factory...

Well that's a dumb idea. Since, as we see here, something happening to that one factory shuts everything down. In engineering we call this being "failure critical", and it is desirable to minimize the number of elements that can be described as such.

It's not always practical to make something in more than one location. Sometimes the fact that it's only made in one place is part of what makes the company profitable.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Well to put things in perspective New Zealand is approximately the same size (in area and population) as the US state of Colorado. Actually slightly less... NZ Pop. 4 m, Colorado 5.1 m.

So yes it is not surprising that we only have one Marmite factory for the whole country. Although I do believe that Sanitarium, who also also makes Weet-Bix... makes it in more than one location... a Marmite shortage is one thing... if our country ran out of Weet-Bix that would be total and complete disaster. Best to have more than one factory for that.

(For the record... 4 Weet-bix with full cream homogenised milk, and extra white sugar added... not entirely fussy about how the Weet-bix are placed in the bowl, but generally side by side.)

[Easy Bakes 253]

They probably cant make any other product in the plant this stuff is made in.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Well to put things in perspective New Zealand is approximately the same size (in area and population) as the US state of Colorado. Actually slightly less... NZ Pop. 4 m, Colorado 5.1 m.

So yes it is not surprising that we only have one Marmite factory for the whole country. Although I do believe that Sanitarium, who also also makes Weet-Bix... makes it in more than one location... a Marmite shortage is one thing... if our country ran out of Weet-Bix that would be total and complete disaster. Best to have more than one factory for that.

(For the record... 4 Weet-bix with full cream homogenised milk, and extra white sugar added... not entirely fussy about how the Weet-bix are placed in the bowl, but generally side by side.)

Shredded Wheat?

Nevermind... look like granola bars.

[astronelson 339]

Wow, the shortage must be bad if you're even entertaining the possibility of using Vegemite. Don't worry, I'm sure you lot will be fine using our clearly superior spread.

Weet-Bix, at the very least, is the same in Australia and New Zealand. If we lost that productivity in both our nations would plummet drastically.

(Also for the record: two Weet-Bix with full cream milk and a couple of scoops of Milo in the same bowl, mixed all up together into a sort of Milo-y mush. Apparently I'm weird for liking it like this.)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Actually, when it comes to shredded wheat, I prefer the original invented by a food freak in Niagara Falls, Ontario because he wanted a "clean" food make in a factory he controlled. At the time, I don't blame him. The food industry was full of rats, mice and other vermin to say nothing of microbes. Nabisco was eventually purchased by Post, but it is still chugging along in the original form.

Two shredded wheat biscuits, steamed with hot water, and fried in butter, then drowned in milk with Demerara sugar is what I call a high calorie breakfast. Needless to say, being diabetic in my old age, I don't do that any more. Instead, unsweetened miniatures, with a little 2% milk. Still one of the best breakfast cereals going.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 9, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Duke87 1,070]

I have heard it said that it is not wise to go out drinking with Australians since once you are drunk they may convince you to try vegemite as a joke.

I have also heard vegemtie described as

take a Guinness and pour in a pound of salt, then chug it. Once you are done throwing up from all the salt, the remaining aftertaste is roughly what vegemite tastes like

But on a more serious note, the sense I get about vegemite and marmite is that they are the sort of things that, like how they eat dogs in China, no one will like unless they grew up with them being normal. What people think does and doesn't taste good is at least as much nurture as nature and it's highly influenced by culture.

  Edited March 21, 2012 by Duke87  

[Meg 368]

I have heard it said that it is not wise to go out drinking with Australians since once you are drunk they may convince you to try vegemite as a joke.

I have also heard vegemtie described as

take a Guinness and pour in a pound of salt, then chug it. Once you are done throwing up from all the salt, the remaining aftertaste is roughly what vegemite tastes like

That is the best description I have heard!

But on a more serious note, the sense I get about vegemite and marmite is that they are the sort of things that, like how they eat dogs in China, no one will like unless they grew up with them being normal. What people think does and doesn't taste good is at least as much nurture as nature and it's highly influenced by culture.

Food tastes and taboos are highly influenced by culture. For instance, in some cultures, it is acceptable to consume horsemeat. Many Americans find the idea to be stomach churning. I imagine that goes back to the days when horses were more valuable as transportation and work animals than they were for food. It's totally culturally ingrained but I would have to be pretty darn hungry before I could eat any.

There is a similar American taboo about eating reptiles. I don't have a theory as to how that one evolved.

[Easy Bakes 253]

I have heard it said that it is not wise to go out drinking with Australians since once you are drunk they may convince you to try vegemite as a joke.

I have also heard vegemtie described as

take a Guinness and pour in a pound of salt, then chug it. Once you are done throwing up from all the salt, the remaining aftertaste is roughly what vegemite tastes like

That is the best description I have heard!

But on a more serious note, the sense I get about vegemite and marmite is that they are the sort of things that, like how they eat dogs in China, no one will like unless they grew up with them being normal. What people think does and doesn't taste good is at least as much nurture as nature and it's highly influenced by culture.

Food tastes and taboos are highly influenced by culture. For instance, in some cultures, it is acceptable to consume horsemeat. Many Americans find the idea to be stomach churning. I imagine that goes back to the days when horses were more valuable as transportation and work animals than they were for food. It's totally culturally ingrained but I would have to be pretty darn hungry before I could eat any.

There is a similar American taboo about eating reptiles. I don't have a theory as to how that one evolved.

the serpent from the bible that represented the devil?

when the tomato was 1st introduced to great Brittan a lot of people

would not eat them believing them to be poisonous since their related to nightshade.

[SC4 meister 7]

Actually, when it comes to shredded wheat, I prefer the original invented by a food freak in Niagara Falls, Ontario because he wanted a "clean" food make in a factory he controlled. At the time, I don't blame him. The food industry was full of rats, mice and other vermin to say nothing of microbes. Nabisco was eventually purchased by Post, but it is still chugging along in the original form.

Two shredded wheat biscuits, steamed with hot water, and fried in butter, then drowned in milk with Demerara sugar is what I call a high calorie breakfast. Needless to say, being diabetic in my old age, I don't do that any more. Instead, unsweetened miniatures, with a little 2% milk. Still one of the best breakfast cereals going.

I, being young and fairly healthy, fully intend to try this recipe the day after my next shopping trip. Post/Nabisco Shredded Wheat has long been my favorite, frying it in butter can only serve to make it better.

Food tastes and taboos are highly influenced by culture. For instance, in some cultures, it is acceptable to consume horsemeat. Many Americans find the idea to be stomach churning. I imagine that goes back to the days when horses were more valuable as transportation and work animals than they were for food. It's totally culturally ingrained but I would have to be pretty darn hungry before I could eat any.

There is a similar American taboo about eating reptiles. I don't have a theory as to how that one evolved.

Back when they were outlawing it/making it legal/and then kinda-sorta outlawing it again here in CA, my parents about blew a gasket. Mom couldn't stomach it, having had horses her entire life--much like pet dogs or cats. My dad on the other hand, being Dutch, was mortally offended that anyone would remove this "right" from him, despite having not exercised said right in 20+ years. As far as the snakes go, I have a healthy number of friends who take great joy in capturing and/or skinning and/or eating Diamondback Rattlers... interestingly enough all of them are from "The Compound.*" Not that I think there's a connection there.

Craig, my deepest condolences and sympathy go out to you and your country during this trying time. I can't imagine what it must be like, being spread so thin...

*The compound, for those who are not familiar, is a place I spent several years of my adult life living in the absolute middle of nowhere in California's Sierra-Nevada mountains.

  Edited March 21, 2012 by SC4 meister  

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Actually I have a confession to make...

In our house we only have Vegemite, because "she-who-does-the-shopping" only likes the Australian stuff...

...no accounting for some peoples taste eh?

I guess I am with Prime Minister Key... I can actually eat both Marmite and Vegemite.

As for frying weet-bix in butter...

Edit:

It would seem that our national Marmite crisis is now being reported on CNN...

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/19/world/asia/new-zealand-marmageddon/index.html

At lease CNN has got the proper image... and not the British version like in some of the news reports!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Thanks for adding the poll, Craig. Now we see the (putative) Kiwi contingent, and it is larger than I expected. SimCity seems to have good penetration there.

[Hester 699]

Oh thank heavens I am now apprised to the most awful emergency going on there in NZ. I am appalled. Shocked. Disturbed (no double entrende meant). I will have NZ in my thoughts during this dark time.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

Thanks for adding the poll, Craig. Now we see the (putative) Kiwi contingent, and it is larger than I expected. SimCity seems to have good penetration there.

Well actually... it appears in the poll that some non-kiwis have agreed with us that this is truly a national emergency.

I will have NZ in my thoughts during this dark time.

Actually it could be argued that it the lack of darkness to spread that is the cause of the crisis.

Meanwhile the this crisis continues to demand worldwide media attention...

Pierre van Heerden, Sanitarium's general manager, told the Herald he had fielded non-stop calls from media including CNN and British newspapers the Guardian and Daily Mail.

[Read More]

Oh my lawd!... The alternatives simply don't bear thinking about!

THE OPTIONS

VEGEMITE (AUS)

Prime Minister John Key says he can happily switch to the Australian-made rival spread, currently on special at most New Zealand supermarkets.

PROMITE (AUS & NZ)

Made by Masterfoods, it's a bit like Kiwi Marmite in that it's a yeast extract spread.

MY MATE (UK)

The UK brand (called Marmite over there) is available here. However, its powerful salty taste may offend those raised on the sugar-laced Kiwi variety.

HOME BREW

The internet abounds with recipes, although most are for the British version. Ingredients: brewer's yeast, sea salt, onion, carrots, turnips and celery.

MEAT LOVERS ONLY

Bovril and Oxo may not be so good on the breakfast table.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Methinks the Kiwi's do baa too much. They have no Marmite? Then let them eat jam, to paraphrase a rather unwise lady who lost her head over it. It would be unwise to do likewise.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

For those of you who have never tried Marmite/ Vegemite (pretty much the same thing) you really don't know what you're missing out on.

You're not supposed to eat it by the spoonful (like most foreigners seem to think), you only have a little bit... just dip in the tip of your knife, that's usually enough for a piece of toast. Toast, butter and Vegemite... it's a delicious savoury taste. Overly sweet jam is only good for so long!

Although you probably have to be raised on the stuff to really appreciate it. I'd say that 95% of people born in AUS/NZ will happily eat it on toast. Hope NZ gets its supply back soon!

[astronelson 339]

Thanks for adding the poll, Craig. Now we see the (putative) Kiwi contingent, and it is larger than I expected. SimCity seems to have good penetration there.

Well actually... it appears in the poll that some non-kiwis have agreed with us that this is truly a national emergency.

I admit that I was one of them, but only because I appreciate how severe this crisis is. If there was a similar shortage of Vegemite in Australia there would be riots in the streets and an emergency sitting of Parliament, ideally to decide what to do about it but really for the ALP and Coalition to try and pin the blame on each other.

It is perhaps best to reflect upon the words of Sir Winston Churchill:

If we can withstand this crisis, all New Zealand may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including Australia, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted spreads.

Let us therefore breakfast ourselves at our tables, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

I might be paraphrasing a little.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It is perhaps best to reflect upon the words of Sir Winston Churchill:

If we can withstand this crisis, all New Zealand may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including Australia, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted spreads.

Let us therefore breakfast ourselves at our tables, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'

I might be paraphrasing a little.

Only a little.

Well done.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

I have a dream that one day we will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all bread spreads are created equal."

I have a dream that all the little children will one day live in a world where they will not be judged by the color of their spreads but by the content of their character and flavour.

I have a dream today!

This is our hope, and this is the faith that we traverse the depths and the distance of the 'great wet thing' the expanse of the South Pacific with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair in this grave time of the great Marmite shortage, a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our world into a beautiful spreadable symphony of brotherhood, where the lovers of Marmite will with this faith, be able to work together, to spread together, and to stand up for the freedom of all toast and bread lovers together, knowing that one day, Marmite shall rise again!

I might be paraphrasing a little.

[mapboy 106]

I hate Marmite, but my sister loves it, and luckily we have an extra jar in the pantry that should last us through the dry patch... Or we could try and sell this black gold