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Lawsuit challenges Victoria's 19-year Vegemite ban in prisons
A convicted murderer serving a life sentence in Australia is suing the state of Victoria over its longstanding ban on Vegemite, arguing the restriction violates his right to "enjoy his culture as an Australian," according to court documents obtained by AFP and AP.
Andre McKechnie, 54, was sentenced to life in prison for the 1990s stabbing death of a Queensland property developer. Transferred to Victoria-where the ban has been in place since 2006-he now seeks to overturn the policy, which prison officials justify as a measure to prevent inmates from masking contraband or fermenting homemade alcohol with the yeast-based spread.
Legal claims and prison conditions
McKechnie's lawsuit, filed against Victoria's Department of Justice and Corrections, demands two outcomes: the reversal of the Vegemite prohibition and a formal admission that prison authorities have "failed to provide food adequate to maintain [his] wellbeing." The case is set for trial in 2026, AP reported.
The spread's strong odor and thick consistency have made it a target for prison restrictions. Authorities allege inmates could exploit its pungency to conceal illegal substances or use its yeast content to brew alcohol-a claim McKechnie's challenge directly contests.
Vegemite's cultural divide
Since its 1923 debut as a Melbourne-invented alternative to British Marmite, Vegemite has become a polarizing national symbol. While some Australians revere the salty yeast extract as a breakfast staple, its divisive taste earned it a spot in Sweden's Disgusting Food Museum alongside fermented tofu and monkey brains.
Despite its contentious reputation, the spread's cultural significance was formally recognized in 2022, when Melbourne declared the scent of Vegemite drifting from a local factory an integral part of the city's heritage. The condiment also sparked a diplomatic spat earlier this year after Canadian health regulators briefly banned its sale in a Vancouver café, citing non-compliance with local standards.
"It's rather odd that Canada allows the sale of Marmite-that's the rubbish one-while targeting Vegemite," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked at the time.
Anthony Albanese, April 2025
Canadian authorities later reversed the decision, permitting the café to restock the product.
What's next
The lawsuit's outcome could set a precedent for how cultural food practices are accommodated within Australia's prison system. A trial date is expected in 2026, with McKechnie's legal team preparing to argue that the ban disproportionately affects inmates' cultural expression.
