An expert has hit back at people calling the new Vegemite recipe “unAustralian”.
Bega excitedly announced the launch of Vegemite Kids earlier this week, and it’s already hit the shelves of supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.
It has been designed as a milder version of the black spread, which could appeal to children and their developing taste buds, as well as tourists who haven’t been exposed to it yet.
It also has 50 per cent less salt than the OG recipe.
But there was swift condemnation of Vegemite Kids on social media, with many complaining that no one asked for a milder version.
“Changing the flavour is unAustralian, leave it alone,” one told Yahoo Lifestyle.
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“Does the jar come wrapped in bubble wrap and with a soft, easy-to-open lid? For all the helicopter, over-protective, new age parents for their little petals,” another sarcastically asked.
“Don’t change my beloved Vegemite,” wrote a third.
The reaction took Lauren Ball, from the University of Queensland, by surprise, and the Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing hit back at the assertion that changing the Vegemite recipe was a bad thing.
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Professor Lauren Ball said it’s not unAustralian to reduce the sodium content of Vegemite.
(YouTube/Ted Talks)
In an article for The Conversation, she specifically called out the reduced salt content as a great step forward to addressing a big problem in Aussie diets.
“Australians typically eat more [sodium] than the recommended amount,” she wrote.
“Eating too much sodium is associated with raised blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
“This relationship begins early in life. Eating a lot of sodium is associated with higher blood pressure in children and adolescents.”
How does Vegemite Kids differ from the original Vegemite?
Sodium is essential for vital organ function, regulation of body fluids, nerve health, and electrolyte balance, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports.
But you can have too much of a good thing.
Vegemite Kids launched in stores this week.
(Supplied/Vegemite)
The Original Vegemite contains 165mg of sodium per 5g serving, whereas the new Vegemite Kids contains 83mg of sodium.
Professor Ball said a child could reduce their overall sodium intake by 3-4 per cent by switching to Vegemite Kids.
So while it wouldn’t make a massive dent in a person’s overall sodium consumption, the University of Queensland expert said reducing our intake remains a “public health priority“.
How much is too much sodium?
According to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, adults are recommended not to consume more than 2,000 mg of sodium per day.
That’s equivalent to 5 grams or one teaspoon of salt.
For children, it varies depending on age, according to Health Direct, but it starts at 200-400mg per day for one-to-three-year-olds and goes up to 460-920mg per day for 14-to-18-year-olds.
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