Toronto Café Owner Battles CFIA Over $8K in Vegemite

It’s a breakfast staple down under—but in Canada, Vegemite is now at the center of a regulatory battle. Leighton Walters, the Australian-Canadian owner of Found Coffee in Toronto, is fighting to save $8,000 worth of the spread after Canadian food authorities flagged his most recent import as non-compliant with health regulations.

A Taste of Home in a Jar

For Walters, Vegemite is more than just a condiment. It’s comfort, identity, and a daily part of his life growing up in Australia. His café chain, Found Coffee, serves up Aussie-style toast with Vegemite and even sells jars of the yeasty spread to loyal customers—many of whom are Australian expats looking for a taste of home.

But earlier this year, things changed. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials inspected his latest shipment and ordered him to pull it off the shelves, stating that the product violated Canadian food regulations.

Why Was It Flagged?

According to the CFIA, the issue comes down to vitamin fortification. Vegemite is fortified with Vitamin B, including folate, which is not permitted in condiments under Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations. While some foods like cereals or milk are allowed to have added vitamins, spreads like Vegemite are not.

This rule has left many scratching their heads—especially since Vegemite can still be found at some specialty retailers and even on Amazon Canada. The CFIA hasn’t clarified why some stores continue to sell it, adding to the frustration.

“It Hits at the Heart of Our Brand”

Walters has been importing and selling Vegemite at Found Coffee for five years without issue. The sudden crackdown has left him and his community confused.

He compares the situation to a Canadian trying to sell maple syrup in Australia, only to be blocked for arbitrary reasons.

“Pulling Vegemite off our shelves hits at the core and the heart of our brand,” said Walters, who is also recovering from surgery related to his spina bifida condition.

For Walters, the fight is personal. He points out that Vitamin B9 (folate)—one of the added nutrients in Vegemite—has been shown to reduce the risk of spina bifida in newborns. That connection makes this more than just a business matter for him.

Expats Rally Behind the Café

The ruling has caused a stir among Toronto’s Australian expat community. Customers have taken to social media and online forums to express support and ask why this specific business was singled out.

Ray Wood, a fellow Australian living in Ontario, voiced the community’s confusion:

“Vegemite’s a national Australian icon. How could it suddenly be threatened like this?”

Many are calling on Canadian authorities to reconsider, pointing to the inconsistency in enforcement and Vegemite’s continued availability elsewhere.

Marmite Was Approved—So Why Not Vegemite?

Walters also pointed out that Marmite—a similar UK-made spread with added vitamins—was approved by CFIA in 2020, after an earlier shipment was mistakenly rejected. That precedent is fueling questions about why Vegemite, made with similar ingredients, doesn’t qualify.

Health Canada, however, insists that only foods on a specific list are allowed to be sold with added vitamins. The agency encourages manufacturers to alter their formulations to meet Canadian standards if they want to sell here.

A Regulatory Grey Area

Despite the lack of a formal ban, Walters voluntarily removed the jars from his shelves to avoid penalties. Meanwhile, he’s reached out to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission for support.

For now, the fate of the $8,000 worth of Vegemite remains uncertain—and so does the future of a beloved tradition at Found Coffee.

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/australian-canadian-cafe-owner-ordered-remove-vegemite-1.7508893
• https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/food-dining/toronto-cafe-vegemite-banned-found-coffee-10513366
• https://www.reddit.com/r/CANZUK/comments/1jxe10f/toronto_cafe_ordered_to_destroy_8k_worth_of