Yeast or famine: Australian convicted murderer loses bid to eat Vegemite in prison

Published on 26/10/2026 - 13:11 GMT+1 What constitutes a human right in prison? Not Vegemite, apparently. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT An Australian convicted murderer has lost his appeal to bring Vegemite back to prison in Victoria. Andre McKechnie, 54, who is serving a life sentence for stabbing a property developer to death in Queensland in the 1990s, argued that the ban of Vegemite has denied him the right to "enjoy his culture as an Australian". “Without being able to consume Vegemite, I feel deprived of being able to practise my Australian culture, sad and disconnected from my family and community,” he told the state’s Supreme Court. For those who haven't yet had the (dubious?) pleasure, Vegemite is a strong-flavoured yeast-based food spread that is typically eaten on toast, biscuits, and in sandwiches. It's similar to Marmite in its malty, umami flavour, and because it pairs beautifully with hard cheeses - even if Marmite is less dense in texture compared to its Australian cousin. (Thereby making it superior.) The polarising salty condiment was first developed in Melbourne in 1919, following the disruption of British Marmite imports after World War I. It was first sold in 1923. Vegemite has been banned in prisons since 2006, with Corrections Victoria arguing that the strong smell can distract sniffer dogs doing drug searches. Some prisons have ruled Vegemite as contraband over rumours that it was being used to brew alcoholic drinks. This has been debunked by many as an urban legend, as the yeast used to make the spread is not alive and therefore cannot be used in the fermenting process. However, McKechnie's petition was still met with rejection by a Supreme Court judge and a response by authorities in Victoria, who stated that the thick paste could be used to disguise contraband substances. Justice Harris said McKechnie failed to show that the Vegemite ban breached the state's Corrections Act, which requires prisons to provide food to maintain the health and wellbeing of inmates. She said it was "difficult to accept" McKechnie's sadness and isolation was caused by a lack of Vegemite and that the laws did "not extend to an obligation to provide to prisoners foods of cultural significance to enhance their wellbeing". Justice Harris added there were other ways for prisoners to enjoy Australian culture, including by listening to local music, reading books written by Australian authors, and eating food that was not prohibited. The Department of Justice and Community Safety welcomed the court decision. A spokesperson said: "Ensuring the safety of staff and prisoners is our top priority. We will continue to manage approved and prohibited items in accordance with operational and security requirements."