Inmate Sues for His Right to Eat Vegemite

An Australian prisoner is taking his fight for Vegemite to court, arguing that the iconic spread should be allowed back into Victoria’s prisons. Andre McKechnie, who is serving a life sentence for a 1990s murder, says the long-standing ban on Vegemite violates his right to take part in Australian cultural traditions.

Victoria has prohibited Vegemite in correctional facilities since 2006, citing security concerns. Officials say the strong-smelling spread can be used to hide contraband and, because of its yeast content, may even be fermented into illicit alcohol, according to the BBC. McKechnie argues those reasons don’t justify removing a food staple found in most Australian homes.

His lawsuit doesn’t stop there. In the same filing, McKechnie claims prison authorities have failed to provide him with enough food to keep him healthy, reports the AP. The agency notes that more than 80% of Australians are believed to keep a jar of Vegemite in their kitchens.

Victims’ families, however, are blasting the case as tone-deaf and unnecessary. “It’s always about the perpetrator, and this just reinforces that,” said attorney John Herron, whose daughter was murdered in 2019. “This feels like another privilege that adds insult to the pain we already live with.”

According to 7NEWS, McKechnie previously launched legal action in 2021 claiming he was being “forced” to eat meals that weren’t prepared according to Jewish kosher standards. His latest case is scheduled to go to trial next July.