Instructions: Yeast extract is not only good for you, its tasty as well.

At least, that was the opinion, in 1922, a young Australian by the name of Fred Walker, decided to try to make a special "yeast extract" that would be as delicious as it was nourishing.

The chief scientist in the company Fred owned, was Dr. Cyril Callister, and it was Dr. Callister who "invented" the first Vegemite spread.

He used brewers yeast from Carlton & United Breweries, and blended the yeast extract with ingredients like celery and onions, and salt to make a thick dark paste.

Fred Walkers new product didnt have a name, so he held a trade name competition to find it one, and in 1923, Dr. Callisters paste became "Vegemite".

Various names rejected by the company included "Brown sludge", "Slagamite", "Slummock", "Scurf", and "Black Fecula". (Okay, so maybe this last parts not strictly true).

Later on, in World War II, soldiers, sailors, and the civilian population all had Vegemite included in their rations, and it got so popular it fell into short supply.

Fred Walker and Company Pty Ltd became KRAFT Foods Limited in 1950, but Vegemite will probably always be Vegemite. After all, it celebrated its 60th anniversary in October 1983, and to mark the occasion, they put a plaque opposite the site of Freds original factory in Melbourne.

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