Pick of the bunch

Remember the outcry when Marmite was temporarily off the shelves after the Christchurch earthquakes? Love them or hate them, yeast extract spreads are as Kiwi as you can get.

While we all have a preference for Vegemite or Marmite, are there nutritional differences we should be considering? We set out to help by comparing three brands for nutrition, cost and taste. Yeast spreads are based on brewer’s yeast, which is broken down, filtered and then fortified with salt, vitamins and flavourings. The end result is a thick black paste we love or hate.

Brewer’s yeast by itself is low in kilojoules and very rich in B vitamins. As such it has long been used by itself as a supplement. Why Sanitarium and Kraft feel the need to add extra B vitamins has me beat, particularly as there is growing research indicating that synthetic forms of folate (folic acid) and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) are not always helpful for health, and in some cases can work against it, particularly for people with methylation issues.

The other downside is the salt content, which is not a problem if spreads are used in tiny amounts, but worth considering otherwise, particularly if you have a family history of heart disease. All three brands had converts, and were similar in price. Go with your preference but use sparingly. ● Products are tested by New Zealand registered nutritionist Bronwen King and a diverse, randomly selected group.