Parent baffled after Sydney daycare centre stops serving Vegemite on toast

A decision by a Sydney nursery has forced the health minister to confirm that the government was ‘not in the process of banning Vegemite on toast’.

Great Beginnings in Marsden Park, a suburb in northwestern Sydney, informed parents it would no longer be serving toast to children to meet carbohydrate requirements prescribed by NSW Health’s Munch & Move program.

On Monday, 2GB Breakfast presenter Ben Fordham said a listener had complained about the move, which saw the center swap toast for breakfast cereals such as rice bubbles or cornflakes.

The parent was told that “the removal of toast was to ensure that the daily carbohydrate intake on the menu is not exceeded in order to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.”

The nursery also said that no visitor to the nursery had refused the cereal offered, but if they did not want cereal, they could also get an alternative, “such as fruit salad”.

Responding to the allegations, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said there was no official instruction from the government to ban toast or Vegemite from nurseries. Instead, centers can introduce rules so they can meet the nutritional guidelines of NSW Health’s Munch & Move program.

‘Sometimes around these guidelines there are some recommendations to reduce salt. Local centers could do that,” he said.

“It is not our intention to ban Vegemite on toast, I can assure you.

“Vegemite isn’t going anywhere. Toast isn’t going anywhere. We don’t want people to feel bad because their kids have Vegemite… my kids love it.”

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the government had not banned toast from nurseries. Photo: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Speaking on behalf of Great Beginnings, a G8 spokeswoman said the latest “routine” menu change was made to ensure the children could “enjoy a variety of foods,” but toast is still offered at other meals.

“As part of Great Beginnings Marsden Park’s most recent menu update, the center is serving an array of cereals and fruit for the kids to choose from at breakfast,” she said.

“Toast is always available if children want it, and is served as part of the morning tea menu in this current menu rotation.”

She said children can have raisin toast for morning tea, while lunch is usually bread, rice or pasta.

‘Afternoon tea consists of crackers, cake and vegetable sticks. Fruit is also served with all meals,” she said.

“We are committed to providing the children in our care with a healthy, balanced diet that helps them thrive.

In 2017, NSW school canteens were advised to only ‘spread lightly’ or use ‘small amounts’ of Vegemite, prompting then-Education Secretary Rob Stokes to be asked about the Department of Education’s guidance during Question Time.

Mr Stokes responded by saying the Aussie icon would continue to be served in school canteens.

“While I am Education Minister, Vegemite sandwiches will be offered in New South Wales school canteens,” he said.

“The government is a pro-vegetarian government.”