Aussie baffled after discovering strange markings in unopened Vegemite jar

By CHARLOTTE MCINTYRE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 16:41 BST, 10 June 2025 | Updated: 16:41 BST, 10 June 2025

The strange discovery of a fingerprint in an unopened jar of Vegemite has left lovers of the uniquely Australian breakfast staple baffled. 

The jar was purchased from a Woolworths supermarket using their online delivery service, with the shopper revealing an investigation had been launched after they brought the marking to Vegemite’s attention.

Sharing a picture of the jar on Reddit, users could clearly see the spread had been tampered with. 

‘Was really looking forward to some Vegemite on toast,’ the post was captioned.  

‘Woolies just dropped off my order, and the vegemite opened a little too easily with the ring intact… I looked in thinking it would be fine and there’s a fingerprint!

‘Obviously it will be taken to the police for fingerprint analysis immediately, I can’t let a crime like this go unpunished.’

It remains unclear whether the fingerprint was make during the manufacturing process or at the supermarket.

‘Makes me wonder if someone picked it up and it was already open then they tried to shove it back on the shelf…or maybe they thought it was funny?’ They wrote.

A Melbourne shopper was horrified to discover a fingerprint in an unopened jar of Vegemite (pictured)

Vegemite have confirmed they are investigating the incident and taking the matter ‘seriously’ (stock)

The shopper concluded the post by revealing they would be forced to ‘have strawberry jam on toast and that’s just not the same’.

Reddit users were divided over the bizarre find with some joking the marking would add ‘extra flavour’ while others insisting they should ‘just scrape off the top layer’.  

However, another wrote: ‘I wouldn’t eat it just because it’s kinda gross and you don’t know what else they’ve done with it.’

Another suggested the shopper should ‘get your money back’. 

The shopper later shared an update confirming they had returned to the same Woolies branch and found three jars with lids that could be easily removed, suggesting a ‘product defeat’.

They said one of the jars also had marks in the spread similar to the one they had found in the original Vegemite.

‘I’ve reported to Woolies, Vegemite, and the ACCC product safety line,’ they added.

The shopper explained upon returning to Woolies they found three jars that could be easily opened, including one that had a similar mark inside (stock)

Vegemite confirmed in a statement they were ‘actively investigating’ the incident.

‘We are in contact with the author of a recent post shared by a Melbourne Reddit user concerning a jar of Vegemite which they believed to have been tampered with,’ the statement shared with news.com.au said.

‘We take such matters seriously and are committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our products. There is no evidence to suggest a widespread problem.

‘We are actively investigating the case and remain dedicated to upholding the high standards that Vegemite is known for.’

Woolworths has been contacted for comment.  

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Aussie baffled after discovering strange markings in unopened Vegemite jar

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