Marmite: you either love it or you hate it, as they have famously advertised. Denmark has decided that it hates it, along with other vitamin-fortified food products, and has introduced a ban on them. Seems odd to prohibit something that is both tasty and relatively good for you, and some of Marmite's fans in Denmark have put it down to the product being "foreign." Why? The ban follows the appointment of Danish immigration minister Søren Pind, whose comments on assimilation could perhaps be summarized as simply: "If you don't like it, why don't you just go home?"
Meanwhile, when not eradicating the scourge of yeast extract, malt drinks, and baby biscuits, the Danish government (led by Pind) intends to tackle the issue of gender (in)equality amongst "immigrants of Muslim culture." Deploying educators, the state aims "to convince immigrants that their attitude towards women is outdated." Opponents decry the campaign as "populist."
Immigration—you either love it or you hate it. In Denmark's case, it looks as if it depends on the immigrant.
How do you feel about Denmark's actions?
2 Comments
This is thankfully not the attitude of all Danes.. Nativism has taken roots and like Tea Partiers in US their ignorance, offensive manners and bully boy tactics in denying cultural,ethnic or plainly enjoyable foods manifests their abnormal enjoyment of abasing others whether native born or foreign born. If one goes back in time, in 1920's the films produced in Denmark outdid even those made in Berlin. Their tracts (yellow papers) were the same. Every citizen or legal resident of Denmark disagreeing with this weltanschau needs to start collecting signatures to denounce those promoting unhealthy agendas to the detriment of all. I don't understand this islamophobia,since Denmark has hadf muhammedans for 60-70 years by now. EU courts can rectify most of the cases, there are laws Denmark as a member has signed, also UN.
I myself being a dane fully accept and understand the impression foreigners have of Denmark being very hostile towards immigrants. There has been a change in mood over the past 5-10 years, and I am ashamed.
However, regarding Marmite there are some journalistic errors, I would like to clear. In Denmark, you are not allowed to add artificial vitamins to food unless you have an approval. You can have the approval easily, but in order to get it, you need to apply. Marmite contains B12 and the company importing it to Denmark has been told by the Danish authorities to apply. Until then the import will be stopped. Those are the rules for everyone. The company importing Marmite hasn't yet applied. That the situation. I must say linking Danish xenophibia with this ban is a very poor piece of journalism.
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