Promite /ˈproʊmaɪt/ is the registered brand name for a dark brown, salty food paste mainly used as a spread on sandwiches and toast similar to the better-known Vegemite and Marmite. Promite was invented in the 1950s by Henry Lewis & Company and marketed under the Masterfoods brand. Henry Lewis & Company later became MasterFoods Australia and New Zealand, before being bought out by the privately owned Mars family's group of companies in 1967. As Mars, Incorporated is a privately owned U.S. company, Promite is no longer an Australian-owned food. However, Promite is still manufactured and sold in Australia.
Contents
Promite is made from vegetables and yeast extract, and is naturally high in various B vitamins. Promite has a sweeter taste, a darker colour and a softer, more spreadable texture than Vegemite.
Ingredients - Post 2013
Promite contains: Vegetable Protein Extract, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Water, Colour (Caramel 150C), Salt, Cornflour, (from Wheat), Glucose Syrup (From Wheat), Onion, Emulsifier (Glycerol Monostearate), Thickener (Modified Cornstarch), Food Acid (Citric), Vegetable Gum (Carrageenan), Spice extract.
Ingredients - Prior to 2013
Promite contained: vegetable protein extract, sugar, yeast extract, water, colour (caramel 150C), salt, cornflour (from wheat), glucose syrup (from wheat), onion, emulsifier (glycerol monostearate), thickener (modified cornstarch), food acid (citric), vitamins (niacin, thiamin, riboflavin), vegetable gum (carrageenan), flavour enhancers (627, 631), spice extract.
Vitamins Removed
According to Mars Customer care:
"In 2013, we removed vitamins Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2) and Niacin (B3), as well as two flavour enhancers, and found this to benefit some consumers sensitive to those vitamins, without impacting taste or texture".
However, some natural vitamins remain from the raw ingredients, approximately: