Watchdogs hate Marmite – Official

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said that six terrified parents claimed that their two- and three-year-olds had been "terrified" by the latest Marmite commercials.

We aren't sure if it's the children terrified of the advert or the parents terrified their children might eat Marmite. Four parents said their children refused to watch television after seeing it, probably because they wanted to eat Marmite instead, and two said their children had nightmares as well. Wouldn't you if you were banned from eating your favorite food?

I make light of all this because the advertisement in question is a spoof of the famous 1958 film "The Blob". Remember the "Indescribable... Indestructible! Nothing Can Stop It!" tag line? Okay, I had to look it up, I thought it was "Run! Don't walk!" In the 1988 incarnation, the tag line had been beefed up a bit and made more relevant to Marmite haters: "Terror has no shape."

Initially, the ASA gave clearance for the advert to be shown on British television, accepting that it was "very mild horror that was clearly over the top and comical" and that; "The blob was not shown attacking people, no one was hurt by it and its pursuit of the crowd was in a cartoon style that would be familiar to very young viewers."

After all, how many times have children seen Tom be whacked over the head with a frying pan by a very unassuming Jerry Mouse?

More seriously though, the parents said the adverts had caused "distress" among their children, who were aged two and three, after being broadcast around programmes aimed at youngsters.

The advertising watchdog said: "All the viewers said that their children had been terrified by the advertisements; four said their children refused to watch television after seeing it and a further two said their children had nightmares as a result."

Okay, so only show the commercial after the 9pm watershed?

Less seriously, the first time I saw the advert I had no idea it was for Marmite and nearly split my sides when the terrified shoppers turned and jumped head-first into the blob of Marmite when they realised what was chasing them.

I bet you want to see what all the fuss was about don't you?

The first commercial:

People are running away from a giant brown blob of Marmite as it emerges from a supermarket and then heads down the street. As a couple hides from the blob the woman suddenly runs out and jumps into the Marmite, followed by many others who realised the Mamitey goodness of the Blob.

Watch the The Marmite Blob

The second commercial:

The giant Marmite Blob continues terrorising a street. As the blob chases the terrified people down the street the 1950's style tag lines are slapped across the screen as a guy runs and dives into it with a cheese sandwich in his hand. The advert uses a parody on the original1958 tag line. "Indescribable... Indestructible! Great on cheese sandwiches!"

Watch the The Marmite Blob II

More Marmite Love & Hate

Find out more about the loves and hates of Marmite, Browse the Marmite Article Archive.

I love eating Marmite and always have. I adore it so much I buy it in the 600g plastic tub from Costco. 'Tis well worth the special journey to buy it there. Zoe Herts i have been eating marmite since i was put on solids by my mum(god bless her!) so in all i have been eating marmite for approx 48 years.i have eaten marmite in the following places..malta..cyprus ..hong kong...in a brit caledonian 747 on the way to hong kong..at a mile high(do i qualify to join the mile high club? lol)canada..malaysia..acension island..saudi arabia..and q8... in the falkland islands on top of two sisters and all over the uk even on the iow..do i get a t shirt? i prefer it spread on toast as thick as a paving slab..nothing better as far as im concerned...long live marmite..may it always be on the shelf..ps does anyone know if they make a bigger jar than 500 grams cos i keep running out !!! ossie bucks It Would Be Good If There Was A Marmite Flavoured Ice Cream! I Would Like To Try That! Lucy I LOVEEEE MARMITE!!!!!!!! peeps The advertisements aren't New Zealand because we are talking about UK Marmite here. Two totally different recipes, two totally different companies. That having been said, the ads are great but NZ Marmite is better. Kirsty NZ and London Oh how very silly these children and their parents are! Those adverts are hilarious. They're not the stuff of nightmares, but of dreams... and they've made me very hungry. I want some Marmite... Miss Marmite Wales UK its not the fact that children are afraid of marmite, or that they want to eat it that's the problem. The fact is, that marmite is basically a metaphor for anal sex. seriously: you either love it or you hate it. i think this is why some parents might not want their children to watch this. Also its bad for orphans. marmite virgin why arent these commercials being shown in new zealand?and anyways VEGEMITE is better Marley