Some love it, some hate it — but the fact remains, Marmite is the most-often confiscated brand at London City Airport, according to airport security data.
The breakfast spread, discovered by German scientist Justus von Liebig in 1902, is brewer’s yeast — concentrated, bottled and eaten.
The airport has seen deserted jars of Marmite increase 50 per cent in the first three months of 2019, from four to six jars a day, and the airport forecasts it could seize over 2,000 jars this year alone.
Now, British Airways and Marmite have teamed up to create a limited-edition jar to celebrate the airline’s centenary, launching on 1 May 2019. And the good news? It’s conveniently sized at 70g to fit within the liquid allowance and costs GBP £3 (approx. R57).
“With 4.8 million passengers travelling each year through London City Airport, many of whom are returning to the continent or heading on holiday, it’s little surprise that Marmite is such a treasured item and demonstrates just how loyal Brits are to their favourite brands,” Ian Cowie, Director of Customer Operations at London City Airport.
Other branded items that did not make it past security are Harrods jams and spreads and Lyle’s Golden Syrup.
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Marmite is just one of several limited centenary edition products to be released this year by BA. Earlier this month the airline announced a partnership with Scottish craft brewers, BrewDog, who have created a transatlantic IPA for customers and in a world first brewed the beer on a flight.
The airline has also partnered with luxury British watchmakers Bremont on the launch of a new limited-edition timepiece, featuring metal from one of the most famous and iconic planes in history — the Concorde.
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London City Airport donates the majority of confiscated food items to a local charity, Community Food Enterprise (CFE). Since the partnership started in April 2017, the charity has distributed three tonnes of items to 16 smaller charities in East London, to ensure the confiscated items can help vulnerable people locally.
A ‘Mail and Fly’ service is also offered should passengers wish to post confiscated items to a specified address.