Vegeta (condiment) facts for kids

Vegeta Product Packaging

Vegeta is a popular mix of dried vegetables and spices. It's like a special seasoning powder. A company from Croatia called Podravka makes it. Many people in Eastern Europe use Vegeta a lot in their cooking.

Vegeta was first made in 1958. It was created in the labs of the Podravka company. These labs are in a city called Koprivnica, which was part of Yugoslavia back then. A smart chemical technician named Zlata Bartl led the team that invented Vegeta. She was also known for making popular dried soup mixes.

Vegeta was first sold in 1959. It was called "Vegeta 40" at that time. By 1967, it started to be sold in other countries. These included Hungary and the Soviet Union. Today, Podravka still makes Vegeta in Koprivnica. It is also made in other countries like Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Tanzania.

Vegeta became a huge success for Podravka. It even helped the economy in Koprivnica grow a lot. Zlata Bartl, the inventor, became very famous. People called her "Auntie Vegeta" (Teta Vegeta in Croatian). She was made an honorary citizen of Koprivnica before she passed away in 2008. In 2021, Vegeta was named the best-selling food seasoning in Europe. You can find Vegeta products in 40 countries around the world. There is also a special version of Vegeta. It is made for people who want to avoid monosodium glutamate (MSG).

What's in Vegeta?

Vegeta is made from several ingredients. These ingredients give it its special flavor. Here are the main things you can find in Vegeta:

• salt (up to 56%)
• Dried vegetables (about 15.5%). These include carrot, parsnip, onions, celery, and parsley leaves.
• Flavor enhancers (like MSG, up to 15%, and disodium inosinate). These make the taste stronger.
• sugar
• Spices
• cornstarch
• riboflavin (This is used to give Vegeta its yellow color.)

Vegeta's Nutrition Facts

This table shows what 100 grams (g) of Vegeta contains. It tells you about the energy and nutrients.

See also

In Spanish: Vegeta (alimento) para niños