He said: “Businesses in these communities have a responsibility to report any purchase that may raise their own suspicions”.

In Queensland alone, there are 19 communities where booze is either banned or restricted.

The minister stopped short of placing restrictions or bans on the sale of the spread or other yeast-based products in such communities.

Following allegations the popular yeast spread was being used to brew alcohol in indigenous community in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Mr Abbott said he believed government measures, such as its Healthy Welfare Card, were better suited to tackling substance abuse issues, than cracking down on how much Vegemite was sold in stores.

News reports, however, have described moonshine operations in dry communities that have utilized bathtubs to ferment alcohol.

The sticky spread, made from yeast extract, is an Australian icon and similar to its British cousin Marmite.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott echoed that sentiment: “The last thing I want to do is have a Vegemite watch”, he told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday, according to The Australian.

Vegemite-the seemingly innocent, salty spread that elicits both patriotic worship and vitriolic hatred in the food’s native Australia-might be being used to make moonshine.

“Because Vegemite, quite properly, is for most people a reasonably nutritious spread on your morning toast or on your sandwiches”.

“Our priority has always been to get kids to school, make communities safer and get people into jobs”. “Well it’s a precursor to misery in (some) communities”, Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said, citing the safety of women and children in affected communities.

Alcoholism has long plagued indigenous Australian communities.