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The history of ... Heinz Ketchup

Adrian Northrup

Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Showcase
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Catsup or Ketchup?

At the H.J. Heinz Company, Director of Global Corporate Affairs Michael Mullen said, it's ketchup.

Heinz produced its first bottle of the salty red sauce in 1876. However, Mullen said the company's first product was horseradish, in 1867.

Ketchup is tomato concentrate. The tomato concentrate consists of ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, sale, spice, onion powder and other natural flavorings, according to the back of a half-used bottle.

About 25 tomatoes go into an average-size glass bottle, Mullen said. The company produces about 400 million bottles of ketchup a year.

The salty substance has nutritional value, Mullen said. Ketchup contains lycopene, an antioxidant. Studies have shown that consuming lycopene can prevent certain types of cancer.

However, Mullen said, a serving of ketchup does not equal a serving of vegetables.

Heinz Ketchup is produced year-round, Mullen said. Consumers also buy the product year-round, but Mullen said he thinks consumption increases during the summer months.

"I think you see a spike during the summer, when people start to barbeque," he said.

In the United States, most people put ketchup on hamburgers and hot dogs, Mullen said, but in other countries, ketchup combinations vary.

In Sweden, the most popular combination is ketchup and pasta.

"They use it instead of marinara sauce," he said.

United Kingdom supermodel Caprice uses the red sauce as hair conditioner, Mullen said.

Sophomore Jenna Hooper said she uses it on normal things like hamburgers and eggs. But sometimes, Hooper said she puts it on other things.

"If we are out of sour cream I put it on tacos," she said.

Hooper said she usually uses the shake method to get the ketchup out of the bottle. If that doesn't work, she said she turns it upside down and waits for it come to the top.

Mullen recommended gently tapping the glass-embossed "57" on the side of the bottle to release the ketchup from the bottle.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3

Adrian Allen

posted 2/16/08 @ 2:37 PM CST

I THINK THAT IS THE BEST WEBSITE ARTICLE ABOUT KETCHUP I EVER READ.

Carlie Lamke

posted 1/19/09 @ 5:07 PM CST

What do you think the Heinz ketchup company would like a logo to look like if it was drawn by a child?

Erica Hughes

posted 4/17/09 @ 9:19 AM CST

Hello. My name is Erica Hughes. I am a big fan of you ketchup. It is very good and i love to eat it on my hamburges. I think your ketchup is the best ketchup ever. (Continued…)

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