# Catsup vs. Ketchup **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 4, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383 "2006-05-04T13:38:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeffy\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@Jeffy\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffy_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/1 "2006-05-04T13:38:52Z")
Well, in my experience between the two are actually very different. In looking at the ingredients at my local supermarket I noticed that Ketchup has a lot of sugar and salt in it, where Catsup is made up almost entirely of fruit juices. This seems to mean that Catsup is much healthier for you than regular Ketchup, and in my opinion, tastier. Where they came up with the names though, I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/2 "2006-05-04T14:27:42Z")
That only proves that you are looking at two different brands. The fact, by the way, that original catsup/ketchup had an entirely different recipe is the reason that the formal name of the American sauce is usually given as “Tomato Ketchup/Catsup”. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/3 "2006-05-04T22:06:55Z")
I was told that Hunts and Heinz used opposing spellings - part of the ketchup/catsup wars. Ketchup won. Did Hunts or heinz win, I don’t remember. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/4 "2006-05-05T02:48:26Z")
Heinz is definitely the #1 brand in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/5 "2006-05-05T03:09:16Z")
> [@John W. Kennedy](#): > > The fact, by the way, that original catsup/ketchup had an entirely different recipe is the reason that the formal name of the American sauce is usually given as “Tomato Ketchup/Catsup”. If I read Cecil [correctly](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_102a.html), the original _ke-tsiap_ was not made out of tomatoes (which were unknown to the Chinese – at least before Marco Polo’s visit), but out of fish. I do not put much stock in the legend that _catsup_ was originally _cat soup._ ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/6 "2006-05-05T15:01:06Z")
I’m a little uncertain about original ketchup. I was always told it was a Malayan mushroom sauce. But whatever it is, “Tomato Ketchup” was originally a construction parallel to “Soy Hamburgers”. ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/7 "2006-05-05T16:53:50Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > If I read Cecil [correctly](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_102a.html), the original _ke-tsiap_ was not made out of tomatoes (which were unknown to the Chinese – at least before Marco Polo’s visit), but out of fish. > > _cat soup._ Tomatoes are a New World food, which were unknown to Marco Polo also. (Even if he actually did make it to China, which is not beyond doubt.) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/8 "2006-05-05T17:03:54Z")
I don’t doubt it. I was just talking out my ass there anyway. \ **Marco!** ---
**Author:** ![MovingTarget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@MovingTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovingTarget)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383/9 "2006-05-05T19:14:18Z")
Yells at Beware of Doug _POLO_ I’m pretty sure that the Ketchup/Catsup is a generalization of the term. There are actually many different types. Bananas, Mango and other fruit is sometime a main ingredient in these, and I’ve heard they’re quite good. But it’s like out BBQ sauce labeling. There are MANY different types of this sauce and as a general we just put BBQ sauce on it here in the states because we only have one major kind, whereas in different countries they have different kinds and label it as such. Same with the different Ketchups. We just tend to generalize everything into something that isn’t too difficult for the masses to understand.