# Heinz ketchup

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 5, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188 "2000-12-05T22:15:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![flynnstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@flynnstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flynnstone)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188/1 "2000-12-05T22:15:47Z")

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Why does hitting the little 57 on the bottle make the ketchup come out? I’ve tried hitting the bottle other places, shaking it, just waiting, but nothing else seems to work. I don’t get it . . .

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**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bc8723/32.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Davidson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Lord_Davidson)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188/2 "2000-12-05T22:25:30Z")

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It’s a conspiracy, you see. They purposely weaken the 57 on the bottle so that it’s subliminally engrained in our head as we smack, smack, smack, smack and smack it again and again in our efforts to release the delicious red ambrosia that presents itself henceforth.

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**Author:** ![B\_to\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@B\_to\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B_to_B)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188/3 "2000-12-05T23:06:39Z")

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Like any colloid, if you shake it before opening the cap, the weakest bonds are broken and it will flow.  
However, it may also overflow when the cap is released, so aim it away from you.

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188/4 "2000-12-05T23:26:03Z")

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It’s not that you’re hitting the 57 symbol, it’s that your action is allowing air to have a place to flow into the bottle.

```
 _____

```

----/ |  
----\_\_\_\_\_|

```
   ^
   |
   |

```

Assuming the 57 symbol is here, you’re releasing the ketchup from the “top” of the bottle, allowing air to flow into that cavity. This allows the ketchup to flow from the bottom of the bottle. I usually hold the bottle in my right hand. Aiming it downwards towards it’s desired destination, I lightly tap the neck on my left fist. Much more appetizing than sticking a knife down the throat of the bottle.

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**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heinz-ketchup/44188/5 "2000-12-05T23:31:43Z")

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Next time I attempt ASCII art, I’ll have to preview first. 🙂