# Ketchup, it's what's for breakfast! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602 "2012-01-25T15:20:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/1 "2012-01-25T15:20:03Z")
[Why is there no ketchup on a properly made hotdog?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/679/why-is-there-no-ketchup-on-a-properly-made-hot-dog) The real question is why is there only one style of ketchup. If I want mustard, there’s Dijon, Brown, Spicy, Yellow, honey, stone ground, Chinese, and shelf after shelf of jars of various varieties. With ketchup, there’s Heinz and brands that pretend to be Heinz. So, the real question isn’t why doesn’t ketchup belong on hotdogs, but why isn’t there a ketchup that **can** go on hotdogs? If you’re over the age of five Heinz ketchup is too sweet for almost anything even burgers or fries. Why hasn’t a company taken advantage of this underserve sector and develop a line of ketchups that are tailored made to a variety of foods? ---
**Author:** ![postpic200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@postpic200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postpic200)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/2 "2012-01-25T15:46:11Z")
I use homemade ketchup, no sugar added because I make it myself. Great on hotdogs, french fries, hamburgers. As for commercial varieties, no even the sugar free use a lot of other sweeteners. I try and keep sugar out of my diet as much as possible, I make my own tomato sauce, etc because manufactures tend to add sugar as a shortcut to flavor, and to cover up flavor differences. They are more worried about how consistence the produce is and how it will keep than flavor. Same thing for most produce you buy too, how it ships and how it looks is more important than flavor. Which is why I grow as much as I can and use older varieties that are ugly to look at but taste great. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/3 "2012-01-25T15:54:11Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > The real question is why is there only one style of ketchup. There isn’t just one style of ketchup. See here – [MAGGI Sauces - Hot and Sweet Maggi Sauce - Maggi Tomato Sauce | MAGGI®](http://www.maggi.in/MAGGI_Sauces.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/4 "2012-01-25T16:04:29Z")
There are lots of ketchups in the UK. Off the top of my head, you can get chilli ketchup, curry ketchup, Worcestershire sauce ketchup, reduced sugar ketchup, and Reggae Reggae ketchup. There are also non-tomato ketchups like mushroom ketchup (which is a divine umami blast) and the Indonesian sauce ketjap manis. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/5 "2012-01-25T16:11:40Z")
Even Heinz in the United States now has a hot and spicy and a balsamic vinegar ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/6 "2012-01-25T17:08:52Z")
Malcom Gladwell answered this question comprehensively in a 1994 [New Yorker Article](http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_09_06_a_ketchup.html). ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/7 "2012-01-26T20:15:34Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > Malcom Gladwell answered this question comprehensively in a 1994 [New Yorker Article](http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_09_06_a_ketchup.html). Thanks for the pointer to that article. I noticed this quote: > [@](#): > > The taste of Heinz’s ketchup began at the tip of the tongue, where our receptors for sweet and salty first appear, moved along the sides, where sour notes seem the strongest, then hit the back of the tongue, for umami and bitter That’s not considered true any more. We don’t have specialized areas on the tongue tuned to different flavors. The old _tongue maps_ are simply not correct. Just want to point out that it wasn’t Malcom Gladwell who said that, so it’s not his fault. The article pointed out why Heinz might be the perfect ketchup, but it also pointed out several potential weaknesses: Kids are the biggest market for ketchup which means they stop using it as they get older. This is probably due to its overwhelmingly strong, sweet flavor. Kids like Cap’n Crunch too. The other is that Gladwell stated that Wigin’s the World’s Best Ketchup might go good on catfish, but wasn’t well flavored for fries. Maybe the trick would be to create a wide variety of _ketchups_ based upon the product. For example, a french fry ketchup might be more _Heinz-like_ while one for hotdogs and burgers may have a stronger tomato flavor and less sweetness. Put out five _varieties_: Meat, fish, chicken, classic, spicy. ---
**Author:** ![DORFMONT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@DORFMONT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DORFMONT)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/8 "2012-01-27T21:27:01Z")
I put pico de gallo on mine and call them perro caliente. Tomato, onion and cilantro. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/9 "2012-01-28T04:25:07Z")
I just wish I could get a fully-dressed Chicago dog _ **right now** _ where I live. What passes for a hot dog “with everything” here is grilled with grilled chopped onions + sweet relish + yellow mustard. Ketchup must be “requested.” (And doesn’t look “recommended” by any means.) Optional add-ons include bacon, kraut, a wimpy chili sauce, hot mustard, hot relish. And they cost more. Sad. ---
**Author:** ![JF1451](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@JF1451](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JF1451)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/10 "2012-01-30T20:05:25Z")
God damnit Mr. Adams. Way to ruin ketchup for me. I want to disagree, but the logic is flawless. I love ketchup, but i guess you can sum that up as and “Un-refined pallette” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/11 "2012-01-30T20:09:58Z")
[Palette](http://gracekellyyoga.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/palette12.jpg) [Pallet](http://earth911.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pallet.jpg) [Palate](http://content.revolutionhealth.com/contentimages/hwkb17_073_003.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/12 "2012-02-03T20:37:02Z")
Ketchup is Satan’s nosebleed. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/13 "2012-02-03T20:44:38Z")
As long as I can find Melinda’s Habanero Ketchup at the grocery store, all is well. Nothing better on fries. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/14 "2012-02-03T21:09:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Ketchup is Satan’s nosebleed. So Heinz has to punch out the Devil himself to make it? That’s pretty badass. And they don’t sell hotdogs in Chicago. What they sell is a salad on a bun, with a little bit of sausage hiding in it. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/15 "2012-02-03T21:34:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And they don’t sell hotdogs in Chicago. What they sell is a salad on a bun, with a little bit of sausage hiding in it. Thank you for saying what I"ve been thinking for about 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/16 "2012-02-03T21:37:25Z")
Keep your Heinz; I’ll take Hunt’s any day. ---
**Author:** ![georg\_patric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@georg\_patric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/georg_patric)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/17 "2012-02-08T01:27:05Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > Malcom Gladwell answered this question comprehensively in a 1994 [New Yorker Article](http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_09_06_a_ketchup.html). not entirely. in fact, not even close. ketchup originated in China and was known as ke-tsiap. it was very similar to a condiment used in the west (Garum) dating back to Rome’s dominance and which eventually evolved into worcestershire. BOTH originated as a sauce derived from salted fish. the best discussion i know of is in Mark Kurlansly’s **SALT: A World History** , one of the most fascinating books i have read in years. Cece is right in condemning those who foul good sausage with catsup, ketchup or whatever name you want to give it. any parent the uses catsup in home with anyone under the age of 16 should be arrested for child abuse. the little dickenses grow up to like thinks kile Skippy peanut butter. I am no anti-sugar fantatic. it has its place… but that place is as far from a good hot as any epicure can manage to move it. but… ya know… relish? who knows of a commercial pickle relish that is not laden with sugar also. mustard, preferably a good, zingy grain mustard. grilled onion. slaw is good, if hecho a mano y con no azucar. and anyone that cannot appreciate a dog with kraut (also a subject dealt with at length in m. Kurlansky’s fine book) must be some sorta subversive. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/18 "2012-02-08T18:14:53Z")
> [@georg\_patric](#): > > not entirely. in fact, not even close. ketchup originated in China and was known as ke-tsiap. it was very similar to a condiment used in the west (Garum) dating back to Rome’s dominance and which eventually evolved into worcestershire. BOTH originated as a sauce derived from salted fish. the best discussion i know of is in Mark Kurlansly’s **SALT: A World History** , one of the most fascinating books i have read in years. > > Cece is right in condemning those who foul good sausage with catsup, ketchup or whatever name you want to give it. any parent the uses catsup in home with anyone under the age of 16 should be arrested for child abuse. the little dickenses grow up to like thinks kile Skippy peanut butter. I am no anti-sugar fantatic. it has its place… but that place is as far from a good hot as any epicure can manage to move it. > > but… ya know… relish? who knows of a commercial pickle relish that is not laden with sugar also. > > mustard, preferably a good, zingy grain mustard. grilled onion. slaw is good, if hecho a mano y con no azucar. and anyone that cannot appreciate a dog with kraut (also a subject dealt with at length in m. Kurlansky’s fine book) must be some sorta subversive. Gladwell’s article was not about the history of the word ketchup, which as you note came from a Chinese sauce, but about the current condiment known as ketchup, which bears practically no resemblance to that Chinese sauce. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/19 "2012-02-08T21:54:35Z")
Army brat. If it moves, salute it, if it doesn’t move, paint it green and anything can be eaten with enough catsup. I think I heard my buddy Christian whimper a little when I asked for catsup for my weisswurst when I visited him in Germany a few years ago … oops:D ---
**Author:** ![JF1451](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@JF1451](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JF1451)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-its-whats-for-breakfast/610602/20 "2012-02-11T21:31:57Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Palette](http://gracekellyyoga.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/palette12.jpg) > > [Pallet](http://earth911.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/pallet.jpg) > > [Palate](http://content.revolutionhealth.com/contentimages/hwkb17_073_003.jpg) No need for the English lesson. I think you got my point.