# What is it about Heinz Ketchup that makes it so wonderful? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284 "2012-07-24T21:06:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/1 "2012-07-24T21:06:09Z")
There is something about Heinz Ketchup, and I don’t know what it is… but I know it’s my favourite vegetable by far. I’ve tried so many other ketchups, some of them considerably more expensive, and none measure up to Heinz. What’s the deal? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/2 "2012-07-24T21:14:45Z")
You might read this: [http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004\_09\_06\_a\_ketchup.html](http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_09_06_a_ketchup.html) It is Malcolm Gladwell’s piece from The New Yorker and later included in one of his essay collection books. It discusses / asserts that Heinz represents a balancing of sour, salty, bitter, sweet and umame… Enjoy. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/3 "2012-07-24T21:20:15Z")
Yet [Hunt’s](http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/catchup-22-tasters-rank-heinz-ketchup-near-bottom-but-praise-its-organic-brand-451749/) wins the [taste tests](http://www.consumersearch.com/blog/choosing-the-best-ketchup-and-so-much-more). ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/4 "2012-07-25T05:28:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Yet [Hunt’s](http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/catchup-22-tasters-rank-heinz-ketchup-near-bottom-but-praise-its-organic-brand-451749/) wins the [taste tests](http://www.consumersearch.com/blog/choosing-the-best-ketchup-and-so-much-more). Well, those taste tests must be about as worthwhile as Hunt’s itself, which is to say, not too damn worthy. Heinz rules over Hunts nearly as much as Jif rules over Skippy. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/5 "2012-07-25T06:06:30Z")
Hunt’s is evil. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/6 "2012-07-25T06:07:48Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Yet [Hunt’s](http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/catchup-22-tasters-rank-heinz-ketchup-near-bottom-but-praise-its-organic-brand-451749/) wins the [taste tests](http://www.consumersearch.com/blog/choosing-the-best-ketchup-and-so-much-more). I agree. Hunt’s is better than Heinz. I thought I was a Heinz guy until I had them side-by-side. Hunt’s is fresher and more tomato tasting. For me, Hunt’s wins in a landslide. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/7 "2012-07-25T07:11:56Z")
> [@Confused dart cum](#): > > There is something about Heinz Ketchup, and I don’t know what it is… **but I know it’s my favourite vegetable by far**. I’ve tried so many other ketchups, some of them considerably more expensive, and none measure up to Heinz. What’s the deal? Huh? ---
**Author:** ![birdbrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@birdbrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birdbrain)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/8 "2012-07-25T07:18:21Z")
You didn’t know cat sup was a vegetable? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/9 "2012-07-25T07:36:09Z")
> [@birdbrain](#): > > You didn’t know cat sup was a vegetable? I was working on the assumption that it was a marketing thing and that everyone was laughing at the idea of it. I didn’t realise people actually believed it. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/10 "2012-07-25T08:14:17Z")
Ronald Reagan did. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/11 "2012-07-25T08:40:23Z")
It’s all that sweet, sweet high-fructose corn syrup. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/12 "2012-07-25T08:51:52Z")
Did you grow up with it? If so, that may be part of it. I like the brands I grew up with, and am reluctant when I am forced to change. Nothing compares to childhood favourites. ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/13 "2012-07-25T13:18:49Z")
I’m a [Bodacious convert.](http://www.honeybunny.ca/products/bodacious-tomato-ketchup.php) ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/14 "2012-07-25T13:25:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I agree. Hunt’s is better than Heinz. I thought I was a Heinz guy until I had them side-by-side. Hunt’s is fresher and more tomato tasting. For me, Hunt’s wins in a landslide. Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/15 "2012-07-25T13:26:42Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I was working on the assumption that it was a marketing thing and that everyone was laughing at the idea of it. I didn’t realise people actually believed it. I assumed they were joking. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/16 "2012-07-25T13:34:09Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Hunt’s is evil. Hunt’s ketchup tastes like it’s gone bad. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/17 "2012-07-25T13:38:21Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Agreed! I honestly can’t tell anymore. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/18 "2012-07-25T13:40:25Z")
it tastes red. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/19 "2012-07-25T13:50:41Z")
Is it true that Hunt’s changed from “catsup” to “ketchup” only because the Reagan administration’s regulations allowed “ketchup” to be counted as a vegetable but made no mention of “catsup”? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284/20 "2012-07-25T14:00:54Z")
> [@Confused dart cum](#): > > There is something about Heinz Ketchup, and I don’t know what it is… Marketing and brand loyalty. People will argue to the contrary until they’re blue in the face, but blind taste tests suggest otherwise . Not just with ketchup, but with wine, beer, soft drinks, mayo, etc. See the Pepsi challenge, ketchup taste test referenced above, Smirnoff winning vodka tastings, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-heinz-ketchup-that-makes-it-so-wonderful/629284.md?page=2)