# What's so fancy about ketchup?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 27, 2000, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951 "2000-08-27T19:07:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2000, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/1 "2000-08-27T19:07:36Z")
Why do those little packs of ketchup you get at fast food joints say “Fancy Ketchup” on them. What is so fancy about them?
---
### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/2 "2000-08-27T19:38:19Z")
Ketchup is lowlifes. _Catsup_, now that’s fancy!
---
### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/3 "2000-08-27T20:36:57Z")
According to [this site](http://www.csindy.com/csindy/1999-10-14/potluck.html)
> [@](#):
>
> On an unrelated note, my research indicates there is no difference between, ketchup, catsup or catchup. Or fancy catsup.
---
### Author:  [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/4 "2000-08-28T01:57:04Z")
Probably the fanciness comes from being served in tiny portions. Kind of like _Fancy Feast_ cat food - it’s obviously of a higher quality because it’s packaged in small cans.
---
### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/5 "2000-08-28T06:06:53Z")
What do you mean, ‘what’s so fancy?’?!?!
It’s KETCHUP! In Canada, tomatoes are rare, and I’ve not seen ketchup in more than a year. It’s a delicacy around here 😃
---
### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2000, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/6 "2000-08-28T15:33:26Z")
In the mainland United States macadamia nuts are scarce, but I can buy them in almost any food store. Haven’t you Canadians figured out the magic of importing?
---
### Author:  [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-fancy-about-ketchup/30951/7 "2000-08-28T15:36:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by drewbert \*
> \*\*Probably the fanciness comes from being served in tiny portions. Kind of like _Fancy Feast_ cat food - it’s obviously of a higher quality because it’s packaged in small cans. \*\*
While that may be true, I would have guessed it was more of an indication of the type of tomato used. (You’ve heard of Fancy Red Delicious Apples for example?