# Where can I buy ketchup that's not so darn sweet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239 "2004-03-14T16:34:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/1 "2004-03-14T16:34:06Z")
After reading about it on an SDMB thread, of course, I’ve been noticing corn syrup / high fructose corn syrup in a ridiculous number of foods. The worst offender, IMHO: ketchup. American Heinz is just so… sweet! _Blech_. So where can I buy some tomatoey goodness for my scrambled eggs that doesn’t belong on a krispy kreme? ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/2 "2004-03-14T16:38:16Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > After reading about it on an SDMB thread, of course, I’ve been noticing corn syrup / high fructose corn syrup in a ridiculous number of foods. The worst offender, IMHO: ketchup. American Heinz is just so… sweet! _Blech_. So where can I buy some tomatoey goodness for my scrambled eggs that doesn’t belong on a krispy kreme? One word: Salsa! Once you go salsa, you’ll never go back… ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/3 "2004-03-14T16:39:49Z")
I did a quick search and found [this](http://www.tropicalshops.com/vcs/No-Sugar-Added-Ketchup.htm). I don’t think I’ve ever seen any in any of my local grocery stores. I do agree, though. I don’t put ketchup on anything because it’s always so damn sweet. The closes thing I’ve seen to non-sugared ketchup is salsa, which still often has sugar, but at least has other flavors that drown it out a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/4 "2004-03-14T16:41:01Z")
Now they sell a lot of “spicy ketchup” and “ketchup-with-a-kick” sort of products. I love BBQ sauces and salsas and hot sauces, but I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful here with brand names. Just check out the ketchup and BBQ sauce/hot sauce section at your supermarket and see what they have. Just as a thought, would British ketchup be any different? I know Albertson’s (known as Jewel in the Midwest) has a section of British foods, and I know they sell Heinz products that aren’t normally available here in America, probably developed for people with different tastes. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/5 "2004-03-14T16:44:11Z")
Stop and Shop in the Northeast also has an excellent International section - I always peruse the British and Irish sections because some of the products their are phenomenal. Except for Flake (candybar). Blick. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/6 "2004-03-14T16:45:03Z")
Also, check out the diet section. With low-carb and no-carb diets being all the rage, I’m almost positive Atkins and other brands like that have sugar-free ketchup you could try. Those things are pretty expensive, but maybe you’ll find it a worthy experiment. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/7 "2004-03-14T17:38:11Z")
Atkins makes ketchup. It’s not too bad. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/8 "2004-03-14T17:38:21Z")
I have recipes for several types of Catsups. ( spelling is from the cookbook from _Yankee Magazine_) There’s elderberry, spiced grape, Mrs. Russell’s lemon, mushroom (2), plum, walnut, and oh yes, tomato, which has no sugar at all. If you want one or more, [email=picunurse@comcast.net] E-mail me . ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/9 "2004-03-14T18:29:16Z")
> [@iwakura43](#): > > After reading about it on an SDMB thread, of course, I’ve been noticing corn syrup / high fructose corn syrup in a ridiculous number of foods. The worst offender, IMHO: ketchup. American Heinz is just so… sweet! _Blech_. So where can I buy some tomatoey goodness for my scrambled eggs that doesn’t belong on a krispy kreme? Ahh, I can solve your problem for you… Ketchup does not belong on eggs. Now there, wasn’t that easy? All eggs require is little salt. Ketchup is slightly sweet because it is mainly intended to be used on meat byproducts such as hotdogs, and they figure anyone desperate enough to eat hotdogs will need a little sugar to help the hotdogs go down. And since it is almost impossble to get a restaurant to serve you a good quality rare hamburger anymore, you need ketchup to allow you to choke down the brown, dry horror of a medium burger. Oh, and it also goes well on top of a mutton pie covered in baked beans. Whew. Glad this was in IMHO! ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/10 "2004-03-14T18:48:12Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I have recipes for several types of Catsups. ( spelling is from the cookbook from _Yankee Magazine_). Now if you want to get into the difference between the blasphemous aberration of Catsup and the majesty of Ketchup, we have to take this to Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/11 "2004-03-14T19:13:36Z")
Try a [chili sauce](http://www.favoritebrandrecipes.com/ECguide/ECGhtml/67225.htm) like Heinz or Homade. Not too spicy, but a much better flavor than ketchup. I don’t like ketchup, never have, but I’ll use chili sauce when it’s available on hamburgers, eggs, etc. ---
**Author:** ![hybrid\_dogfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@hybrid\_dogfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hybrid_dogfish)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/12 "2004-03-14T19:15:06Z")
**BoringDad** has it right, I don’t know if there is a difference between Brit Ketchup and American, as I have never tasted American Ketchup, but the correct thing to consume with scrambled eggs is [HP Sauce](http://www.hpfoods.com/brands/hpsauce/) although I don’t know if it is readily available in the US, but if you can get hold of it, I suggest you try it. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/13 "2004-03-14T19:23:18Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > Now if you want to get into the difference between the blasphemous aberration of Catsup and the majesty of Ketchup, we have to take this to Great Debates. Oh Dear! :eek: I just used the spelling from the book. I did, however, look both up in webster’s _Catsup_ is defined as the sauce you don’t put on eggs (well, not exactly) and _Ketchup_ is defined as a variant of that other word. Personally, I say ketchup too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/14 "2004-03-14T20:59:32Z")
Actually I lied–I don’t usually have ketchup on my eggs. I save it for the home fries (mmm). Has anyone tried the Heinz “organic” ketchup? It costs maybe 50% and has some dubious label like “75% organic,” but there’s no corn syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/15 "2004-03-14T22:01:11Z")
> [@Earl Snake-Hips Tucker](#): > > I did a quick search and found [this](http://www.tropicalshops.com/vcs/No-Sugar-Added-Ketchup.htm). I don’t think I’ve ever seen any in any of my local grocery stores. I do agree, though. I don’t put ketchup on anything because it’s always so damn sweet. The closes thing I’ve seen to non-sugared ketchup is salsa, which still often has sugar, but at least has other flavors that drown it out a bit. I’ve tried this. It uses Splenda sugar subsitute, and tastes even sweeter than regular ketchup. It’s disgusting. I ended up switching to steak sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/16 "2004-03-14T22:25:36Z")
And in a slightly related hijack, what about spaghetti sauce? Any commercial ones that aren’t so darn sweet? ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/17 "2004-03-15T01:31:15Z")
You could look at [http://www.ketchupworld.com/](http://www.ketchupworld.com/index.html). I usually get an Asian banana ketchup that isn’t as sweet as the usual supermarket brands, but I’m out right now and don’t remember the brand name. Try an Asian market (Filipino, if there’s one around) and ask. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/18 "2004-03-15T02:13:01Z")
> [@Suse](#): > > And in a slightly related hijack, what about spaghetti sauce? Any commercial ones that aren’t so darn sweet? Just look for ones that don’t list some form of sugar as an ingredient. If you have a Whole Foods (or the equivalent) near you, they should have a decent selection. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/19 "2004-03-19T02:58:20Z")
I did some browsing in the salsa area of a local grocery store, where I had my suspicions confirmed: About half the salsas did not list sugar (or other sweeteners like corn syrup) _at all_ in the ingredients. The other half or so that did list it had it pretty far down. Salsa doesn’t have the hypersweetness of ketchup, and does have a lot more flavors. So ya can’t go wrong with it! Needless to say, I didn’t find any of the ketchups (and there were more than two names, believe it or not) without sweeteners of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239/20 "2004-03-19T03:04:34Z")
Whole Foods carries a few brands of sugar-free ketchup–I just ran out a few weeks ago, else I’d give you the brand name. If you don’t have a Whole Foods near you, check your local health food store. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-ketchup-thats-not-so-darn-sweet/234239.md?page=2)