Is Ketchup darker than it used to be?

[John Coloccia]

Did you read Tim's post? If you're using anything other than the 32 oz. bottle of that, then it's still using HFCS. They only make it with sugar in one size of their product. Odd to say the least. Hunts apparently does not use HFCS in any of their sizes.

The "Simply Heinz" product has no HFCS. Their Organic product has no HFCS. Their other products do. You don't have to go by the size, and there's no scam involved despite what the article was trying to insinuate. You simply have a choice as to what to buy with the Heinz product.

I think I should have made more clear that "Simply Heinz" is the name of the product...it actually says those words on the label. I think the confusion is that maybe people thought I was saying, "Well, you just simply have to buy Heinz". LOL. No no no.

I don't really like the flavor of Hunts, although when I was younger I think I preferred it. I certainly prefer it over the regular corn syrup Heinz (HFCS has a bitter/metallic after taste to me). I like the sugar Heinz most of all though.

Kind of ridiculous to know this much about ketchup, isn't it?

[Harry Hagan]

Are the major brands of ketchup darker than they used to be? - say 40 years ago.

As I remember ketchup from my childhood, it was a brighter red than the ketchups of today.

I’ve noticed that too—along with a lot of other things. I recently had to upgrade my welding helmet to one with an auto darkening lens because it was a little too dark inside my old helmet. It’s called “getting old”.

[David Peterson MN]

My favorite "ketchup" is Jufran Banana Sauce. It is like ketchup only so much tastier!!! It is made in the Philippines and can be found in any Asian food store.
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[Jay Maiers]

...I've made ketchup and it's pretty good! I've started fooling around with making mustard. I'm turning into a regular mountain man, which fits well with my generally anti-social outlook

If (when?) the lights go out, you'll be the man. Hand powered woodworking experience, entertainment (assuming you don't just make those guitars ), and ketchup!


(FWIW, I'm not poking fun at you no matter how that post sounds. My wife and I bought a pressure canner last year; ketchup is definately on our "learn how to make and preserve" list.)

[Brian Tymchak]

Now I want Mexican Coca-Cola.

Ok, I gotta ask. I see Mexican Coca-Cola in my grocery store. What's the difference from it and "American" Coke?

[John Coloccia]

Ok, I gotta ask. I see Mexican Coca-Cola in my grocery store. What's the difference from it and "American" Coke?

In the rest of the world, people use sugar. HFCS is predominantly a US phenomenon due to our artificial bolstering of sugar prices. It's difficult, or was difficult, to grow sugar in our climate, so to prevent a collapse of the sugar plantations (and subsequent collapse of everything surrounding them, including the slave trade) the plantation owners enlisted the aid of the US government to artificially inflate import sugar costs so that domestic sugar could compete. They continued helping on into the 1970's. Then they started handing out huge corn subsidies. In the 80's, this finally led Coke and Pepsi to say enough's enough, and they switched to HFCS. Everyhthing else soon followed, though I seem to recall ketchup starting the transition in the late 60's or early 70's.

There's been no such forces in other parts of the world, so there's really no compelling reason to use HFCS instead of sugar. That's not to say it's not used, but there isn't intense economic pressure to use it everywhere they possibly can, hence Mexican Coke is made with sugar at the moment.

This is a terrible over simplification and it's memory so I hope I have the details right, but that should broadly put it in perspective, though.

[Ron Conlon]

I've been buying something called "Pepsi Throwback" which is made with real sugar. The can looks like the old can from my youth. I'm not sure if it is a temporary release or a test product, but I am stocking up, baby!

As to the sugar being "prohibitively expensive" I'd like to see what that translates to in the marketplace. I'm willing to pay 10 cents more per can for real sugar! Usually "prohibitively expensive" is 5 cents extra per ton, as far as shareholders are concerned.

[Tim Morton]

for sure...i was in the phillipines many years ago...very tasty stuff!!

[Russ Filtz]

Check out the new Sierra Mist Naturals. It also uses pure sugar. Every now and then you can also catch Mountain Dew Throwback and Heritage Dr. Pepper. The DP tastes pretty much the same, but the MD and Pepsi Throwback definitely tastes old school. Way less fizzy and as sickeningly sweet like the new stuff.

[mike holden]

Phil,
Check your local supermarket in the exotic food section. Ours has mexican sodas of all types. Pricy though.
Mike

[Phil Thien]

Check out the new Sierra Mist Naturals. It also uses pure sugar. Every now and then you can also catch Mountain Dew Throwback and Heritage Dr. Pepper. The DP tastes pretty much the same, but the MD and Pepsi Throwback definitely tastes old school. Way less fizzy and as sickeningly sweet like the new stuff.

You have to get Doctor Pepper in the south. Northerners don't know how to make it.

That there is a fact.

[Jim Rimmer]

You have to get Doctor Pepper in the south. Northerners don't know how to make it.

That there is a fact.

You can get DP made with sugar in glass bottles at the original plant in Waco, TX

[Bryan Morgan]

Ok, I gotta ask. I see Mexican Coca-Cola in my grocery store. What's the difference from it and "American" Coke?

It tastes about 100 times better. Their Pepsi and Mtn Dew as well!

[Dan Hintz]

Check your local supermarket in the exotic food section. Ours has mexican sodas of all types. Pricy though.

When I lived in Indiana, the mexican food section had a tiny bottle (8 oz.?) of some white soda that tasted/smelled a lot like cherry. I would clean the shelf of them every time I went in. No idea who made them, no idea what it was called, but it rocked, and I would love it if someone could find the information. Maybe it's a typical drink in Mexico?

[jeremy levine]

On the true nature of the thread. I noticed the ketchup is darker, I will check the label. Is suspect dye changes. As for kosher For Passover Coke. The previous explanation ( re corn is correct ) but I have seen less and less of it.