A Food Bite
From burgers to fries, and eggs to grits, people put ketchup on just about anything – making it known as America’s favorite condiment. President Richard Nixon even used to put this savory tomato paste on his cottage cheese!
But, how did this beloved condiment start its fame? Ketchup first originated in the 1600s as Dutch and British seamen brought back a salty pickled fish sauce called “ketsiap,” which came from China. Since then, the product has undergone many changes to its name and ingredients.
In 1813, American James Mease developed and marketed the first-ever-tomato- based ketchup recipe. By 1837, ketchup was being sold nationwide in the United States.
Today, Heinz 57 Ketchup is the number one leading seller of ketchup and is also famous for its fun, colorful variations of the condiment. In the 1990s EZ Squirt colored ketchup was very popular among consumers and kids, coming in colors such as orange, red, green, purple, pink, teal and blue.
Now you may be wondering, “Why the 57?”
In 1896, Henry John Heinz noticed an advertisement for “21 styles of shoes.” He then realized that he had more than 57 varieties of his own product: ketchup. He chose the number five and seven due to personal importance the numbers had to him and his wife. He than adopted the slogan “57 Varieties,” and the name has stuck ever since.
Today Heinz appeals to 97 percent of American households and the average person consumes three bottles of ketchup a year.
To make their product even more appealing, Heinz has added humorous, “Talking Labels,” to their designs. In 2003, 80 different “talking labels,” were produced and manufactured; now celebrities even have a say as to what appears on the bottle. Actors Lindsay Lohan and William Shatner, along with sports icons Terry Bradshaw and Mia Hamm, now have their own sayings on some bottles.
From a salty fish sauce in the 1600s to now, the former “ketsiap” has come a long way, making “ketchup” Americas leading condiment.
-Information derived from the Official Heinz Website & assortment.com
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Mar 3 2006. Filed under Other.
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