KMango Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 When worlds collide! Articles this long can be an eye strain to read on screen, so I recommend downloading and printing the .pdf: The Ketchup Conundrum I am delighted to post this Malcolm Gladwell piece, which is typically not something you would find on a food-focused board. I ran into it via my Kindle reading of What The Dog Saw; this is one of several essays contained within that compilation. The article hails back from 2004, and offers a fascinating dive into notions of consumer choice and palate physiology. Sections 4 and 5 provide fresh glimpses into market research practices, flavor amplitude studies, and the history behind America's favorite condiments. (in heinz) (we trust?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodeats Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Two weird omissions: One, Heinz created a similar "ez squeeze" when they were marketing toward children back in 2000 - I have always wondered why they got rid of the bottle design when it was perfected for children already; and two, it was their marketing failure (one that I miss dearly) of blue, green and various "flavors" of ketchup that was omitted and not Ragu's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishinnards Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 I was surprised to see the Heinz name on Indonesian kecap (pronounced the same as ketchup, perhaps the original ketchup). Maybe they bought ABC to corner the global ketchup market? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstar965 Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 The big FMCG (fast-moving consumer good) companies like Heinz, Kraft, Nestle, P&G and the like have long owned huge numbers of overseas brands. Sometimes the recognizable western company's name/brand will appear on a package; sometimes not. Ketchup, BTW, is one of the last bastions of high-fructose corn syrup. If you look at the ketchup bottles in nearly all "better" burger places, whether gourmet, big/messy or otherwise, Heinz or Hunts are ubiquitous. And they all contain HFCS. I love when I find a place that makes its ketchup or tomato salsa in house but that's still unusual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 "Simply Heinz" ketchup has no HFCS. I've been buying it for a while now. It's a little more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkstar965 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 "Simply Heinz" ketchup has no HFCS. I've been buying it for a while now. It's a little more expensive. Thanks. Didn't know that. I'm not sure I've ever seen it at a burger joint or place though. And I usually make it a point to stare at the ingredient list on any ketchup bottle before I hold my nose and squeeze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaked Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 For more NYer food reading...includes Bourdain's piece which launched his food writing career, a really good piece on Julia Child early career, several pieces by MFK Fisher...and much more (as they say!) Secret Ingredients: The New Yorker Book of Food and Drink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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