Heinz or Sysco: The Ketchup Discussions

So I have always been a Heinz 57 type of guy. I’m not sure why it started but I sure as heck know why it’s continued. I scoff at Hunts! Toss the towel over Del Monte! Repeal Red Gold! None of these imposters can truly replace my Heinz. I can taste it too; when I’m being fed the other stuff. Granted ketchup is merely a garnish and is meant to enhance the flavor of the food, but, well, I can usually tell.

Granted, I did work in restaurants for many years. I know that food service companies like Aramark and Sysco use their own brand of something wonderful. While it may be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the truth is out there and it will be discovered. This was the reason why I always opted for dining establishments which would wear their label like it was; if you’ve got Heinz bottles on the table (and many of them did) then be proud of it! But don’t have your little daytime lunch shift lackeys come out in the middle of my swing shift with their eight pound tin can of food service ketchup and put it into the Heinz bottles in their adjacent section for all my customers to see! At least let my tables believe the ketchup in their bottles is Heinz; belief is the biggest part of reality.

But food service is long since past for me (though I still hold a grudge) so it was with some shock and awe that I came across two-sides-of-the-story at a singular very tables. Lily’s Cafe had ketchup packets available for consumption and the message was clear enough. On the one side of these ketchup packets was stated clearly: Heinz. Right? Then on the other side of the same package came the words “Fancy Ketchup.” Fancy Ketchup? From Sysco? Yes indeed it was the same type of Fancy Ketchup.

This fact sent me reeling so I dug down and looked up Fancy Ketchup form Sysco online. Here’s what I found: “Sysco House Recipe Ketchup is specifically formulated for back of the house use. It offers a higher bostwick level, or thickness level, of which you desire. Its 33% solids add a unique flavor profile that is not only great on sandwiches and fries, but it makes an excellent base for sauces. The #10 Can can be used to refill House Recipe ketchup bottles.”

Got that? You’ve got permission (from the pseudo ketchup manufacturer) to put their gunk in your restaurants (presumably branded) bottles of ketchup; Heinz or otherwise. While I couldn’t find any answers at Lily’s for their ketchup malfeasance, I honestly couldn’t say that I blamed them. After all, if you pick up these ketchup packets and drown your fries in them with the Heinz side showing, doesn’t that mean that, as far as you know, you’ve put Heinz on your food?

For those of us who care though, some answers would be lovely.

Source:

http://www.sysco.com/products/productpage.asp?prodID=351&ctID;=4&ptID;=1

Reference:

• www.sysco.com/products/productpage.asp?prodID=351&ctID;=4&ptID;=1
• www.heinz.com