Heinz Fuels Debate About Whether You Should Put Ketchup in the Fridge
When it comes to condiments, ketchup brings out some important questions: does it go on a hot dog? Is it overrated? And does it actually taste better mixed with mayonnaise?
But lately, ketchup has been at the center of another debate: should it go in the fridge or pantry?
The Heinz UK Twitter account sparked the discussion tweeting, "FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge!!!" on June 27. It received nearly 1,000 quote-tweets, with many of those not agreeing with the ketchup brand.
1. No it doesn't.
2. Who wants cold ketchup and warm food?
3. Why isn't it sold in fridges then? https://t.co/VQEmCFpfvH— Alby (@AJMK39) June 27, 2023
Fuck off haha cold sauce on hot food. Lad it doesn’t even make sense wen u say it out loud https://t.co/sIlpHrqp5F
— Gilbert Grape (@BonnieRiggss) June 27, 2023
Can't think of a single good reason as to why ketchup should go in the fridge https://t.co/XsU4XqnpE6
— Reece (@reece_w99) June 27, 2023
who tf out here keeping opened ketchup out of the fridge https://t.co/c1Byxc1yjJ
— ?d????s??s?? ?? PACE (@dissocial_) June 27, 2023
I’m not one to engage in blatant marketing ploys but I’m such a strong believer that ketchup goes in the cupboard I couldn’t let it go https://t.co/TLzttfzNiu
— Amelia (@avza91) June 27, 2023
A day later, after so many pantry-ketchup keepers disagreed with Heinz, the account held a poll: "Where do you keep yours? It has to be… in the fridge!" The options were either fridge or cupboard. Turns out Heinz was right—it wasn't even close. Fridge won by 26.4%, with the poll receiving over 13,000 votes in total.
Where do you keep yours? It has to be… in the fridge!
— Heinz (@HeinzUK) June 28, 2023
When band Citylightz replied to the tweet asking, "Why is it not in the fridge at the supermarket then?," Heinz replied with a photo of a double pack of ketchup bottles inside a supermarket refrigerator, writing, "Coming soon to your local store." Another Twitter user had the same question, to which the account responded, "Where do you keep your soft drinks, Dave?"
Someone else replied to Heinz's poll, agreeing that refrigerated ketchup just tastes better. "Yes Heinz ?????? can you tell my boyfriend to do so ??, he keeps it the countertop and it tastes ??," she wrote. Heinz relayed a message to her boyfriend, replying, "Hattie’s bf… PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE. ??."
While refrigerating ketchup does help it stay fresh, the US Department of Agriculture notes that it's not necessary. As mentioned on its site, "Shelf-stable foods do not require refrigeration and are safe indefinitely; however, they may decrease in freshness and quality (texture and color) if eaten months or years past the expiration date. They include unopened canned goods, cereal, baking mixes, pasta, dry beans, mustard, ketchup and peanut butter."
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