Ketchup dates back as far as 1600 AD when sailors
traveling to China discovered a sauce made of soy or oysters called ‘ketsiap’.
This version quickly changed ingredients to include mushrooms,
anchovies, shallots, and lemon peel. Then in the late 1700’s tomato
ketchup appeared in Nova Scotia and began the transformation to
today’s sweet tomato version.
Ketchup began to be commercially available in the
United States during the 1830’s when a New England farmer bottled and
sold his version of the tomato condiment. In 1837 ketchup gained in
popularity when Jonas Yerkes bottled and sold ketchup in quart and
pint sized bottles. Then in 1872 HJ Heinz began to sell what we know
today as Heinz Ketchup. Heinz’s recipe is the same today as it was
when he placed this popular condiment on store shelves everywhere.
The catsup spelling went out of popularity in 1981
when Ronald Regan’s administration declared ‘Ketchup’ a vegetable that
could be used in school lunches. Public outcry caused a reversal of
this ruling and today ketchup is back as a condiment.