Heinz Ketchup: United States vs. Canada
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Cane Sugar are NOT the Same Things!
(Revised 2019)
Dr. Michelle Kmiec, Founder OHH
I found it interesting that out of the five restaurants I went to in Montreal, Canada, the Ketchup there had different ingredients than the five different restaurants I went to in New York and Vermont.
List of Ingredients in Ketchup from Canada:
- Tomato paste
- Ripe tomatoes
- Liquid sugar
- White vinegar
- Salt
- Onion powder
- Spices
List of Ingredients in Ketchup from the United States:
- Tomato concentrate from ripe tomatoes
- Distilled vinegar
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Corn Syrup
- Salt
- Spice
- Onion powder
- Natural Flavoring
Why such a difference, aren’t they both Heinz Ketchup? And on top of all that, aren’t we lucky that in the USA we get genetically modified High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), AND as if that weren’t enough, we also get genetically modified GM Corn Syrup! Yay!
There are many people who believe that liquid sugar and HFCS are the same things – they are not. Liquid sugar is made from sugarcane whereas HFCS is obviously made from corn. However, putting aside the GMO issue, aren’t both still just sugar? In fact, not long ago there was a TV commercial (a few actually) addressing this concern. Check it out:
“If are like me you care about the food your family eats. I was pretty confused about every I was hearing about HFCS. So I did a little research to find out what independent doctors, dietitians, and nutritionists have to say. I earned that whether its corn sugar or cane sugar your body can’t tell the difference. Sugar is sugar!
(cue big knowing smile!) And that’s one less thing to worry about.” Brought to by Corn Refiners Association
Now doesn’t that make you feel better? Unless of course, you know the real truth.
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Cane Sugar are NOT the Same Things!
The sad fact is, biologically speaking this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Dr. Mark Hyman, MD gives the best explanation in his article titled, 5 Reasons High Fructose Corn Syrup Will Kill You.
“HFCS and cane sugar are NOT biochemically identical or processed the same way by the body… Research done by his group at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute found that free fructose from HFCS requires more energy to be absorbed by the gut and soaks up two phosphorous molecules from ATP (our body’s energy source). This depletes the energy fuel source, or ATP, in our gut required to maintain the integrity of our intestinal lining. Little “tight junctions” cement each intestinal cell together preventing food and bacteria from “leaking” across the intestinal membrane and triggering an immune reaction and body wide inflammation.
High doses of free fructose have been proven to literally punch holes in the intestinal lining allowing nasty byproducts of toxic gut bacteria and partially digested food proteins to enter your blood stream and trigger the inflammation that we know is at the root of obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, dementia, and accelerated aging. Naturally occurring fructose in fruit is part of a complex of nutrients and fiber that doesn’t exhibit the same biological effects as the free high fructose doses found in “corn sugar”.
WOW! Right?
The takeaway: Cane sugar and the industrially produced, euphemistically named “corn sugar” are not biochemically or physiologically the same.
And may I point out that “ high doses of free fructose “ is exactly what we have here in the USA since HFCS is now in thousands of food products!
I highly recommend reading the entire article, 5 Reasons High Fructose Corn Syrup Will Kill You, for more detailed information.
Now, I have one more major issue with the USA version of Heinz Ketchup. Why does the US ketchup have the extra ingredient(s) of “Natural Flavoring”?
If you notice, both the Canadian ketchup and the US ketchup have “spice(s)” in their ingredient list. I understand not listing each spice due to proprietary reasons (though I would prefer knowing what I am eating), and that they want it to be kept secret from the ketchup eating world… but what then is “Natural Flavoring”? A special proprietary secret meant for only US ketchup consumers?
I just had to know, so went to the Heinz Ketchup website to see what they have to say about it!
“The natural flavorings listed in our ingredient statement consist of natural spice extracts and oils. The exact ingredients included under the “natural flavorings” on the Heinz® Ketchup label are considered proprietary because recipes cannot be patented.”
So apparently yes! “Natural flavorings” are a proprietary secret! Then what the heck is “spice(s)”?
I guess we’ll never know for sure…
Luckily, Heinz Ketchup does have an organic version of their product! Phew!
Bottom Line: Always, always, always read the labels! And never assume that all products with the exact same name, and from the same company are made equal…because when it comes to Ketchup (and countless other products), they are apparently not!
is a board-certified Chiropractic Physician and Life Coach who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology, and a minor in Medical Research. She is a life-long athlete who after curing herself 100% naturally from MS and anxiety, became an avid nutrition health researcher/promoter. She has been featured in many Health magazines and has been a guest on radio talk shows in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. She is the author of Health Freedom Revolution: Exposing the Lies, Deceit and Greed of the Medical Profession, Founder of Online Holistic Health, and a contributing writer for other popular informative health website/blogs. She is the host of Holistic Health Radio – where she discusses how she recovered her health as well as other hot health topics, and she is also co-founder of Crazy Meets Common Sense! – The Podcast that Makes Sense Out of the Crazy, to Help You Live a More Healthy, Fulfilling and Empowering Life!
December 5, 2014 @ 6:34 pm
It’s really sad, isn’t it? Organic whole foods are the only way to eat safely/healthy. I know many products are made differently due to the banning or mandatory labeling of gmo’s in so many other countries. Not sure of Canada’s stance on this issue. And we’re supposed to be the “greatest country”? Only if your a food manufacturer who’s allowed to poison people for the sake of the almighty dollar. If only we could inject those in charge with a conscience along with those vaccines they love so much!
January 25, 2015 @ 6:13 pm
Well, the tomatoes are probably still GMO in both countries, and most sugar produced in the world is also GMO, so the liquid sugar may be a step up from HFCS, but it’s probably more than likely still genetically modified. Personally I make my own ketchup using ORGANIC honey as the sweetener as opposed to sugar.
August 25, 2015 @ 5:50 pm
There is ZERO scientific evidence that GM foods are bad for you. You are clearly not a scientist and should not be spreading this nonsense on the internet. While I am here, I will point out that I am a career professional chemist who runs a research group at a top ~50ish-in-the world university with interests in biological research. Please read some books or papers and educate yourselves and ignore this uneducated, fear-mongering nonsense.
August 25, 2015 @ 10:04 pm
Hello Scott!
Thank you for your very passionate response! However, sadly you are very mistaken regarding evidence, which is surprising based on your experience. Frankly…the “fear-mongering nonsense” comes from those who support these untested chemical experiments on the population – only later are given more chemicals (aka: pharmaceuticals) for the ever-growing illnesses. After CURING myself from MS, believe me, I have done my research… and now that I am healthy, no thanks to conventional medicine and “scientists”…I make it my mission to spread the word about anything unhealthy. When I see illnesses on a decline, then…and only then will I entertain supporting your POV.
Again, thanks for your comment as I always support all debates! 🙂
October 20, 2015 @ 10:48 pm
USA Heinz ketchup also has higher salt content. Anyone know reason?
February 25, 2016 @ 1:37 am
The u.s doesn’t care what they have in their food. Whatever is most cost efficient. Canada health has very strict rules on what can and cannot be in our food. There is a reason why there is a mass amount of sugary cereals and pop in the states but not in Canada. Coke vanilla was banned in Canada. Because it had 94 grams of sugar. 94!!! That’s insanity
March 8, 2016 @ 11:10 am
HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) is not “bad” as a few make it out to be. Regular Corn Syrup has been manufactured since the 1800’s and HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) since the 1970’s….hasn’t killed anyone yet….plant located in Cardinal Ontario along the St. Lawrence River since 1868 and still going strong. Also there are THREE manufacturing plants in Ontario – London, Port Colborne and Cardinal that produce HFCS and buy LOCAL ONTARIO CORN from local farmers in its production…. HFCS is not “bad”, I am commenting because Corn Syrup is produced in Ontario using LOCAL farmers corn…..one of the author’s original point’s was CANADIAN content but then he “dissed HFCS”. And by the way, just for the record…..there is no such thing as NATURAL SUGAR….it is derived from sugar cane, which is a stalk like corn, the sugar has to be extracted in liquid form and processed just as much as Corn Syrup….just the facts having spent 20+ years in the Sugar Industry!!!
March 8, 2016 @ 3:08 pm
Hello Jeff! Yep, we are going to disagree…you say, “And by the way, just for the record…..there is no such thing as NATURAL SUGAR….it is derived from sugar cane, which is a stalk like corn” Sorry incorrect. It is not “like corn” at all. It is like grass…actually it IS a grass. 🙂 So if it is more like anything is it more like bamboo. Please refer to https://www.onlineholistichealth.com/real-truth-behind-sugar/ So I again respectfully disagree. Thanks for your comment!
March 15, 2016 @ 2:06 pm
Scott B: According to this site, there are no longer GMO tomatoes grown anywhere. It was a thing, but it’s not anymore.
http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/15.genetically_modified_tomatoes.html
February 1, 2017 @ 1:31 pm
Thanks Scott for your opinion. I don’t have to rely on any study’s to know how dangerous GMO is. Owning a large track of land and having a family farm I know how GMO are used. I resently stopped leasing my land out to farmers because this is the only way they grow now. They. Spray the land with round up. No plowing just poison and kill everything. Then they plant GMO seed that roundup don’t kill. After a period of time weeds start to grow agh and they spray it again with roundup crop and all. The GMO altered seed is not bothered by it but the entire time it is absorbing the roundup and becoming poisoness. After harvest they mow off the field and spray again with roundup and start the cycl over. The weeds are becoming resistant so more and more spray is used. So just run down to your farm supply and get roundup and pour yourself a glass.
July 16, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
Thanks for the information. I am sitting in a restaurant in Cape Brenton and my wife has said repeatedly that the ketchup taste better. So today we looked at the ingredients and what a surprise, no corn syrup. I said, “of course not. Canada probably does not have major corporations that have their hands in the corn industry and the government.” Sad, sad for us in the US. The consumers hopefully realize that the corn byproduct is in most food we eat. Wish we could change it so that obesity can decline and the people can have more control of what goes into food. Best to grow our own. Thank you.
August 18, 2017 @ 8:56 am
Great article! I’m actually sitting at a restaurant in the Toronto airport and don’t ever use regular ketchup but out of curiosity, flipped the bottle around to look at the ingredients and saw no HFCS! I know that many food producers put junk in American products that they don’t use for other countries so I’m not entirely surprised, but I’m no less offended. Funny that America is “the most powerful country in the world” and yet seems to get the short end of the stick when it comes to food. It boggles my mind that people think GMOs aren’t harmful. It’s not really that complicated – plants absorb a chemical and survive, then we eat it. It’s a CHEMICAL, no matter how you look at it, meaning it shouldn’t be consumed! Thank goodness glyphosate has been listed as a known carcinogen in CA now. I’m sure people will scoff at it, saying California is a bunch of liberals, but prop 65 is a big deal.
March 11, 2018 @ 11:58 am
Heintz has closed their Canadian Ketchup plant (around spring 2017) so the only stuff you can eat in Canada or the USA is the US-made version now.
May 3, 2018 @ 2:17 pm
This happens because our government is owned by a bunch of lobbyists on BOTH sides of the aisle. In Europe they allow less than 1/2 of the preservatives that they allow in US. The Government that’s suppose to protect you is only concerned with filling their pockets with the “free money” that gets confiscated every month from hard working tax payers who don’t realize they are supporting an Oligarchy.
July 9, 2018 @ 12:28 am
“genetically modified GM foods” that like saying “aquatic water” GM scaremongering at its worse.
Sorry, but this article is more fear mongering than science!
July 10, 2018 @ 4:38 pm
Hi Serge! Respectfully, I believe that lack of information is “scaremongering”. I like to know exactly what I am eating. Thankfully, if you enjoy consuming GM foods it is right to do so. I prefer not to.
Thanks for your comment!
November 3, 2018 @ 11:16 pm
Hi! Great article & very informative! I am still researching – without success so far – if there are ways to detox your body from GMO and that glyphosate shit. I always try to choose my food attentively but when you eat out you do not always get the best ingredients in your meals. When there is a way to detox the body from mercury, there must be a way to get all the GMO and glyphosate residues out of our system. What is your opinion?!
November 10, 2018 @ 5:08 am
The difference between ingredients in the US and the ingredients in Canada is the way the federal regulators require food companies to declare the ingredients in their foods. Do you really think “liquid sugar” is any different than high fructose corn syrup? Come on.
November 17, 2018 @ 2:32 pm
Johnny Canadian Heinz used to be produced in India for a short time after the closure of the Canadian plant, But it is produced most recently in the US as it is labeled “product of the United states on my most recent bottle but appears to be the same ol Canadian standard with liquid sugar . I would challenge US residents living near the border or traveling through Canada to grab a few bottles of ketchup and taste for themselves.. But be a bit cautious while traveling through Customs by car with ketchup. I once made a trip to Sarinia Ontario for the express purpose of visiting Canada for the day to just buy ketchup as a gift for a co worker. On my return through US customs I had 4 bottles in my back seat , customs thought it extremely odd that I visited a different country for exclusively for Ketchup , Secondary searched , downloaded data from my phone and computer and detained me for about 4 hours. But Canadian ketchup is worth the hassle, it does taste different.