Ketchup / Catsup History

Government Standards for Ketchup

Government standard regulations for ketchup or catsup basically state the ingredients include: cooked and strained tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, onion or garlic flavors, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, mace, allspice, nutmeg, ginger,and cayenne.

Old grading standards dating back to 1953 dictated ketchup that flowed 9 centimeters in thirty seconds received the Grade A rating. The standards were revised in 1991 so that now Grade A ketchup need only ooze 3 to 7 centimeters in thirty seconds to make the grade. In other words, this means the old ketchup used to be thinner. Today's ketchup is thicker.

More About Ketchup

• Ketchup / Catsup Storage and Fun Facts
• What are ketchup's Legal Ingredients and how thick is it? Government Standards for Ketchup
• Ketchup and Health
• Ketchup / Catsup History
• Ketchup / Catsup Recipes
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