Ketchup chip explained

Ketchup potato chips are a regional variety of potato chip found in Canada. Its invention is typically attributed to Hostess Potato Chips.[1] It is a popular Canadian snack food.[2] Ketchup chips are sold in almost every Canadian grocery store.[3]

History

Hostess Potato Chips began experimenting with the production of new potato chip varieties in the early 1970s. Ketchup chips were the only one that proved profitable, as other flavours like orange and grape were discontinued.[2] According to a writer for The Takeout, ketchup chips do not truly taste like ketchup but instead are composed of flavours reminiscent of it, like cooked tomatoes and sugar.[4] A writer for Thrillest described them as tasting "like a bottle of ketchup was blown apart" and "were dusted upon the chip in equal parts".[3] The chip variety has also been described as a "sweeter barbecue".[5] Ketchup chips are not marketed with healthier variants, as diminished salt content and natural flavouring changes the taste of them significantly and therefore limits product innovation. Ketchup chips are strongly associated with Canadian identity.[6] They are especially popular in Manitoba.

Canadian chip flavours such as ketchup are more vinegar-based in comparison to the United States, where more varieties have a creamier flavour profile. These flavour preferences are likely influenced by differing immigration trends and Canada's connection to the United Kingdom.[7] For example, Canadians are more likely to pair white vinegar with fries, a combination that is commonplace in Britain but unusual in the United States.

International markets

Historically, Old Dutch sold ketchup chips in both Canada and the United States but discontinued production in the American market after it failed to succeed. There is limited production of the variety in the United States, but ketchup chips are much more commonplace in Canada. Frito Lay does not sell its ketchup chips in the US, with American potato chips being produced by other companies like Herr's Snacks.[8] In 2023, two Americans travelled from Virginia to Niagara Falls, Ontario, in order to purchase forty bags of ketchup chips. A Canadian grocery store then shipped them nine cases of potato chips.[9] They donated some of the chips to local schools.[10]

Walkers, a British food manufacturer, launched ketchup chips in 2001, partnering with Heinz to produce the product.[11] These chips were discontinued in 2023.[12] Sausage and ketchup chips were released as a limited edition flavour in 2024.[13]

See also

References

Sources

Book: Thiessen . Janis . Snacks: A Canadian Food History . 2017 . University of Manitoba Press . 9780887555275.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jackson . Lisa . The Crunchy History of Ketchup Chips . Food Network Canada . 2 January 2024 . 22 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230922035835/https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/the-crunchy-history-of-ketchup-chips/ . live .
  2. Web site: Skinner . RJ . 7 Canadian snacks you can't get in the U.S. and the backstory on why . CBC Life . 2 January 2024 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141434/https://www.cbc.ca/life/food/7-canadian-snacks-you-can-t-get-in-the-u-s-and-the-backstory-on-why-1.4102299 . live .
  3. Web site: Futon . Wil . The Delicious Ketchup Snack That Americans Are Totally Missing Out On . Thrillest . 9 August 2024.
  4. Web site: Nutall-Smith . Chris . What Canadians understand about ketchup chips that Americans don’t . The Takeout . 2 January 2024 . 2 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102074339/https://thetakeout.com/what-canadians-understand-about-ketchup-chips-that-amer-1798251510 . live .
  5. Web site: Chu . Louisa . Who makes the best ketchup chips? Yes, they’re a thing. And we tried 13 brands from Canada . Chicago Tribune . 2 January 2024 . 14 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230114215117/https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-ketchup-potato-chips-ranked-viz-0904-20190829-5ytn5affnbh47pouxr5z6t2u7u-story.html . live .
  6. Book: Goodman . Rob . Why American Democracy Is Eroding and How Canada Can Protect Itself . 2023 . Simon & Schuster . 9781668012451 . 175.
  7. Web site: Lev . Elianna . Snacks like Coffee Crisp and ketchup chips are only available in Canada, but they have fans around the world . Yahoo News! . 9 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Rose . Nick . How Ketchup Chips Became Edible Canadiana . Vice . 2 January 2024 . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225084612/https://www.vice.com/en/article/mbwv43/how-ketchup-chips-became-edible-canadiana . live .
  9. Web site: Hristova . Bobby . American dad and son flooded with ketchup chips after Niagara Falls hunt now donating the crunchy snacks . CBC . 9 August 2024.
  10. Web site: Sahinturk . Tuvana . American family who went viral for ketchup chip road trip have so many bags now, they're donating some . Yahoo News! . 9 August 2024 . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130104146/https://ca.news.yahoo.com/american-family-who-went-viral-for-ketchup-chip-road-trip-have-so-many-bags-now-theyre-donating-some-193141489.html . live .
  11. Web site: Packaging for new Walkers’ Heinz crisps . Design Week . 2 January 2024 . 2 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102185008/https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/14-june-2001/packaging-for-new-walkers-heinz-crisps/ . live .
  12. Web site: Glover . Patrick . Walkers teases new crisp flavour in collaboration with Heinz . Eastern Daily Press . 9 August 2024.
  13. Web site: Davidson . Tamara . Walkers and Heinz launch three 'mind-bending' new crisp flavours — dividing opinion . Yahoo News! . 9 August 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ketchup chip".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.