Heinz No Longer 'Ketchup' in Israel

inn ^ | 8/25/15 | Arutz Sheva Staff

[Nachum]

Heinz tomato ketchup is a household name around the world, including in Israel. But now, thanks to a court ruling, that's about to change... sort of.

Osem, Israel's leading food brand and top producer of ketchup, has succeeded in its bid to knock out its lead rival, by banning it from being called "ketchup."

In its petition to the courts back in January of this year, Osem claimed Heinz's product did not have enough tomato content to be called "ketchup." Now, after a long legal battle, the court has ruled in Osem's favor, and Heinz will henceforth be known as "tomato seasoning."

The move won't effect the English-language labeling, but only applies to its Hebrew description.

According to Israeli law, for a product to be considered "ketchup" it must include at least 41% tomato concentrate. In its petition to the courts, Osem cited studies it had carried out which revealed Heinz contained just 21%.

Heinz's European branch issued a statement responding to the ruling, noting that Israel's ketchup-vetting standards are stricter than most other countries'.

[SaveFerris]

[The move won’t effect the English-language labeling.]

The move won’t affect the English-language labeling.

Well, I’m sure my Hebrew would be far, far, far worse.

[thackney]

It’s a fruit.

[nickcarraway]

You are boycotting it because of a ruling in Israel?

[yarddog]

I am boycotting it because of it’s connection to Kerry.

[P.O.E.]

[nickcarraway]

But that's been know over a decade?

Do you know ketchup is originally an Indonesian dish?

[MeganC]

“But is it a vegetable?........................”

Only if you consider corn syrup to be a vegetable.

[Quickgun]

I was thinking one brand called theirs “catsup” instead of “ketchup”? Maybe Del Monte? Looks like they could just change the spelling..

[timlilje]

Reminds me of “freedom Fries” instead of French Fries!!

[null and void]

Red Badger ~ “But is it a vegetable?........................”

MeganC ~ Only if you consider corn syrup to be a vegetable.

It's not a mineral or an animal...

[yarddog]

No, I did not know that.

[Secret Agent Man]

French fries == Surrender fries

[JPG]

Tomatoes? Well, uh, uh, er, I'll ask Terayzah.

[Republican Wildcat]

Also the “W” ketchup that started being sold during the 2004 election as an alternative to Heinz.

Looks like they continued to manufacture it until July 2015 and will shut it down once the last bottle of current inventory is sold...11 years after the election.

[x]

If you wanted vegetables on your burger, you could just use spaghetti sauce or salsa. It could be that people, or Americans anyway, want something less tomato-y on their burgers and franks. Not necessarily something sugary, but something further from the garden.

[UCANSEE2]

Only 21% tomato? Then just what exactly is in the rest of Mrs. Kerry’s product?

Melamine.

[Empire View]

This is a good example of the kind of stealth protectionism that many other countries use against US made products.

[MrEdd]

Catsup is the older spelling.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Only 21% tomato? Then just what exactly is in the rest of Mrs. Kerry’s product?

Raisins soaked in gin?

[KGeorge]

I never can remember what kind of ketchup/ catsup we buy. Anyway, their tar-Tar sauce sucks.