Ketchup chips are a regional variety of potato chip whose creation is typically attributed to Hostess Potato Chips. Ketchup chips are strongly associated with Canadian identity due to their popularity. They have limited production in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Bowl of Lay's ketchup potato chips

History

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The invention of ketchup chips is typically attributed to Hostess Potato Chips,[1] which began experimenting with producing 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] Herr's Snacks, an American company, sold ketchup chips by the 1980s.[3] These chips may have been sold even earlier; if so, they would have been invented at the same time as Hostess. Herr's sold their chips in the United States, while Hostess only sold theirs in Canada.[4] The flavour is popular in Canada, where it is considered Canadiana, though to a lesser degree than poutine or maple syrup. Millions of bags are produced each year by Frito-Lay, the parent company of Hostess.[5] They are also sold by smaller companies like Covered Bridge.[3] Ketchup chips are available in almost every Canadian grocery store[6] and are strongly associated with Canadian identity.[7] They are especially popular in the province of Manitoba.[8]

Flavour

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The chip variety has also been described as a "sweeter barbecue".[9] 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.[8] According to a writer for The Takeout, ketchup chips do not truly taste like ketchup but instead comprise flavours reminiscent of it, like cooked tomatoes and sugar.[10] A writer for Thrillist described them as tasting "like a bottle of ketchup was blown apart" and that this flavour was "dusted upon the chip in equal parts".[6] The Daily Meal described ketchup chips as being "inspired" by ketchup rather than flavoured like it, comparing the product with Cool Ranch Doritos.[11]

International markets

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Canadian chip flavours such as ketchup are more vinegar-based in comparison to the United States, where more varieties have a creamier flavour. These flavour preferences are likely influenced by differing immigration trends and Canada's connection to the United Kingdom.[12] 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.[13]

Historically, Old Dutch sold ketchup chips in Canada and the United States but discontinued production in the American market after it failed to be profitable.[14] There is limited production of ketchup chips in the United States, but they are much more commonplace in Canada. Frito-Lay does not sell its ketchup chips in the US, where ketchup potato chips are produced by other companies like Herr's Snacks.[5] This company later partnered with Heinz to produce the flavour.[3]

Walkers, a British food manufacturer, launched ketchup chips in 2001, partnering with Heinz to produce the product.[15] Sausage and ketchup chips were released as a limited edition flavour in 2024.[16]

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Debates about whether ketchup chips are an appealing snack often take place on the Internet.[17] In 2019, eight American journalists tried ketchup chips and ranked 13 brands, the top three of which were Doritos, Great Value, and Old Dutch.[18] In April 2024, Chatelaine magazine ranked 11 ketchup chip brands in Canada. Their first two choices were Compliments flavours, while the third was Ruffles.[19]

During an interview covering the food preferences of actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, the two disagreed with each other about ketchup chips. Pugh believed the flavour had a similar taste to prawn cocktail chips, while Garfield disagreed with the accuracy of that comparison and described ketchup chips as weird and "kind of a sin".[17]

In 2023, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that two Americans travelled from Virginia to Niagara Falls, Ontario, to purchase forty bags of ketchup chips,[20] which went viral.[21] A Canadian grocery store then shipped them nine cases of potato chips.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jackson, Lisa (November 2017). "The Crunchy History of Ketchup Chips". Food Network Canada. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  2. ^ Skinner, RJ. "7 Canadian snacks you can't get in the U.S. and the backstory on why". CBC Life. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Jackson, Lisa (November 2017). "The Crunchy History of Ketchup Chips". Flavour Network. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Are ketchup chips good or bad? Andrew Garfield says the Canadian snack is 'kind of a sin'". National Post. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b Rose, Nick (19 September 2018). "How Ketchup Chips Became Edible Canadiana". Vice. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Futon, Wil (26 July 2018). "The Delicious Ketchup Snack That Americans Are Totally Missing Out On". Thrillist. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  7. ^ Goodman, Rob (2023). Why American Democracy Is Eroding and How Canada Can Protect Itself. Simon & Schuster. p. 175. ISBN 9781668012451.
  8. ^ a b Thiessen 2017, p. 40.
  9. ^ Chu, Louisa (29 August 2019). "Who makes the best ketchup chips? Yes, they're a thing. And we tried 13 brands from Canada". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  10. ^ Nutall-Smith, Chris (23 November 2017). "What Canadians understand about ketchup chips that Americans don't". The Takeout. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  11. ^ Pinkham, Colin. "Seth Rogen's Favorite Chip Flavor Is A True Canadian Classic". The Daily Meal. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  12. ^ Lev, Elianna (2 August 2024). "Snacks like Coffee Crisp and ketchup chips are only available in Canada, but they have fans around the world". Yahoo News!. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  13. ^ Thiessen 2017, p. 36.
  14. ^ Thiessen 2017, pp. 41–42.
  15. ^ "Packaging for new Walkers' Heinz crisps". Design Week. 14 June 2001. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  16. ^ Davidson, Tamara (7 August 2024). "Walkers and Heinz launch three 'mind-bending' new crisp flavours — dividing opinion". Yahoo News!. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Are ketchup chips good or bad? Andrew Garfield says the Canadian snack is 'kind of a sin'". National Post. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  18. ^ Chu, Louisa. "U.S. food writers discovered ketchup chips, what did they think?". Toronto Star. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  19. ^ Braganza, Chantal. "Canada's Best Ketchup Chip: A Definitive Ranking". Chaitelaine. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  20. ^ a b Hristova, Bobby. "American dad and son flooded with ketchup chips after Niagara Falls hunt now donating the crunchy snacks". CBC. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  21. ^ Sahinturk, Tuvana (22 August 2023). "American family who went viral for ketchup chip road trip have so many bags now, they're donating some". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 5 December 2024.

Sources

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  • Thiessen, Janis (2017). Snacks: A Canadian Food History. University of Manitoba Press. ISBN 9780887555275.