I Need Some of That Canadian Ketchup

[billroper]

I've noticed that ketchup tastes different in Canada. Some of that is due to a regional change in formulation, I'm sure, but some of it seems to be due to the use of sucrose instead of high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. That's probably due to the fact that Canada can buy sugar at the world price instead of the inflated price that we pay here in the U.S. to protect the growers of sugar beets. Sadly, it's one of those fine bipartisan subsidies to farmers that is supposed to protect the "family farm", but which instead mostly goes into the pockets of big corporations. And it also boosts demand for HFCS, which is produced by big companies like Archer Daniels Midland.

It turns out that our efforts to "protect" the farmers may have had a few unanticipated side-effects.

HFCS: From the Lips to the Hips?

Comments

[tnatj.livejournal.com]

Classic unanticipated side-effect of this and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ... As well as candies made in the Chicago area (Brach's), Life Savers® candies were made in Holland, Michigan for decades. But the plant was closed and production moved to Quebec. One of the reasons given was the lower price of sugar in Canada: here is an article.

[backrubbear.livejournal.com]

Whenever I head over to Canada, I tend to pick up some of their soda. I find the taste to be much better than the equivalent U.S. drink.

However, folk who are used to getting a jolt from their Mountain Dew will get a rude surprise in Canada. :-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

It also could literally be the different ingredients or processes used in Canada vs. the U.S. If you've ever had Sugar In The Raw, in the U.S. it's textured pretty much the same as regular pure cane sugar -- but in Canada its crystals are larger and lumpier, not quite as much as kosher salt but close. It's more like rock candy. Not that this is a bad thing. ;)

[ohiblather.livejournal.com]

Or maybe it's just that we Canucks are just sweeter, eh?

;-)

Sweetaholic Debbie

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, certainly, you are. :)

[ohiblather.livejournal.com]

I bet you say that to -all- the chocolaholic Canajun girls... ;-)

[billroper]

Always possible. :)

I still remember when I was tired and getting reading to leave a filksing and you kicked me in the instep and insisted I stay a bit longer. Only someone who was naturally sweet could get away with that...

[ohiblather.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!!!!

[poltr1]

HFCS, which is produced by big companies like Archer Daniels Midland.

And Cargill. (BTW, is it Archer or Arthur?)

I think the high price of sugar was one of the reasons Coke tried to change their formula in the mid-80s. They switched their sweetener to HFCS.

The sugar lobby is the #1 reason why stevia is still an obscure product.

Speaking of ketchup....Some enterprising folks loyal to the GOP have come up with a new product for those who want to boycott Heinz, due to its associations to John Kerry and his wife. Read more about it here.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Archer.

Heinz...Wasn't he a Republican Senator?

[billroper]

I'm not worrying about boycotting Heinz, although Hunt's Ketchup will do quite nicely in a pinch.

The Jewel-brand ketchup used to be just awful. I haven't tried it lately.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I read labels and ingredient lists and rarely buy anything containing HFCS unless I simply have no choice. Author Michael Pollan has much to say about corn and its insidiousness.

K.

[patoadam]

The article you cite suggests that sucrose may be better (or less awful) for you than fructose because it triggers a sense of satiety. The flip side of that is that sucrose is digested quicker than fructose, largely because it triggers more insulin production, so you become hungry again sooner and eat more.

I have lost almost 20 pounds on a diet of low-glycemic-index, slowly-digested foods, so I would bet that fructose is no worse than glucose, but YMMV. (No, I am not suggesting that drinks sweeted with HFCS will help one lose weight.)

[jhayman.livejournal.com]

Rather than debate the merits, would you like some Canadian ketchup brought over the border for you? We won't be a Worldcon but we will be visiting Persis and Spencer in two weeks.

[billroper]

I appreciate the offer, but it probably falls into the category of entirely more trouble than it's worth. I consume a lot of ketchup. (Legendary amounts, apparently.)

Thanks though!