You may think it sounds crazy, but McDonald's food tastes different than most other fast food restaurants. Sure, most of them all have the same basic menu: burgers, chicken, and French fries. But there's something about the way McDonald's makes its food that makes it top tier.
We already know that the co*ke and apple pie from McDonald's are next level. But what about something that you probably enjoy more frequently than a soda or dessert? Ketchup.
That's right, McDonald's ketchup tastes different — and some may say, better — than what you get at the store. And, no, it's not just Heinz ketchup masquerading in a McDonald's packet. McDonald's actually makes its own ketchup.
The Sticky History of McDonald's Ketchup
The first McDonald's opened in 1955 and in the 1970s, Mickey D's struck up a partnership with the ketchup giant Heinz. Heinz supplied McDonald's customers with its fan-favorite ketchup packets for more than 40 years. However, in 2013 Heinz was acquired by a new company with a new CEO, Bernado Hees.
Hees was the former CEO of Burger King, McDonald's fast food rival. Because of Hees' history with Burger King, McDonald's decided to end its 40-year partnership with Heinz and produce its own ketchup instead. Thus, this new tomato gold was made.
How Is McDonald's Ketchup Different?
After the McDonald's-Heinz partnership ended in 2013, McDonald's began handing out its own "Fancy" ketchup. Fancy is a qualification from the USDA that certifies it as high-quality ketchup (Heinz is also considered Fancy ketchup).
Fancy ketchup is a U.S. grade A ketchup that has good color, good consistency, good flavor, and is free from defects, according to the USDA. Grade A ketchup must also have at least 33% tomato solids — making it thick enough to stay in place on your food.
Admittedly, there are only three differing ingredients between McDonald's ketchup and Heinz ketchup, but it makes a difference. McDonald's ketchup consists of tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, salt, and natural flavors. Heinz doesn't have the water, like McDonald's does, and Heinz contains onion powder and "spice," while McDonald's does not.
McDonald's Ketchup vs. Heinz Ketchup
To put the ketchups to the test, we performed a taste test between McDonald's ketchup and Heinz ketchup. We dipped McDonald's French fries in room-temperature McDonald's ketchup, then room-temperature Heinz ketchup (we wanted to keep the temperatures the same in case it changed the consistency or flavors). Here are the results:
Heinz: The Heinz ketchup was thick and coated the fries well. It tasted tomato-y but had a big punch of spice.
McDonald's: The McDonald's ketchup was a little thinner, so it didn't coat the fry as much. It tasted mostly like sweet tomatoes without much spice. Almost like a tomato soup.
Even though there are only minor differences in the ingredient list, these two ketchups taste noticeably different. And if you like a sweeter, more tomato-heavy flavor, then the McDonald's ketchup is the one for you.
OK, so, maybe you've never thought about this ketchup question before. But next time you order your Quarter Pounder, you'll definitely notice it.
FAQs
McDonald's ketchup consists of tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, salt, and natural flavors. Heinz doesn't have the water, like McDonald's does, and Heinz contains onion powder and "spice," while McDonald's does not.
Why does McDonald's ketchup taste different? ›
In particular, McDonald's ketchup isn't a commercially-available brand like Heinz or Hunt's, it's their own proprietary blend -- and that makes all the difference. You might think this means they add something unique to the mix, but you'd be wrong. Instead, it's all about what they're taking away from it.
What ketchup is closest to McDonald's? ›
“If you go on the McDonald's website and look under their burgers and look at the ingredients statement of the ketchup on their burgers and compare that to Heinz, it is almost identical,” Haracz explains in his TikTok. “However, Heinz looks like it has some added ingredients.”
Has McDonald's changed their ketchup recipe? ›
Although the ingredients of the chain's old ketchup and new ketchup are almost identical, there are a few ingredients that aren't shared between the two brands. The transition from Heinz to a new supplier is ultimately why the ketchup tastes so different.
Does McDonald's put sugar in their ketchup? ›
66% Tomato Puree (equivalent to 184g Tomatoes per 100g Ketchup), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Spirit Vinegar, Salt, Spice Extracts.
Why does McDonald's taste different now? ›
Fewer burgers are placed on the grill, which somehow results in a hotter, juicier, tastier burger, and the diced white onions are added to the beef patties on the grill as they are cooking, rather than afterwards at the prep table. The cheese has been “tempered” longer to make it meltier as well, Schafer says.
Why did McDonald's get rid of Heinz? ›
In 1973, a tomato shortage hit Heinz hard, and the company decided its glass bottle business would take priority over bulk accounts. Needless to say, McDonald's' executives weren't happy with this and abruptly ended the exclusive agreement.
Why did McDonald's stop using tomatoes? ›
"There are not enough quantities meeting our quality specifications available," said a spokesperson of McDonald's India (North & East), insisting the move is not due to the surge in prices.
Is McDonald's ketchup gf? ›
Of the sauces offered at McDonald's, spicy buffalo, creamy ranch, honey mustard, honey, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise are all gluten free. The tangy BBQ and sweet 'n sour sauces are not. (Although not listed in this section, the Big Mac sauce also contains gluten.)
Why does McDonald's soak their fries in sugar? ›
The dextrose, a natural form of sugar, is to help achieve a uniform golden color and the sodium acid pyrophosphate prevents the potatoes from turning grayish after they are cooked, according to McDonald's. Fear said these ingredients are of no health concern.
That extra gram of sugar in Heinz is something that you can actually taste. Heinz ketchup is sweeter and more tomato-y, while Hunt's ketchup has a more vinegar-forward flavor. Personally, it seems pretty clear that Heinz is the winner (it also took the top spot in Sporked's best ketchup ranking).
What is one item on the McDonald's menu that contains no sugar? ›
The lowest-sugar option on McDonald's menu is an order of chicken McNuggets, with zero grams. Adding the spicy buffalo dipping sauce, made with cayenne pepper, won't contribute any sugar grams, either.
What type of ketchup does McDonald's use? ›
That's right, McDonald's ketchup tastes different — and some may say, better — than what you get at the store. And, no, it's not just Heinz ketchup masquerading in a McDonald's packet. McDonald's actually makes its own ketchup.
Why do McDonald's drinks taste different? ›
We all know that soda tastes better when it's ice cold. McDonald's makes sure that your co*ke is chilled at every stage, even before it reaches the soda fountain. The stainless steel used to store the syrup is extremely effective when it comes to temperature control, so the syrup always stays cold (and fresh).
Does anyone know the difference between regular and fancy ketchup? ›
In practical terms, this means "fancy" ketchups are smoother, firmer, largely free of noticeable bits of tomato, and optimally balanced between sweet and sour notes (via Mental Floss).
Why does Heinz ketchup taste different? ›
Heinz's recipe also included a greater concentration of vinegar, which increased the acidity, making it more sour than its competitors. He also doubled the sugar, hitting the tongue's sweet spot.
