Too often in food blogs, food writers get a little too excited about something new, especially something where they have a keen interest. Today, we're here to tell you about a new innovation that is extremely cool, yet without one major change, will almost never use.
Though the new Heinz ketchup packets have been out for awhile, the buzz kicked in this week. Admittedly, I have seen them for a few months (the new Chick-fil-A carries the new package), and they look quite cool.
Though I don't eat as much fast food as I used to do, I still appreciate a to-go container of ketchup that holds a lot of ketchup and doesn't require me biting off the corner of a too-small ketchup packet.
Fast food French fries tend to get really cold, really quick. The last thing you need is to let your fries get cold while trying to open the fast food ketchup packet. And then you have the effort but you still don't have much ketchup even after opening several packets. The long-ago 1970s Heinz commercial showed off the thickness by having it come out really slow. This is fine in a traditional restaurant where you have time before the food arrives to get the ketchup pool ready for diving. But when time is short, quick is better.
Of course, in the days where Carly Simon sang the praises of "Anticipation," ketchup was made from sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup. And that is the reason I will rarely, if ever, use the new Heinz packet.
This new packet would have great use for me if 1) the packet came into Canada, since the regular Canadian Heinz is made with liquid sugar and/or 2) the packet was expanded to Simply Heinz or Heinz Organic ketchup.
But to be honest, I do occasionally indulge in the HFCS U.S. based ketchup. I justify it by not using much, and usually if mustard isn't around. Or I build a moat of mustard with HFCS ketchup in the middle. And in those rare times, I would love to use the new Heinz ketchup package.
Speaking as someone who smuggles ketchup into restaurants, I would much rather have the new Heinz portable ketchup package. But as pretty as it is on the outside and I do love extreme functionality, what is on the inside still matters most.
Still, for those who indulge in fast food and regular American ketchup, these new packets will make a positive impact.
photo image: Heinz
This would really taste good for my fries.
Posted by: Phoebe | May 21, 2012 at 11:37 AM