Ex-McDonald's chef lifts lid on why its ketchup tastes different to Heinz
Rachael Davis
Featured Image Credit: Jonathan Knowles via Getty Images
Love it or hate it, it’s tough to argue that McDonald’s is short on flavour. From the essential BBQ dip to whatever they put in their mayonnaise to make it so moreish, it’s tough to find something on the menu that hasn’t been elevated by one sauce or another.
For the fussier eaters among us, a question looms large: why does McDonald’s ketchup taste different to Heinz ketchup? Could it be that they’re different products made by different brands?
Well, yes. It’s a bit like asking why a Ford Focus isn’t a Vauxhall Astra, isn’t it?
Keen to clarify the matter, a former McDonald’s chef took to TikTok to put this less-than-pressing question to rest.
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Mike Haracz, the TikToker in question who goes by @chefmikeharacz, says the similar ingredients list doesn’t stop the sauces from being worlds apart.
The video, seen over 20,000 times, explains what makes Maccies’ sauce so different.
“I’m a former McDonald’s corporate chef and, although that ketchup recipe looks delightful, if you go on the McDonald’s website and look under their burgers, look at the ingredients statement of the ketchup that’s on their burgers, and compare that to Heinz ketchup, it is almost identical,” said Haracz.
“However, Heinz looks like it has some added ingredients to it, making it maybe more flavourful, I don’t know it is up to you to decide whether it’s better or not.
“But the ingredients statements are almost identical. And I guarantee neither of them are putting honey in their ketchup. Again, this recipe looks amazing.
“There really doesn’t seem to be a big difference between the McDonald’s ketchup used grill side and the regular Heinz ketchup recipe based on the ingredients statements,”
In case you’re curious, here’s the McDonald’s ketchup ingredients list: tomato concentrate from ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, salt and ‘natural flavours’.
Heinz ketchup matches the ingredients list but adds onion powder and an unnamed spice. Let’s hope it’s natural.
Of course, ingredients lists only tell half the story. The proportion of each ingredient, and when each one is added during the manufacturing process, will have a major impact on the overall flavour.
The video’s comments were certainly livelier than the subject matter warranted.
“McDonald’s ketchup is sweeter. I said what I said,” said one user with some well-selected priorities.
“Heinz is the only ketchup,” said one who, for whatever reason, is walling themselves off from a whole world of ketchup possibilities.
“Heinz ketchup tastes better,” said another. “McDonald’s doesn’t use Heinz because of Burger King. McDonald’s ketchup doesn’t taste very good."
“McDonald’s used Heinz at one time. We all know the story about that,” said a user who maybe overestimates the general level of interest in such things.
“McDonald’s ketchup tastes better than Heinz,” interjected another commenter, thoroughly throwing the chips amongst the pigeons.
Where do you stand on this vital conversation?