Heinz no longer qualifies as ketchup in Israel

Heinz may be widely accepted as ketchup across the globe but Israel has recently disqualified it as ketchup.

The Israeli health ministry has ruled that Heinz brand ketchup, doesn’t contain enough “tomato solids” to qualify as ketchup, and must now be referred to as “tomato seasoning” on its Hebrew packaging, the Times of Israel reports.

Heinz’s flagship product has provoked the ire of a competitor in Israel, a story that has attracted headlines in the global mainstream media.

The ruling came as a result of a lobbying campaign by the Israeli food manufacturer Osem, which produces a large portion of the ketchup consumed in Israel.

They added: “The original, quality recipe for Heinz Tomato Ketchup sold in Israel and the standard for ketchup around the world remains unchanged”.

The country’s health ministry says Heinz ketchup should be called, “tomato seasoning”. It said tests conducted by “a leading European lab” found the new products include 17-20% tomato concentrate – while the ingredients listed on the package indicated 61%.

A local Heinz importer is petitioning to have the requirements of ketchup changed from 10 percent tomato to 6 percent, so that the company can be included and continue calling its product “ketchup”. “Their move indicates that they admit to not complying with Israeli standards and misleading consumers”, Osem told just-food.

Heinz isn’t the only one questioning Israel’s decision.