{{Short description|Canadian snack food}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2025}} {{good article}} [[File:Ketchup chips.jpg|thumb|Bowl of Lay's ketchup potato chips]] '''Ketchup chips''' are a potato-chip flavour introduced by the 1970s, primarily associated with Canada. An early variety was produced by Hostess Potato Chips, with indications of concurrent development by American firms such as Herr's. They became popular in Canadian markets, especially in Manitoba, and are produced by major companies like Frito-Lay as well as smaller regional manufacturers.
The seasoning blends tomato, sugar, and vinegar to create a tangy-sweet profile often described as "inspired" by ketchup, and sometimes compared to sweeter barbecue flavours. Ketchup chips are mostly available across Canadian grocery stores and have also been sold in the United Kingdom (through brands such as Tudor and Walkers) and in U.S. outlets, where they are occasionally priced above other snack options.
Ketchup chips have drawn different reactions from both food critics and the general public. Some regard the flavour as distinctive and enjoyable, while others find the taste unpleasantly unconventional or strong.
== History == {{Canadian cuisine|Styles and dishes}} The introduction of ketchup chips in Canada is typically attributed to Hostess Potato Chips,<ref name="FN">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Lisa |title=The Crunchy History of Ketchup Chips |url=https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/the-crunchy-history-of-ketchup-chips/ |website=Food Network Canada |date=November 2017 |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=22 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922035835/https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/the-crunchy-history-of-ketchup-chips/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which began experimenting with producing new potato chip varieties in the early 1970s. Ketchup chips were the only one that proved profitable as other flavours like orange and grape were discontinued.<ref name="Skinner">{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=RJ |title=7 Canadian snacks you can't get in the U.S. and the backstory on why |url=https://www.cbc.ca/life/food/7-canadian-snacks-you-can-t-get-in-the-u-s-and-the-backstory-on-why-1.4102299 |website=CBC Life |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203141434/https://www.cbc.ca/life/food/7-canadian-snacks-you-can-t-get-in-the-u-s-and-the-backstory-on-why-1.4102299 |url-status=live }}</ref> Frito-Lay, the parent company of Hostess, did not provide a journalist with information that could prove it was the first to sell ketchup chips. He had spent three months trying to contact their research and development team.<ref name="Weisblott"/> An earlier description of Smith's manufacturing a "tomato sauce flavour" crisps is given in an October 1968 advertisement in the Scottish newspaper the ''Montrose Review''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 24, 1968 |title=Down in price |work=Montrose Review |pages=1 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref>
Herr's, an American company, sold ketchup chips by the 1980s.<ref name="Jackson">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Lisa |title=The Crunchy History of Ketchup Chips |url=https://www.flavournetwork.ca/article/the-crunchy-history-of-ketchup-chips/ |website=Flavour Network |date=November 2017 |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref> These chips may have been sold even earlier; if so, they would have been invented at the same time as Hostess. Herr's sold their chips in the United States, while Hostess only sold theirs in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=Are ketchup chips good or bad? Andrew Garfield says the Canadian snack is 'kind of a sin' |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/are-ketchup-chips-good-or-bad |website=National Post |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref> The flavour is popular in Canada, where it is considered Canadiana, though to a lesser degree than poutine or maple syrup. Millions of bags are produced each year by Frito-Lay.<ref name="Vice"/> They are also sold by smaller companies like Covered Bridge.<ref name="Jackson"/> Ketchup chips are available in almost every Canadian grocery store<ref name="Futon"/> and are strongly associated with Canadian identity.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goodman |first1=Rob |title=Not Here: Why American Democracy Is Eroding and How Canada Can Protect Itself |date=2023 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9781668012451 |page=175}}</ref> They are especially popular in the province of Manitoba.{{sfn|Thiessen|2017|page=40}}
== Flavour == The chip variety has been described as a "sweeter barbecue".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chu |first1=Louisa |title=Who makes the best ketchup chips? Yes, they're a thing. And we tried 13 brands from Canada |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-ketchup-potato-chips-ranked-viz-0904-20190829-5ytn5affnbh47pouxr5z6t2u7u-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |date=29 August 2019 |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114215117/https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-food-ketchup-potato-chips-ranked-viz-0904-20190829-5ytn5affnbh47pouxr5z6t2u7u-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a writer for ''The Takeout'', ketchup chips do not truly taste like ketchup but instead comprise flavours reminiscent of it, like cooked tomatoes and sugar.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nutall-Smith |first1=Chris |title=What Canadians understand about ketchup chips that Americans don't |url=https://thetakeout.com/what-canadians-understand-about-ketchup-chips-that-amer-1798251510 |website=The Takeout |date=23 November 2017 |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102074339/https://thetakeout.com/what-canadians-understand-about-ketchup-chips-that-amer-1798251510 |url-status=live }}</ref> A writer for ''Thrillist'' described them as tasting "like a bottle of ketchup was blown apart" and that this flavour was "dusted upon the chip in equal parts".<ref name="Futon">{{cite web |last1=Futon |first1=Wil |title=The Delicious Ketchup Snack That Americans Are Totally Missing Out On |url=https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/ketchup-chips-canada-snack |website=Thrillist |date=26 July 2018 |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> ''The Daily Meal'' described ketchup chips as being "inspired" by ketchup rather than flavoured like it, comparing the product with Cool Ranch Doritos.<ref name="Pinkham">{{cite web |last1=Pinkham |first1=Colin |title=Seth Rogen's Favorite Chip Flavor Is A True Canadian Classic |url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/1566243/seth-rogen-favorite-chips-ketchup/ |website=The Daily Meal |date=22 April 2024 |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref> One American journalist described them as tasting as if tomatoes "had been sprinkled with vinegar".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ketchup-flavored chips don't cut the mustard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-missoulian-ketchup-flavored-chips-do/163386301/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=The Missoulian |date=October 16, 1996}}</ref> Another journalist described ketchup chips as a combination between tomatoes and beet soup.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=John |title=North by northwest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-north-by-northwest/163386653/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Waco Tribune-Herald |date=July 8, 1997}}</ref> Ketchup chips are not marketed with healthier variants, since diminished salt content and natural flavouring changes the taste of them significantly and therefore limits product innovation.{{sfn|Thiessen|2017|page=40}}
== International markets == While Americans pair french fries with ketchup,<ref name="Pinkham"/> flavours popular in Canada such as ketchup chips are more vinegar-based in comparison to the United States. American chip varieties tend to be creamier. These flavour preferences are likely influenced by differing immigration trends and Canada's connection to the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lev |first1=Elianna |title=Snacks like Coffee Crisp and ketchup chips are only available in Canada, but they have fans around the world |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/snacks-like-coffee-crisp-and-ketchup-chips-are-only-available-in-canada-but-they-have-fans-around-the-world-211221786.html |website=Yahoo News! |date=2 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> For example, Canadians are more likely to pair white vinegar with fries, a combination that is commonplace in Britain but unusual in the United States.{{sfn|Thiessen|2017|page=36}}
There is limited production of ketchup chips in the United States in contrast to their much wider availability in Canada.<ref name="Vice"/> Online retailers will sell ketchup chips to Americans for a significant markup.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. food writers have just discovered Canadian ketchup chips. So what did they think? |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2284228859 |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=The Hamilton Spectactor |date=September 3, 2019| id={{ProQuest|2284228859}} }}</ref> A 1984 newspaper article described ketchup chips as a failed business venture, with the exception of its popularity in Chicago.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr. Potatohead rates chips |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-the-daily-news-mr-potatohead-rat/163385498/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=The Daily News |date=March 11, 1984}}</ref> Old Dutch used to sell ketchup chips in both Canada and the United States but discontinued production in the American market after it failed to be profitable.{{sfn|Thiessen|2017|pages=41–42}} Frito-Lay also does not sell its ketchup chips in the United States.<ref name="Vice"/> Ketchup chips are instead produced by smaller companies like Herr's Snacks.<ref name="Vice">{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Nick |title=How Ketchup Chips Became Edible Canadiana |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-ketchup-chips-became-edible-canadiana/ |website=Vice |date=19 September 2018 |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225084612/https://www.vice.com/en/article/mbwv43/how-ketchup-chips-became-edible-canadiana |url-status=live }}</ref> The company initially used its own ketchup flavouring before switching to a Heinz partnership in the 1980s.<ref name="Jackson"/> The brand imports its variety to Canada.<ref name="Weisblott">{{cite web |last1=Weisblott |first1=Marc |title=The mystery of the history of ketchup chips in Canada: A three-month quest to find out has actually left the question unanswered as ever |url=http://o.canada.com/life/who-invented-ketchup-chips |publisher=PostMedia Network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031012134/http://o.canada.com/life/who-invented-ketchup-chips |archive-date=31 October 2013 }}</ref>
Tudor Crisps sold a tomato ketchup chip flavour in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tudor Crisps: The North East's very own snack was produced until 1993|website=Chronicle Live|date=23 September 2015 |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/tudor-crisps-north-easts-very-10109888}}</ref> Walkers later launched their own brand of ketchup chips in 2001, partnering with Heinz to produce the product.<ref>{{cite web |title=Packaging for new Walkers' Heinz crisps |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/14-june-2001/packaging-for-new-walkers-heinz-crisps/ |website=Design Week |date=14 June 2001 |access-date=2 January 2024 |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102185008/https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/14-june-2001/packaging-for-new-walkers-heinz-crisps/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, the company also released a limited edition sausage and ketchup flavour.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=Tamara |title=Walkers and Heinz launch three 'mind-bending' new crisp flavours — dividing opinion |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/walkers-heinz-launch-three-mind-161923757.html |website=Yahoo News! |date=7 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref>
In South Africa, ketchup style condiment is referred to as tomato sauce. Simba Chips in South Africa (owned by PepsiCo), reintroduced Tomato Sauce flavoured chips in May 2025, after discontinuing them in 2021. The chips were previously All Gold Tomato Sauce flavour, but on re-introduction are Wellington's Tomato Sauce flavour.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bizcommunity |title=Simba launches Wellington's Tomato Sauce flavoured chips|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/simba-launches-wellington-tomato-sauce-flavoured-chips-817803a#:~:text=Simba%20has%20launched%20its%20new,Wellington's%20Full%20Flavour%20Tomato%20Sauce.&text=For%20years%2C%20Tomato%20Sauce%20flavour,debut%20across%20all%20retailer%20shelves. |date=24 April 2025 |access-date=19 December 2025}}</ref> Smaller South African manufacturer Frimax also manufactures tomato sauce chips.
== Reception and popular culture == Debates about whether ketchup chips are an appealing snack often take place on the Internet.<ref name="NP"/> A 2012 survey of about 1,000 Canadians determined that ketchup chips were less strongly associated with Canada than salmon, poutine, back bacon, Timbits and Montreal bagels.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Teppermen |first1=Lorne |title=Starting Points: A Sociological Journey |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-900682-3 |page=166 |edition=2}}</ref> In 2019, eight American journalists tried ketchup chips and ranked 13 brands, the top three of which were Doritos, Great Value, and Old Dutch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chu |first1=Louisa |title=U.S. food writers discovered ketchup chips, what did they think? |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20190907/282497185351529 |website=Toronto Star |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref> In April 2024, ''Chatelaine'' magazine ranked 11 ketchup chip brands in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Braganza |first1=Chantal |title=Canada's Best Ketchup Chip: A Definitive Ranking |url=https://chatelaine.com/food/best-ketchup-chips-canada/ |website=Chaitelaine |date=21 July 2023 |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref>
During an interview covering the food preferences of actors Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, the two disagreed with each other about ketchup chips. Pugh believed the flavour had a similar taste to prawn cocktail chips, while Garfield disagreed with the accuracy of that comparison and described ketchup chips as weird and "kind of a sin".<ref name="NP">{{cite web |title=Are ketchup chips good or bad? Andrew Garfield says the Canadian snack is 'kind of a sin' |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/are-ketchup-chips-good-or-bad |website=National Post |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref>
In 2023, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that two Americans travelled from Virginia to Niagara Falls, Ontario, to purchase forty bags of ketchup chips,<ref name="Hristova">{{cite web |last1=Hristova |first1=Bobby |title=American dad and son flooded with ketchup chips after Niagara Falls hunt now donating the crunchy snacks |url=https://www.cbc.ca/1.6942411 |website=CBC |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> which went viral.<ref name="Sahinturk">{{cite web |last1=Sahinturk |first1=Tuvana |title=American family who went viral for ketchup chip road trip have so many bags now, they're donating some |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/american-family-who-went-viral-for-ketchup-chip-road-trip-have-so-many-bags-now-theyre-donating-some-193141489.html |website=Yahoo! News |date=22 August 2023 |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref> A Canadian grocery store then shipped them nine cases of potato chips.<ref name="Hristova"/>
== See also == * All-dressed, another Canadian potato chip variety * Dill pickle chip * Salt and vinegar chip * Samboy, an Australian brand of potato chips known for its "Atomic Tomato" flavour
== References == {{reflist}}
== Sources == * {{cite book |last1=Thiessen |first1=Janis |title=Snacks: A Canadian Food History |date=2017 |publisher=University of Manitoba Press |isbn=9780887555275}}
{{Chips and crisps}}
Category:Canadian snack foods Category:Convenience foods Category:Ketchup Category:Potato chips Category:Canadian identity