Ketchup competition: The best brands in the large quality check!

Ketchup competition: The best brands in the large quality check!

In a current ketchup test, which was carried out by the Gault & Millau expert jury, eleven different tomato ketchup varieties were put through their paces. The evaluation criteria included the proportion of tomatoes, the sugar content and the taste. The result was surprising: For the first time, two products Ex Aequo were named the winner, which indicates the high quality of the tested products.

tomato ketchup is very popular in Austria, with an average consumption of 2.4 kilograms per person per person, which is above the global average of 1.9 kilograms. In a market with rising demands, consumers attach great importance to a balanced mixture of fruit, sweetness, acid and spice, whereby the proportion of tomatoes plays a central role.

The winners of the Ketchup test

• Felix Ketchup without added sugar : 8.02 €/kg, 165 g tomatoes/100 g, 4.3 g sugar.
• Spak Master Ketchup Mild : 6.02 €/kg, 210 g tomatoes/100 g, 22 g sugar.
• Byodo Bio Ketchup: € 13.97/kg, 80% tomato paste, 22 g sugar.
• Spar natural pure organic ketchup sugar -reduced: € 5.98/kg, 210 g tomatoes/100 g, 15 g sugar.
• Le Gusto Ketchup Mild (Hofer): € 2.71/kg, 172 g tomatoes/100 g, 17 g sugar.
• Felix Bio Ketchup with less sugar & salt: € 8.02/kg, 193 g tomatoes/100 g, 13 g sugar.

It should be emphasized that Felix Ketchup contains sucralose as a sweetener without adding sugar. The products were bought anonymously in various supermarkets and via the Gurkerl.at platform. The jury was composed of various experts for the evaluation, including restaurateurs, sensors and even a tomato manufacturer. The tasting was carried out comprehensively and seriously, which makes the result all the more valuable.

in the footsteps of Heinz Ketchups

In contrast, the well-known Heinz Ketchup cut off as a big loser in a separate test from Öko-Test. In a total of 19 different tomato ketchups, residues of pesticides and mold poison were also examined. It was noticed that the sugar content was often over 25 g per 100 ml for many varieties, including Heinz, which led to devaluations.

The prices for ketchup vary between 1.69 euros and 5.98 euros per 500 ml, which means a wide range of options for consumers. To ensure a transparent supply chain and the ecological conditions of production, the manufacturers received questionnaires that also included the sustainability goals.

The test results from different tests not only show the big differences in the quality of the products, but also the increasing requirements of consumers in ingredients and sustainability.

for further context: The tasting of the Gault & Millau test is broadcast today at 6:30 p.m. in ORF 2, which could arouse additional interest in the tested products.

Overall, the test result shows that consumers want to place more and more emphasis on quality and to actively find out more about the ingredients of their food, which is a positive development for the food industry.