What’s in Your Ketchup? Viral Video Calls It a Chemical Cocktail

Overview

A viral video on social media has reignited concerns about the ingredients in store-bought ketchup, calling it a “chemical cocktail disguised as an innocent sauce.” The video, originally posted on X (formerly Twitter) by user @TheFlatEartherr, has racked up over 1.1 million views and over 220 comments, with many users echoing the message: always read the label.

Ketchup or Chemical Cocktail?

The narrator of the video broke down what goes into mass-produced ketchup. Instead of being a simple tomato-based sauce, the product often contains:

Refined sugar
High fructose corn syrup
Citric acid derived from GMO mould
Sodium benzoate (a preservative)
Artificial flavours

These ingredients are designed to mimic the taste of tomatoes while triggering cravings, turning a once-natural condiment into a sugary, salty syrup.

“One tablespoon of ketchup has more sugar than a cookie and more salt than a serving of French fries,” the narrator claimed.

What Studies Reveal About Store-Bought Ketchup

Backing up these claims, a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety highlighted concerns about heavy metals in processed ketchup, especially due to added spices and ingredients. The study warned that exposure to these levels could pose health risks for certain populations.

According to data from the USDA Nutrient Database, just one tablespoon of ketchup contains:

19 calories
154 mg of sodium
4 grams of sugar

Nutritionists warn that regularly consuming large amounts of commercial ketchup may contribute to health problems such as:

Obesity
Heart disease
Kidney stones
Acid reflux

What You Can Do: Healthier Alternatives Exist

Experts recommend choosing brands that offer low-sodium, no-sugar-added, or no high-fructose corn syrup varieties. Better yet, making ketchup at home using real tomatoes and natural seasonings can eliminate most health concerns.

Looking for a healthier swap? Try alternatives like: