The Sporkful How Ketchup Got Its Name (Reheat)
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Oct 3, 2025 Johanna Mayer, host and reporter for Science Diction, dives into the intriguing origins and evolution of ketchup, tracing it back to East Asian fish sauces. She reveals how early American ketchup transformed into a tomato-based staple thanks to Harvey Wiley's food safety experiments. The conversation also shifts to Rocky Road ice cream, exploring competing origin stories and the linguistic powers behind its appealing name. Discover how sound symbolism enhances the flavors we taste, and why some names stick while others fade away.
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The Poison Squad Experiments
- Harvey Wiley recruited 12 healthy men to eat meals laced with preservatives to test food safety.
- Newspapers dubbed them the "Poison Squad" and their experiments raised public awareness about food additives.
Ketchup's East Asian Roots
- The word "ketchup" traces back to East Asian fish sauces, not tomatoes.
- Hokkien and Malay words like ke and cha evolved into English spellings like ketchup and catsup.
How Safety Tests Changed Ketchup
- Harvey Wiley's tests pressured manufacturers to remove controversial preservatives.
- Henry J. Heinz responded by reformulating ketchup using acidity, sugar, salt, and ripe tomatoes to avoid preservatives.
