Season 2 · Episode 1297
From Fish Guts to Fame: The Secret History of Ketchup
Before it was red and sweet, ketchup was a salty fish sauce and a "miracle" pill. Discover the bizarre evolution of the world's favorite condiment.
My Weird Prompts · Daniel Rosehill
March 16, 202620m 41s
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Show Notes
Most people see a bottle of ketchup and think of fries, but its history involves global trade, medical fraud, and a high-stakes battle for food safety. This episode traces ketchup's journey from a 300 BC Chinese fish brine to the mushroom-based sauces of England, and finally to the industrial powerhouse created by H.J. Heinz. Learn how "poison apples" and a failed market for medicinal pills paved the way for a $25 billion global industry that changed the way we eat forever.