Former McDonald's chef explains why its ketchup tastes so different to Heinz

There's a lot to love at McDonald’s, but one former Maccies chef has attempted to shed light on why the fast food chain's ketchup and Heinz ketchup might not taste exactly the same.

Sharing a video on his TikTok page, ex-McDonald’s chef Mike Haracz addressed videos that have claimed the two sauces are worlds apart.

In his video, that has so far been viewed more than 20,000 times, he explained that despite the claims one uses honey for a sweeter kick, their ingredient statements are actually very similar.

“I’m a former McDonald’s corporate chef and although that ketchup recipe looks delightful if you go on the McDonald’s website and look under their burgers and look at the ingredients statement of the ketchup that is on their burgers and compare that to Heinz ketchup it is almost identical,” Haracz said in his video.

“However, Heinz looks like it has some added ingredients to it, making it maybe more flavorful, I don’t know it is up to you to decide whether it’s better or not.

“But the ingredients statements are almost identical. And I guarantee neither of them are putting honey in their ketchup. Again, this recipe looks amazing.

TikTok/@‌chefmikeharacz

“There really doesn’t seem to be a big difference between the McDonald’s ketchup used grill side and the regular Heinz ketchup recipe based on the ingredients statements,”

The ingredients listed in McDonald’s ketchup, according to its website, are: Tomato concentrate from red ripe tomatoes, distilled vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, salt and natural flavors.

Heinz ketchup includes all of the same ingredients, but also adds onion powder and an unnamed spice.

However, neither ingredient statement clarifies how much of each ingredient make up the sauce so it is quite possible the quantity plays a larger role in the flavor.

TikTok/@‌chefmikeharacz

While you would imagine the comment section would be full of TikTok users fighting over which sauce was better, most comments admitted they were not aware McDonald’s in the US didn’t serve Heinz ketchup in the first place.

Though of course, like with any discussion on social media, there were still some users voicing which they preferred.

“McDonald’s ketchup is sweeter. I said what I said,” one user proudly wrote.

“Heinz is the only ketchup,” another wrote, while someone else added: “Heinz ketchup tastes better. McDonald’s doesn’t use Heinz because of Burger King. McDonald’s ketchup doesn’t taste very good."

“McDonald’s used Heinz at one time. We all know the story about that. McDonald’s ketchup taste better than Heinz,” a final replied.