Ketchup (also spelled catsup, catchup), is a condiment that in modern times is usually made from tomatoes.

Raw materials:The ingredients in a typical modern ketchup are tomato concentrate, vinegar, sweetener (corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or other sugar), salt, spice and herb extracts (including celery), spice and garlic powder. Allspice, cloves, cinnamon, onion and other vegetables may be included.

Nutritional value:Ketchup has health benefits which are offset by the salt and sugar content[citation needed]. Ketchup is a source of lycopene, an antioxidant which may help prevent some forms of cancer. This is particularly true of the organic brands of ketchup, which have three times as much lycopene.[9] Ketchup, much like marinara sauce and other cooked tomato foods, yields higher levels of lycopene per serving because cooking makes lycopene in tomatoes more bio-available.

Uses:Ketchup is often used with french fries, chips, hot dogs, hamburgers, various kinds of cooked meat and as a base for sauces.