Tag: Ketchup health

According to a 2025 article in *The Telegraph*, most types of ketchup are classified as an ultra-processed food (UPF) due to industrial processes and additives. This raises a critical question: is ketchup considered junk food, and what does this mean for your health?

While processed tomato products like tomato paste and ketchup contain more easily absorbed lycopene than raw tomatoes, most commercial varieties are laden with sugar and salt. So, is tomato ketchup a superfood? The answer requires a closer look at its ingredients, benefits, and drawbacks.

With approximately 4 grams of sugar and nearly 200mg of sodium per single tablespoon, standard commercial ketchup is not just a simple tomato product. While a beloved condiment, understanding just how unhealthy is ketchup really depends on its ingredients and quantity consumed.

Did you know that the heating process used to make ketchup can actually increase the bioavailability of the antioxidant lycopene found in tomatoes? This raises the question: are there any benefits to eating ketchup, or does the added sugar and salt outweigh the potential upsides?