Is Simply tomato ketchup bottle Kosher?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When determining if a condiment is Kosher, we look for three main red flags: dairy, meat derivatives, and wine. Let's look at the ingredients in Simply tomato ketchup: tomato concentrate, distilled vinegar, cane sugar, salt, onion powder, spice, and natural flavoring.

The distilled vinegar is a key point of concern for many. In the distillation process, the ethanol is separated from the source liquid. Even if the original vinegar was derived from wine (which is not Kosher unless certified), the final distilled product is considered Kosher by most authorities. The natural flavoring is often a vague term, but in this context, it refers to plant-based flavor compounds. There is no indication of dairy or meat extracts here.

Finally, the cane sugar is a frequent subject of scrutiny due to the use of bone char filters in some refining processes. However, Simply brand specifically markets their products as 'Non-GMO Project Verified' and natural. This usually implies the use of organic or strictly filtered sugar that avoids bone char. Combined with the Star-K certification found on the bottle, this product is fully compliant.

Nutritional Value

While the Kosher status is confirmed, the nutritional profile is equally important. A standard serving of Simply tomato ketchup contains roughly 15 calories. The primary caloric source comes from the cane sugar, listed as the third ingredient.

Regarding dietary limits, this ketchup fits well within a standard diet. It has 0g of fat, which is standard for ketchup. However, because of the cane sugar, it contains about 3g of sugar per tablespoon. For those on a strict low-sugar diet, this is something to monitor, but it is generally considered a healthier option compared to generic brands that use High Fructose Corn Syrup.