By Chris Scott Barr
The ketchup packet is one of those things that has stayed exactly the same since before I was born. After all, it fulfills the duty that is required of it. It holds your condiment until such a time that you’re ready to add it to your food. Well at some point Heinz decided that they could do better, and undertook the task of reinventing the ketchup packet. The end result was essentially a cross between the old packet, and the little plastic containers that you get BBQ sauce in at McDonald’s.
It does seem to make perfect sense. When you grab a burger and fries through the drive-thru, where do you put the ketchup that you’re going to dip your fries in? Maybe on a napkin, or even the wrapper for your burger. Either way, you’re increasing the risk of somehow getting it on your clothes. Now you can tear off the whole top and dip your fries in, or just tear off a part of it and squeeze the ketchup onto your sandwich. So simple, yet so brilliant.
[ Heinz ] VIA [ CrunchGear ]
it took them log enough
And since these new packages likely cost 5 times as much to produce, the fast food places will dole them out sparingly. Where some places used to just throw the ketchup in the bag automatically, now they will probably wait for you to ask for it. Of course until you get into the habit of asking you will not have any ketchup at all when you are too far away from the drive thru to go back.
Anyway, I'm sure there are literally millions of old fashioned packets that need to be used up before many places even consider the new style. Now, what about mustard, Arby's sauce/horse sauce, etc…
They don't look that different. Australia has had a packet that's much more… efficient… for years; see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4nUhD92yNU
I have to agree with mcman, the price will be added to something and they will give them out like they are BBQ packets. Always hiding them in the back and giving you one with an order. Or charging $0.15 to $0.25 for another.
I have to agree with mcman, the price will be added to something and they will give them out like they are BBQ packets. Always hiding them in the back and giving you one with an order. Or charging $0.15 to $0.25 for another.