Are you considered a Vegetarian if you eat ketchup?

Question

I had heard though a friend of mine that the 'natural flavors' in ketchup is really meat. I am a lacto-vegetarian and have been one since Jan 28, 2007 and I use katchup on certain foods. The question is, does ketchup really have meat in it and if it is, does it count as a meat product?

Just to clear things up fot Spartan Ninja, I am a Lacto-Vegetarian. I don't eat meat at all, just some milk products. And I put ketchup on toasted bread to make a sandwitch. I don't put it on meat at all, because I don't eat meat.

Answer 1

You have to rely on the label, if its veggie then they tend to say so on the label.

"natural flavouriings" is definately a catch all that allows then to pick and choose the source of thier flavourings. So even if its veggie today, it doesn't mean ti wil be veggie tomorrow if they change supplier for the flavourings.

didn't think heinz was veggie, maybe they changed of maybe its for a different market ( answer 1) don't know about other brands.

We use a supermarket own brand so i guess the other known brands are not veggie - sorry i can't rememeber but i'm guessing thats why we made that choice.

Answer 2

This probably stems from the fact that ketchup used to refer just to a sauce, not one particular recipe. Some of these sauces were made with anchovies, oysters or fish brine. Modern ketchup does not usually contain these ingredients. I f it really concerns you Annie's has a vegan ketchup and most health food stores have it. I have also seen recipes for ketchup on the web-if you make your own you will know what's in it. You could also e-mail the manufacturer of your favorite brand and ask.

Answer 3

I know that some vegetarians don't eat ketchup because all that sugar in it is refined with animal bones. I guess some people would consider that more of a vegan choice though. Call the company, they have to tell you what those mysterious "natural flavors" are made of.

Answer 4

I would consider you a vegetarian as long as you don't intentionally eat meat. It is the intent that counts. If you are served a vegetable dish and it is covered in oyster sauce and you don't know that and you eat it you are still a vegetarian. What counts is you and your conscience. Not someone elses opinion.
Be proud to be a vegetarian. Don't let yourself get hung up on trivia.

Answer 5

Ketchup does not have meat in it, depending on the brand. You should look at the ingredients and see if it contains meat

Answer 6

Heinz Ketchup is suitable for vegetarians. Check out the FAQ at their website.

Answer 7

tomato ketchup is fully vegetarian and if u really doubt this , check out its ingredients.

Answer 8

Ketchup, in itself, has no meats or meat extracts.

I don't think you are considered a vegetarian if you eat ketchup. I eat ketchup with my fried chicken. I wouldn't say I'm a vegetarian, even though I like to have a good (meatless) salad.

Answer 9

it does not count as meat. The natural flavors are very minuscule amounts of something-usually "natural" chemicals to give it a certain taste that will taste the same from bottle to bottle. If it had meat in it, it would say so. You don't need to worry at all about ketchup having meat in it.

Answer 10

why dont u look at the ingredients on the back of a ketchup bottle and see... if it has meat then it should say so.......... i have never heard of it having meat in it... i just know of Tomatoes and bugs..LOL... my mom says they dont rinse/wash the tomatoes before they put them inthe ketchup.. they just throw them in.. so if there is a bug on or in the tomatoe.. then it gets ground into the ketchup.. eww..LOL ever since then i have not really liked it..i eat it sometimes.. but mainly only on hamburgers.. otherwise i wont eat it.. idk...