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The US and international formulas are not the same— here's exactly what changed and why.
Kraft Heinz USA
Ingredients
Tomato Concentrate, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spice, Onion Powder, Natural Flavoring
Ingredients
Tomatoes (148g per 100g Ketchup), Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Spice and Herb Extracts (Contain Celery), Spice
| Ingredient | 🇺🇸 US Version | 🌍 International | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Fructose Corn Syrup | 🚫 Present | ✅ Not present | Banned Overseas |
The same company makes both versions — but they use different formulas depending on where the product is sold. In the EU, UK, and Canada, regulations require either banning certain additives outright or mandating warning labels (e.g., "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children" for certain synthetic dyes).
Rather than print warning labels, most manufacturers reformulate the product for international markets — using natural colorants like paprika extract, beetroot concentrate, or spirulina instead of petroleum-derived synthetic dyes.
The US FDA has a different standard: it deems additives "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) based on older safety data, while EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) applies stricter precautionary principles and requires manufacturers to prove safety rather than assume it.
US corn subsidies under the Farm Bill make HFCS significantly cheaper than sugar for US manufacturers. EU import tariffs on non-EU corn syrup and cultural preference for sugar have kept HFCS out of European food products. UK Heinz has a higher tomato concentration which Heinz markets as a product quality differentiator.
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