I heard about a ketchup packet shortage, but the last time I got takeout, I ended up with 20 packets (and I didn’t even ask for them. We’ve got ketchup at home.)
If you send them to me, I’ll return them to my local DQ.
Huh. Apparently it’s fine to leave unrefrigerated, if you’re ok with a change in color and taste, and don’t leave it out for TOO long.
My husband puts ketchup on his freaking sandwiches, so we probably could leave it out, but I still won’t.
We buy the smaller bottles of ketchup and go through them regularly. I don’t need to buy a huge bottle just to save $1.40 over 3 months.
Well, I dunno, but by default, warm/old tomatoes=bad. If you’re canning them, you have to either use a pressure canner, or add an acid. Otherwise, enjoy your botulism. And, the local health authorities here require that places that serve food keep ketchup refrigerated. Throwing the bottle out on the table happens, but it stops happening if the health department catches you. There’s actually a fry place here locally that doesn’t offer ketchup - I assume because it requires refrigeration and they don’t have refrigeration on the truck.
So, pass on ketchup at room temperature.
Why would you want to put cold ketchup on hot food?
Because I’m not going to put it in my mouth until it cools down a bit anyway.
We don’t eat much ketchup, so it lives in the fridge. But I’ve never worried i might get sick from it.
Serena, why do you think that case of food paining was from the ketchup, and not something else you might have consumed?
Because the hot dog with ketchup was the only thing I ate. Nothing in the hours prior and nothing after. The ketchup tasted a little off (but I thought: it’s ketchup! It doesn’t go bad). No one else had the ketchup and no one else got sick. Had to be it.
There’s the problem right there. Nobody should put ketchup on a hot dog.
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You guys are making me want to eat some fries with ketchup and a hot dog with mustard
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Because I’m not a fan of bacteria growth in my condiments. Used to own a food truck, so I’m perhaps a bit more aware.
And a couple years ago I had to take the food handlers certificate course, I was managing the fundraising dinners for a local volunteer org. The course kept emphasizing actual cases of people having died from the fried onions. Because…fried onions kept at room temperature, covered in butter which created an oxygen free environment, which lead to botulism growth, which lead to death by sausage on a bun.
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Man. Nothing gold can stay.
great name for a punk/metal band
Yeah I knew I was gonna get that 
For me it’s more about not having to buy it as often. That’s worth more than the $1.40 or whatever. But I’m also a cheap actuary, so I guess a little of both.
I got some ketchup packets in my fridge. For the right price, I am willing to part with them!!! 
You probably don’t want to hear how it going to be 70 here today.
Grrr. As snow goes, this isn’t bad. It will stop in a few hours and it’s not cold enough to stick to the streets. Will be gone by the end of the day.
But still. It’s APRIL!!! 
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Cut the lawn on the weekend. Ordering vegetable seeds for the garden today. Snow expected 3 days this week. Welcome to spring.