Israel is making Heinz stop calling its ketchup 'ketchup.' It has nothing to do with John Kerry or Iran.

In Israel, Heinz ketchup no longer qualifies as "ketchup"
(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Heinz can no longer call its ketchup "ketchup" in Israel (sort of), after a recent ruling by the country's Health Ministry. Instead, Haaretz reports, it has to call itself "tomato seasoning," at least on its Hebrew label. (In English, it can still use the word ketchup.)

You don't have to read too far down in the comments section of the articles on this regulatory ruling to notice that many readers of Israeli news remember that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, has familial ties to Heinz ketchup (she is the widow of Heinz heir Sen. H. John Heinz III [R-Pa.]). Many people in Israel are upset over the deal Kerry helped negotiate with Iran. That has nothing to do with the ketchup business.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.