In an effort to promote healthful eating and, it has been suggested, to protect traditional Gallic cuisine, the French government has banned school and college cafeterias nationwide from offering the American tomato-based condiment with any food.

Ketchup has apparently become condimenta non grata in French school cafeterias. Tiffany Hsu writes: In an effort to promote healthful eating and, it has been suggested, to protect traditional Gallic cuisine, the French government has banned school and college cafeterias…

Well, it’s allowed with one side dish (guess which one). But putting it on veal or boeuf bourguignon is now interdit at schools nationwide. First France built a wall around its language to protect it from pernicious Anglo-Saxon invaders. Now it is throwing up a shield against another perceived threat to its culture and civilization: ketchup.

Garlic butter, mais oui – but tomato ketchup is definitely not on the menu for French schoolchildren these days. The country famed for its culinary skills has moved to ration the oh-so-Anglo red substance from its canteens.

The country famed for its culinary skills has moved to ration the oh-so-Anglo red substance from its canteens in a move it hopes will combat obesity.

As part of its 40th anniversary in Australia, McDonald’s recently completed a promotion where it sold standard cheeseburgers for $1 for an hour every day. Judging by the queues every time I passed a Maccas over lunch, that promotion worked well — but could you replicate that pricing yourself? Lifehacker investigates. (more…)

No green tomatoes? Who ever would have imagined I’d have no green tomatoes unless I picked them on purpose before they ripened? Now that I have an unheated greenhouse, I have lots of peppers, eggplants, red ripe tomatoes and even cantaloupes. What a thrill. And it requires me to rewire …

STOCKTON – One of two remaining H.J. Heinz Co. plants in San Joaquin County will close Dec. 2.

Why run out to buy an ingredient you forgot at the grocery store, especially if you only need a little bit? Even if I write a grocery list, I tend to miss things and end up discovering my mistake mid-recipe, when dashing out to the grocery store would be a) impractical and b) really annoying.

No commercial brand could touch Guilford Avenue version When I reached for one of this season’s final tomatoes, I got a surprise. It had bruised and was emitting white foam. In another time and place, that tomato, as injured as it was, would have gone into the stewing caldron. Bruised, soft, mushy, reject tomatoes found a welcome at our Guilford Avenue home. September was our ketchup-making month.

A hired killer faked the death of his intended victim after falling in love with his target, then faked her death using ketchup.

London, Sep 23 (IANS) A hired killer in Brazil took one look at his intended victim and fell head over heels in love with her. The new lovers then splashed tomato ketchup to fake her death, it was reported here.

With a gag in her mouth, a machete in her side and covered in “blood” this woman looks like the victim of a brutal murder.

A hired killer fell in love with his victim then faked her death with the help of some tomato ketchup. Hitman Carlos Roberto de Jesus, from Brazil, was paid £345 to murder Iranildes Aguiar Araujo.

A hired killer faked the death of his intended victim after falling in love with his target. Hitman Carlos Roberto de Jesus, from Brazil, was paid £345 to murder Iranildes Aguiar Araujo.

After much research, the fast-food chain changed everything about its hamburger except the ketchup. NEW YORK CITY — When Wendy’s decided to remake its 42-year-old hamburger, the chain agonized over every detail. A pickle chemist was consulted. Customers were quizzed on their lettuce knowledge. Executives went on a cross-country burger-eating tour.