Heinz vs Hunt's Ketchup: 4 g vs 3 g Added Sugar

Per 1 tablespoon (17 g), Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Hunt's Tomato Ketchup both list 20 calories and 180 mg sodium (8% DV), so those figures do not separate them. The label differences are in the sweeteners and added sugar. Heinz lists high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup as two separate sweeteners and prints 4 g of added sugar per tablespoon, while Hunt's classic lists only high fructose corn syrup and prints 3 g. This side-by-side comparison sets the printed label values next to each other so you can weigh them yourself.

Key takeaways

• Per 1 Tbsp (17 g), both ketchups list 20 calories and 180 mg sodium (8% DV), so those numbers do not separate them.
• Heinz lists high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup as two separate sweeteners. Hunt's classic lists only high fructose corn syrup, which is its second ingredient, after tomato concentrate and ahead of vinegar.
• Printed added sugar is 4 g per Tbsp for Heinz (7% DV) and 3 g for Hunt's (6% DV). Across 4 Tbsp, that is 16 g versus 12 g, calculated.
• FDA lists high fructose corn syrup as generally recognized as safe under 21 CFR 184.1866 and says it is not aware of evidence of a safety difference from similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners.

Heinz vs Hunt's at a glance: what the labels print per tablespoon

The two labels match on calories and sodium and differ on sweeteners and sugar. The table below uses the printed values for a 1 Tbsp (17 g) serving.

Label item (1 Tbsp, 17 g)	Heinz Tomato Ketchup	Hunt's Tomato Ketchup (classic)
Calories	20	20
Total fat	0 g	0 g
Sodium	180 mg (8% DV)	180 mg (8% DV)
Total carbohydrate	5 g	5 g
Total sugars	4 g	3 g
Added sugars	4 g (7% DV as printed)	3 g (6% DV)
Dietary fiber	0 g	Not a significant source
Protein	0 g	0 g
Corn-derived sweeteners listed	High fructose corn syrup and corn syrup	High fructose corn syrup

The Heinz figures come from its product page, and the Hunt's figures come from its SmartLabel. Hunt's 32 oz (907 g) bottle is listed at about 53 servings. Heinz is sold in 20 oz, 32 oz, 38 oz and 50.5 oz sizes, so the number of servings per bottle will differ by size and product.

Does Heinz ketchup have high fructose corn syrup?

Yes. High fructose corn syrup is in the Heinz Tomato Ketchup ingredient list, which reads: TOMATO CONCENTRATE FROM RED RIPE TOMATOES, DISTILLED VINEGAR, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SPICE, ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVORING. It appears third, after tomato concentrate and vinegar.

The label lists eight ingredients and no allergens. Heinz's listing does not say which high fructose corn syrup grade is used, so the fructose percentage cannot be read from the label. The ingredient list and allergen line are on the Heinz Tomato Ketchup product page.

Does Hunt's ketchup have high fructose corn syrup?

Yes. The Hunt's Tomato Ketchup ingredient list reads: Tomato Concentrate Made from Vine Ripened Tomatoes, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Less Than 2% Of: Onion Powder, Natural Flavor. High fructose corn syrup is the second ingredient, ahead of vinegar. The same ingredient order appears on Hunt's SmartLabel.

Does Heinz ketchup have corn syrup as well as high fructose corn syrup?

Yes. Heinz lists both high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup as separate ingredients, so its label names two corn-derived sweeteners. Hunt's classic label names only high fructose corn syrup.

The label does not show how much of Heinz's 4 g of added sugar per tablespoon comes from each sweetener. The split between high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup is not disclosed, so the label cannot tell you whether the sugar is mostly one sweetener or the other.

How much sugar does Hunt's ketchup have per tablespoon?

Hunt's classic ketchup has 3 g of added sugars per 1 Tbsp (17 g), and its total sugars are also 3 g, which is printed as 6% of the Daily Value on Hunt's SmartLabel. Across 4 Tbsp, that comes to 12 g of added sugar, a figure calculated from the per-tablespoon label value.

The printed label on the bottle you buy is the figure to confirm. Bottle sizes and formulas can change, so the Nutrition Facts panel is the reference for any single purchase.

How much added sugar does Heinz ketchup have per tablespoon?

4 g added sugar per 1 Tbsp (17 g), printed as 7% DV, according to the Heinz Tomato Ketchup product page. Total sugars are also 4 g. Across 4 Tbsp, that is 16 g of added sugar, calculated.

The figures in this article use the printed US product page and SmartLabel values for the products described here. Recipes can differ between countries and between product versions, so the label on your bottle remains the final reference.

Why do the two ketchups list different sugar amounts on their labels?

The labels differ in their sweetener lists and in their printed sugar totals. Heinz lists two corn-derived sweeteners and prints 4 g of added sugar per tablespoon, while Hunt's classic lists one and prints 3 g. The ingredient lists do not disclose the amount of each sweetener, so the exact sources of the difference in sugar are not stated on either label.

What does FDA say about high fructose corn syrup safety in ketchup?

FDA lists high fructose corn syrup as generally recognized as safe under 21 CFR 184.1866. The most common forms contain either 42% or 55% fructose, with the remainder glucose and water. FDA says it is not aware of any evidence that foods containing HFCS 42 or HFCS 55 differ in safety from foods containing similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners. These statements come from FDA's high fructose corn syrup questions and answers and apply to high fructose corn syrup in foods generally, not to ketchup as a separate category.

For a broader look at how sugars appear across labels, see 6 Scanned Labels That List Sugar More Than One Way.

Does Heinz ketchup have Red 40 or any added color?

Neither ingredient list contains Red 40 or any other added color for the 1 Tbsp serving described here. The Heinz and Hunt's ingredient lists both list only the ingredients named in the sections above. Heinz lists SPICE and NATURAL FLAVORING, and Hunt's lists Natural Flavor. The contents of those ingredients are not disclosed on either label, so this comparison cannot say what they are made of.

How do added sugar amounts compare to the FDA Daily Value and Dietary Guidelines?

FDA sets the Daily Value for added sugars at 50 g per day based on a 2,000-calorie diet, as explained on FDA's added sugars label page. Heinz's 4 g per tablespoon is printed as 7% of that Daily Value, and Hunt's 3 g is printed as 6%. The 16 g and 12 g totals for four tablespoons are both well below the 50 g Daily Value, but how much of that total fits into any one person's day depends on the rest of their diet.

Federal dietary guidance, in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommends limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10% of total calories. The Daily Value is based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet, so it may not fit every person's energy needs, and people who are managing sugar intake for a medical reason may need guidance from a clinician.

What do the sweetener lists not tell you about calories and sugar?

The two labels list identical calories and sodium per tablespoon, so the ingredient lists do not change those figures. An ingredient list names sweeteners but does not give their amounts, ratios or sugar grades. It also cannot show how the sugar was made or how the product's ingredients compare across regions, since recipes differ by country.

If you are comparing sugar content, the Cheerios vs Honey Nut Cheerios: How Much Sugar? 2 g vs 12 g comparison shows how printed sugar values work in a different food category. For a look at ingredients that blend sweeteners, see Sweetener Stacks: 4 Scanned Drinks That Blend Sweeteners.

Where can you check each ketchup's label yourself?

The Heinz values come from the Heinz Tomato Ketchup product page. The Hunt's values come from Hunt's SmartLabel, which lists information updated on 19-Sep-2025, and the Hunt's brand page describes the classic product. Open Food Facts lists the same Hunt's ingredient order for the same barcode.

For the printed daily values and sugar guidance, use the same FDA added sugars page. Bottle sizes and formulas can change, so the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient list on the bottle you buy are the final reference.

Want to check the bottle in your own fridge? Scan it with the Aurascan app to see each ingredient explained with cited evidence, then compare the printed numbers yourself.

Related reading: Does Sweet Baby Ray's Have HFCS? Yes, and So Does Kraft.

Related reading: for another condiment label, see Which Has More Sodium, Frank's or Tabasco?.