The mandatory labeling of origin in Austria shows that improvement is needed. In keeping with grilling season, a market survey looked at ketchup and discovered a lack of transparency in supermarkets, especially when it comes to the source of the main ingredient.
The origin of the tomatoes remains unclear for about 70 percent of the products. If the origin is known, the tomatoes often come from dry growing areas in the south where intensive irrigation is required.
500 liters of water for one kilo of tomatoes
Massive irrigation means that a total of more than 500 liters of water is used for one kilogram of ketchup, from tomato cultivation to processing. While one kilo of Austrian tomatoes has a water footprint of only 33 liters, the global average is 214 liters. The water footprint is all the water used or polluted to produce a product.
Only 13 percent organic
Greenpeace also found the high sugar content in ketchup striking, which is almost always second to tomato on the ingredients list; in classic recipes this is about a fifth. The average organic content of ketchup on Austrian shelves was only 13 percent.
Big brands hide their origins
According to Greenpeace, manufacturers were not very willing to provide information; There was no information about the countries of origin for major brands such as Felix and Heinz. Only ten percent of the tested products state the origin of the tomatoes on the packaging.
According to Greenpeace, this is problematic because the majority of vegetables worldwide either come from far away countries such as China or from arid areas in the south.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
