Heinz 57

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Heinz 57 is a shortened, popular form of the "57 Varieties" slogan of the H. J. Heinz Company. In its early days, the company wanted to advertise the great number of choices of canned and bottled foods it offered for sale, although the number 57 was chosen arbitrarily, as in fact by 1892 they had more than 60 products. The company now has more than 1,100 products.

Although the company does not often use the slogan on its products today, the number 57 remains pervasive in its corporate culture and is known worldwide (although younger generations are markedly less familiar with it). In Britain, the number 57 is still printed on the packaging of various Heinz products.

The slogan is printed on Heinz pickle pins that are distributed by the millions.

Heinz 57 is also the name of one variety of Heinz steak sauce. It is distinctive from other steak sauces in its color and flavor. Heinz 57 is a reddish sauce with a taste more akin to spicy ketchup than to other steak sauces. Heinz often markets the sauce as "ketchup with a kick" to highlight this distinction. The sauce slightly altered its flavor in 1985, making it sweeter.

[edit] Trivia

"Heinz 57" is also used as a joke slang term for mixed-breed dogs.

"Heinz 57" is also used as a joke term when describing ones diverse ethnic background.

In the film The Manchurian Candidate, the character of Johnny Iselin gets the number of "confirmed Communists in the State Department" from the back of a Heinz 57 bottle.