Why Is It Heinz 57?

I could bet, how you found yourself in this situation right now is because you reached for the iconic bottle of Heinz 57 sauce, caught a glimpse of the magic number, paused mid-pour, and began pondering just exactly what that number is all about? 

If anything, you certainly aren’t the first to be left wondering! Many people before you have been baffled by this labelling mystery for years. 

Is it a secret recipe featuring 57 ingredients? Perhaps an enigmatic formula devised in the year 1857? 

Satisfy your curiosity as we explain everything you ever wanted to know about the Heinz 57 phenomenon!

Why Is It Called Heinz 57?

Many people wonder about the origin of the famous Heinz 57 slogan, as it has always managed to pique curiosity and leave an impression.

Interestingly, the number 57 isn’t actually an accurate count of Heinz products or varieties – in fact, there are currently more than a hundred different Heinz products available today, and before the birth of the popular slogan, there were certainly more than 57!

In the early 1890s, H.J. Heinz was already marketing up to 60 products, including bottled pickles, horseradish and pepper sauce. 

The story behind the iconic number began in 1896 when H.J. Heinz was visiting New York City. 

While riding on an elevated train, he saw an advertisement for a shoe store boasting “21 styles”. Intrigued by how this simple but catchy approach grabbed his attention, he decided to use a similar marketing strategy for his own brand.

He ultimately choose the number 57 – “5” because it was his lucky number and “7” because it was his wife’s lucky number according to one source. 

However, Heinz himself declared at one point that the number “7” has an enduring influence (physiologically) on people, and had so much significance among people of all ages — perfect for a catchline.

Regardless of its origins, combining his surname with such a memorable number (and the term varieties) proved successful in signaling both experience and diversity in products – two qualities Americans greatly value.

And so began the era of promoting their products under the new “57 varieties” slogan – with prepared horseradish being one of the first items showcased under this iconic branding that still captures consumers’ attention today.

Are There 57 Ingredients In Heinz 57?

No Heinz 57 sauce doesn’t contain 57 ingredients. The origin of the name is rooted in a clever marketing campaign rather than an extensive recipe list, as we have discussed above. 

The iconic sauce is actually made from a blend of simpler ingredients such as tomatoes, distilled vinegar, corn syrup salt, raisin concentrate, crushed orange puree, spices and other flavorings, but all in all, would not total up to 57.

Heinz 57 Varieties List

The following is a list of Heinz 57 varieties for the US market. 

  1. 100% Natural Honey Mustard With Real Honey
  2. 100% Natural Spicy Brown Mustard
  3. 100% Natural Yellow Mustard
  4. 57 Sauce
  5. 57 Sauce With Honey
  6. Apple Cider Vinegar With 5% Acidity
  7. Bistro Au Jus Gravy
  8. Buffaranch Buffalo & Ranch Sauce
  9. Carolina Mustard Style Sweet Mustard BBQ Sauce
  10. Carolina Vinegar Style Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce
  11. Chili Sauce
  12. Classic Chicken Gravy 
  13. Country-Style Sausage Gravy
  14. Culinary Crunch Chili Pepper Crunch Sauce
  15. Culinary Crunch Mandarin Orange Miso Crunch Sauce
  16. Culinary Crunch Roasted Garlic Crunch Sauce
  17. Dill Relish
  18. Dip & Crunch Secret Sauce & Potato Crunchers
  19. Dip & Crunch Spicy Sauce & Potato Crunchers
  20. Distilled White Vinegar With 5% Acidity
  21. Hamburger Dill Pickle Chips
  22. Honey racha Honey & Sriracha Sauce
  23. Hot 57 Sauce
  24. Hot Dog Relish
  25. Imported Balsamic Vinegar Of Modena
  26. India Relish
  27. Infused Honey With Black Truffle
  28. Infused Honey With Hot Chili
  29. Kansas City Style Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce
  30. Kranch Ketchup & Ranch Sauce
  31. Malt Vinegar
  32. Mayochup Mayonnaise & Ketchup Sauce
  33. Mayomust Mayonnaise & Mustard Sauce
  34. Mayoracha Mayonnaise & Sriracha Sauce
  35. Mushroom Gravy
  36. Organic Tomato Ketchup
  37. Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar With The Mother
  38. Organic Yellow Mustard 
  39. Original Cocktail Sauce
  40. Original Multi-Purpose Extra Strength Vinegar With 6% Acidity
  41. Original Sweet & Thick BBQ Sauce
  42. Pork Gravy
  43. Red Wine Vinegar
  44. Roasted Turkey Gravy
  45. Salad Vinegar
  46. Savory Beef Gravy
  47. Simply Tomato Ketchup With No Artificial Sweeteners
  48. Spicy Garlic Pickle Chips With Garlic & Red Peppers
  49. Sweet & Spicy Pickle Chips With Crushed Red Pepper
  50. Sweet Gherkins Mini Pickles
  51. Sweet Ketchili Ketchup & Chili Sauce
  52. Sweet Relish
  53. Tarragon Naturally Flavored Vinegar
  54. Texas Style Bold & Spicy BBQ Sauce
  55. Tomato Ketchup
  56. Tomato Ketchup Blended With Chipotle
  57. Tomato Ketchup Blended With Habanero
  58. Tomato Ketchup Blended With Jalapeño
  59. Tomato Ketchup Sweetened Only With Honey
  60. Tomato Ketchup With A Blend Of Veggies
  61. Tomato Ketchup With No Salt Added
  62. Tomato Ketchup With No Sugar Added
  63. Worcestershire Sauce
  64. Zesty Cocktail Sauce

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