Observed on June 5, Ketchup Day (also known as Catsup Day) celebrates a popular pureed tomato-based condiment first recorded in a recipe by Philadelphia scientist James Mease in 1812.

Its origins trace back to ancient China, where a fermented fish sauce called "kê-tsiap" laid the groundwork for what would become modern ketchup.

In the USA, it gained widespread popularity in the late 19th century after Henry J. Heinz introduced his iconic recipe in 1876.

Today, ketchup is frequently paired with French fries, eggs, hash browns, hamburgers, chicken strips and more.

Photo by Dennis Klein on unsplash