Vinegar Made from Petroleum? Heinz® Offers a Naturally Made Choice

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Not all vinegars are created equal – and not all are created with natural ingredients. In fact, vinegar can be made from either natural ingredients, such as corn and apples, or artificial ingredients, such as petroleum. According to a recent survey*, this is proving important to more than 70 percent of vinegar users looking for all-natural, high-quality ingredients when making salads or salad dressings. In response, Heinz is re-affirming its commitment to use only natural, sun-ripened corn and fresh apples – never petroleum – in its popular Heinz Distilled White and Apple Cider Vinegar.

The majority of vinegar users (89 percent) said they didn’t know that their vinegar could be sourced from petroleum, while 79 percent indicated that if they discovered their vinegar was sourced from petroleum, they would switch to an all-natural vinegar. With no current requirements to disclose ingredient sources on labels, many consumers may not be able to tell how their vinegar is made. That’s why Heinz is taking steps to raise the level of consumer awareness about all-natural vinegar choices and proudly proclaiming that Heinz Distilled White and Apple Cider Vinegars are always 100 percent all-natural.

“We realized that most consumers today don’t know that their vinegar may not be all natural and could be made from petroleum. There is a general assumption that all vinegar is made from natural ingredients, and that’s not always true,” said Eric Dahmer, Heinz Vinegar brand manager. “That’s why Heinz’s ongoing commitment to high-quality, all-natural, pure ingredients – with a label to back it up – is a meaningful point of difference for consumers.”

With May celebrated as National Vinegar and National Salad Month, Heinz’s move to re-affirm its commitment to naturally made vinegar may be well timed. In fact, 82 percent of respondents in the survey said they use vinegar in salads or salad dressings that they prepare at home. Summer months encourage plenty of vinegar-based, light summertime dishes, as well as canning and pickling recipes with fresh fruits and vegetables, so vinegar users are generally more aware of the products they are using.

In addition to a commitment to quality and all-natural ingredient sources, Heinz Vinegars are also ultra-filtered to guarantee sparkling clarity and bottled at peak freshness. For more information on where to find Heinz Vinegars and learn more about how they are made, visit www.vinegarfacts.com.

About Heinz Vinegars

Since the Company’s founding in 1869, Heinz has always been 100 percent committed to producing pure, all-natural vinegar. Heinz first produced vinegar to preserve the appearance and flavor of its processed pickles and other condiments. Soon after, Heinz was among the first to introduce vinegar commercially for home use in a clear glass bottle and included a list of the ingredients to reassure consumers of the product’s pure, all-natural qualities. Vinegar also was a necessary ingredient in the making of Heinz Ketchup, first introduced in 1876. Today, as one of the world's largest and oldest producers of vinegar, Heinz manufactures more than 7.5 million gallons of vinegar annually to supply American households with its popular and versatile food product.

About Heinz

H. J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day,” is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy and convenient foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz provides superior quality, taste and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home, restaurants, the office or “on-the-go.” Heinz is a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz^® Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz’s total sales), Ore-Ida^® potato products, Weight Watchers^® Smart Ones^® frozen entrees, Boston Market^® meals, T.G.I. Friday’s^® frozen snacks and Plasmon^® infant nutrition. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on five continents, showcased by Heinz^® Ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup^®. Information on Heinz is available at www.heinz.com.

*This survey was fielded by Opinion Research Corporation from April 17-20, 2009 among a sample of 608 adults age 18+ using an omnibus methodology. The results are representative of, and projectible to, the U.S. adult population. The margin of error is +/- 4%.

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