For many, it would seem surprising and even bizarre that some people may be afraid of ketchup. Across the world, ketchup is a favorite ingredient, at times a necessity for some foods and at times an add-on. It may seem almost comic to think that some people have a phobia of ketchup but those who do have such a fear are quite terrified by ketchup. Even the sight of ketchup or its smell can terrify some people. Those who cannot relate to such a fear will not exactly understand why the phobia of ketchup exists but it is very real.
Causes to the Phobia of Ketchup
The phobia of ketchup exists due to a few reasons. The first reason is the obvious color and texture of the ingredient. Ketchup is red, often blood red. Some companies have attempted to make ketchup crimson and some have even dulled the reddishness of the ingredient. While this may not be in a deliberate attempt or wish to not make ketchup look like blood, but that initiative does help in doing away with the phobia of ketchup. Fear of blood is almost universal. While minor cuts and bruises and a little bit of blood may not terrify adults or even the kids but a lot of blood can certain scare most people. Those who equate ketchup with blood, either due to the color or due to the liquid paste like structure or for both reasons, have the phobia of ketchup.
There are people who don’t equate ketchup with blood but are terrified at the thought of having something that would taste hot. Many people are afraid of chilies. Fear of foods is not unnatural. Some fear certain fruits, some fear meat and some fear certain veggies as well. It is the manifestation of certain fears that become a phobia for foods. People afraid of chilies are actually averse to hot or chili tastes. Since many types of ketchup have a hot flavor or taste, people who have had past experiences of tasting such ketchup may develop a dislike for it which can become extreme and get transformed into phobia of ketchup.
Some people are averse to tomatoes and that often triggers a phobia of ketchup. Popular references to ketchup being used for blood or for gory horror sequences, especially in movies, have also shaped up the opinions or psyches of some people who are afraid of ketchup.