‘Tomato ketchup makes me shudder’
Tomato ketchup, and the tomato sauce that comes with canned baked beans and spaghetti hoops, make me shudder. The sweet, vinegary smell is something I can’t seem to get over. It makes my every nerve seize up and I end up holding my breath. I won’t make a fuss about it, but I don’t like holding ketchup bottles or holding plates with leftover ketchup on them. When I was younger, this aversion extended to mayo, barbecue sauce and other condiments, but I am happy to eat most of those now. I have a vague memory of someone smushing a sandwich with ketchup into my face as a child and the feeling of it being around my mouth and cheeks. While I’ve occasionally eaten some accidentally, I’m pretty sure I’ve never dipped a chip or a nugget into ketchup in my life. Becci Wood, 31, London
