Hundreds of ketchup-filled ‘Frenchsicles’ handed out in Leamington, Ont.
Leamington residents overwhelmingly approved of French’s limited-edition ketchup-flavoured popsicle after debuting the new summertime treat in the Tomato Capital of Canada.
The "Frenchsicle," made in collaboration with Happy Pops, was given away Friday afternoon at a popup location near Seacliff Beach.
“It's exactly what I thought it was going to be,” said Leamington resident Roy Hyde. “I was super skeptical coming in. I'm still super skeptical. It's like frozen ketchup. It really is.”
Others said it tasted like a Caesar or tomato juice, noting a hint of spice in the first frozen bite.
Hundreds of people stood in line in order to try the ketchup-flavoured "Frenchsicle" popsicle in Leamington, Ont. on June 24, 2022. The popsicle was a hit hit amongst those who tried the frozen treat. (Christopher Campbell/CTV News Windsor)
“Yeah, the first one was a little shocking,” exclaimed Jenn Hyde. “You get that taste of ketchup but it's not too bad actually, surprisingly!”
Hyde added, “We actually just moved to Leamington so this is like a rite of passage for us we had to do the ketchup thing.”
Some people arrived with coolers in hand, hoping to stock up or share some with others.
Leamington resident Roger Jaarsma approved and told CTV News, “I think it tastes like a Caesar. It's spicy. I think if you look at it you're expecting strawberry but it's salty and spicy. It's nice.”
The tomato-based popsicle was only available with limited supplies with French’s telling those who missed out to find the recipe on their website.
Hundreds of people stood in line in order to try the ketchup-flavoured "Frenchsicle" popsicle in Leamington, Ont. on June 24, 2022. The popsicle was a hit hit amongst those who tried the frozen treat. (Christopher Campbell/CTV News Windsor)“It's a mix of ketchup, tomato juice, Frank's Red Hot sauce,” said spokesperson Dea Masotti Payne. “And then there's some Caesar rim on the edge.”
The company said the Frenchsicle's “savoury tomato flavour is perfectly balanced with a hint of salty sweetness” and is made from 100 per cent Canadian tomatoes.
“French’s ketchup is made with 100 per cent Leamington area tomatoes. So it's a very important place for French's and that's why we wanted to come here,” the company added.
To honour shared Canadian heritage, for every Frenchsicle given away, French's will donate two meals to Food Banks of Canada to address food insecurity while expanding the partnership that began in 2015.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.