French's puts seal of approval on its products

One of the world's most famous condiment-makers is putting a promise on its iconic products, including three new flavours.

Starting this month, French's Foods will stamp a “Promise Seal” on all its mustards and ketchups.

The red seal, which features a Canadian flag in the middle, is meant to signal the company's pledge to provide products with "great taste, real, local ingredients, and true commitment to our communities."

French’s intends to broadcast that promise across online and other marketing channels throughout 2016.

According to a press release, the company spent 2015 refining its recipes, and now more than 90% of its products contain only natural ingredients, without artificial flavours, colourants, dyes or high-fructose corn syrup.

Those natural ingredients notably include 100% Canadian-grown mustard seeds and tomatoes.

In addition to its regular product line, French's promise extends to three new flavours: Super Yellow Mustard, which contains more health-boosting turmeric in 325-ml bottles, plus Buffalo and Garlic Ketchup in 750-ml formats.

The new ketchup flavours, the release adds, "go great on traditional burgers and fries, but also provide an exciting boost to slow-cooker chicken, meatloaf, and pasta."

French's also responded to what it says is a challenge from consumers "to do more than just produce and sell products" by partnering this year with Food Banks Canada.

As part of its new promise, the company pledges to help fight hunger through a campaign in which French's will donate one meal to a hungry family in Canada for every bottle of its ketchup sold, beginning this holiday season.

"This promise is not a one-off," French's president Elliott Penner is quoted as saying.  "It's a reflection of how we run our business every day."