History Main / TheKetchupTest

* In Creator/RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/ToSailBeyondTheSunset'', the protagonist [[BedmateReveal wakes up in a strange hotel room with a dead body in a pool of blood]]. After she phones for help, two doctors arrive. They each dip a finger in the "blood" and taste it. As she is feeling rather sickened, they begin arguing over whether it is Heinz or Hunts brand ketchup.

* In RobertAHeinlein's ''Literature/ToSailBeyondTheSunset'', the protagonist [[BedmateReveal wakes up in a strange hotel room with a dead body in a pool of blood]]. After she phones for help, two doctors arrive. They each dip a finger in the "blood" and taste it. As she is feeling rather sickened, they begin arguing over whether it is Heinz or Hunts brand ketchup.

* ''StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'': Chekov finds a dried drop of something pink on the transporter pad, and pokes it before taking a sample. It's Klingon blood, which is what he was looking for.

See also SniffSniffNom, FingertipDrugAnalysis. ''Not'' to be confused with [[APrairieHomeCompanion The Ketchup Advisory Board.]] [[hottip:*: Although those natural mellowing agents may account for the unscientific behavior...]]

* In RobertAHeinlein's ''ToSailBeyondTheSunset'', the protagonist [[BedmateReveal wakes up in a strange hotel room with a dead body in a pool of blood]]. After she phones for help, two doctors arrive. They each dip a finger in the "blood" and taste it. As she is feeling rather sickened, they begin arguing over whether it is Heinz or Hunts brand ketchup.

Sometimes it [[ABloodyMess turns out to be ketchup or strawberry jam]], especially if another character has been doing a Chicken Little impersonation over the supposed bloodstain. In RealLife, it's possible that some animals (bloodhounds, brown bears, tyrannosaurs, larger sharks) may have a sufficiently powerful sense of smell, this (or simply sniffing the blood) might actually allow them to determine the species or even the individual victim involved.

* Dumbledore in Half-Blood Prince. "Dragon blood."

* In RobertAHeinlein's ''ToSailBeyondTheSunset'', the protagonist wakes up in a strange hotel room with a dead body in a pool of blood. After she phones for help, two doctors arrive. They each dip a finger in the "blood" and taste it. As she is feeling rather sickened, they begin arguing over whether it is Heinz or Hunts brand ketchup.

** Hobbit blood probably tastes sweeter... What?
** Blood naturally has a rather distinct smell and taste, due to the iron present in it. This troper just figured that [[FridgeLogic there was something in the orc blood that, in addition to making it black, gives it a different taste, due to a different chemical makeup]]. Or perhaps (in a true inversion of EvilTastesGood) orc blood simply tastes a certain way because [[AlwaysChaoticEvil they're evil]].
*** ....if orc blood is BLACK, why did he even bother tasting it? I assume he can tell the difference between coagulated and uncoagulated blood...

* The Doctor does this in the ''DoctorWho'' episode "The Christmas Invasion". He then tastes the blood and identifies it as "A-positive, with just a hint of iron" (Although his BizarreAlienBiology could let him do this).

* Actually somewhat justified in ''{{Cornered}}!'', since a lot of shelves were knocked over, and it could have very well been ketchup.

* In RobertAHeinlein's ''To Sail Beyond The Sunset'', the protagonist wakes up in a strange hotel room with a dead body in a pool of blood. After she phones for help, two doctors arrive. They each dip a finger in the "blood" and taste it. As she is feeling rather sickened, they begin arguing over whether it is Heinz or Hunt brand ketchup.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* In the third case of ''AceAttorney: Trials and Tribulations'' a 'bloodstain' on Maggey's apron is almost immediately identified as ketchup and everyone goes back to what they were doing. Why is this significant? [[spoiler: It establishes that Godot cannot see red on white, which becomes key in the fifth case.]]

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Magna}}]]

* [[ChappellesShow Dave Chappelle]] explains that since semen is also a tool used by police to frame the black guy while doing their jobs, they might check that instead.
* In the third case of ''AceAttorney: Trials and Tribulations'' a 'bloodstain' on Maggey's apron is almost immediately identified as ketchup and everyone goes back to what they were doing. Why is this significant? [[spoiler: It establishes that Godot cannot see red on white, which becomes key in the fifth case.]]
* Though it wasn't blood that he tested it with, Gil Grissom did this twice in ''{{CSI}}''. The first time, Brass merely stared in horror at him; the second, Catherine warned him how unsanitary it was.
* In a MarvelComics Dracula story set during World War II, Dracula identifies a bloodstain as "gypsy blood" this way. Well, he is a [[JustifiedTrope vampire]]... (Nazi troops were killing Roma. The Roma in Transylvania are protected by Dracula. Bad Move.)
* Played with in the "Thanksgiving" trailer in Grindhouse, when two small-town detectives are investigating a murder scene amid the titular holiday parade:

* ''StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'': Chekov finds a dried drop of something pink on the transporter pad, and pokes it before taking a sample. It's Klingon blood, which is what he was looking for.

* In Chris Jericho's autobiography A Lions Tale, he describes a Ketchup Test incident that occurred during one of his early matches. Jericho bled a lot in this match and one of the ringside fans, believing Jericho's real blood to be ketchup, dipped his finger in a pool of Jericho's blood and put it in his mouth.

* The Doctor does this in the ''DoctorWho'' episode "The Christmas Invasion". He then tastes the blood and identifies it as "A-positive, with just a hint of iron".

** Walter has a recurring habit of tasting whatever disgusting thing they're dealing with and then revealing it's just some food he left lying around in the lab. He's done this with what appeared to be blood, brain matter, and cremated ashes. Taste is apparently the most important sense for scientists.

* ''{{Predator}}''
* ''HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince''
* ''OnceUponATimeInMexico''

* In a MarvelComics Dracula story set during World War II, Dracula indentifies a bloodstain as "gypsy blood" this way. Well, he is a [[JustifiedTrope vampire]]... (Nazi troops were killing Roma. The Roma in Transylvania are protected by Dracula. Bad Move.)

Sometimes it [[ABloodyMess turns out to be ketchup or strawberry jam]], especially if another character has been doing a Chicken Little impersonation over the supposed bloodstain.

* RealLife: It's possible that some animals (bloodhounds, brown bears, tyrannosaurs, larger sharks) may have a sufficiently powerful sense of smell, this (or simply sniffing the blood) might actually allow them to determine the species or even the individual victim involved.
** InuYasha claims he can do this. Of course, he's a dog [[http://inuyasha.wikia.com/wiki/Hanyou hanyou]].
* Also possibly justified with child detectives vs. a MagnificentBastard HarmlessVillain, but real FBI agents would be horrified - far better to call in CSI to collect a sample and send it to a lab!

* Occurs ([[OrSoIHeard possibly]]) in ''TheMatrix''.

* StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry: Chekov finds a dried drop of something pink on the transporter pad, and pokes it before taking a sample. It's Klingon blood, which is what he was looking for.