In Pittsburgh, there are few things as sacred as Heinz Ketchup. It’s not just a condiment; it’s a piece of the city’s identity, a product born and raised in the Steel City, and a staple of every true Pittsburgher’s kitchen. So when oneBURGH, the city’s largest social media network, received a picture of someone walking out of a restaurant because they were served off-brand ketchup, not Heinz, it sparked something much bigger: a city-wide movement now known as Code 57. No Heinz on the table? For that particular Pittsburgher, it was a dealbreaker.
oneBURGH, known for its humorous take on all things Pittsburgh, quickly reposted the image with a tongue-in-cheek comment, and the response was immediate and overwhelming. What started as a lighthearted post quickly snowballed into a full-blown movement, as other Pittsburghers began sharing similar stories. Off-brand ketchup wasn’t just an annoyance—it was an affront to the city’s pride. A police unit was formed. A sighting of off-brand ketchup was called into headquarters, Code 57!
As Code 57 picked up steam, oneBURGH began receiving photos daily of Pittsburghers on high alert, spotting off-brand ketchup in restaurants, diners, and even friends’ homes. Some pictures showed diners with disappointed faces, pointing to the offending bottle of ketchup. Others showed empty tables where Heinz should have been. It became clear that this wasn’t just a passing trend—this was serious business.
Today, oneBURGH receives an average of 10 Code 57 reports a day, with fans using the hashtag #Code57 to document their findings. Each new post is a mix of humor and outrage, as Pittsburghers rally together in the ongoing battle to protect the city’s most beloved condiment. The quest to identify these off-brand imposters has become a shared mission, with people going out of their way to inspect restaurant tables and make sure that Heinz is represented.
oneBURGH’s platform has turned into a real-time, interactive space where people report these ketchup transgressions. It’s not unusual for someone to post a Code 57 alert in the morning, and by the afternoon, a new investigation has begun, with Pittsburghers collectively debating the right course of action—usually resulting in a lot of laughs and a little bit of ketchup shaming.
oneBURGH created hilarious content around the Ketchup Kops, from mock stakeouts to “undercover” missions where they would discretely switch off-brand ketchup bottles with Heinz at local eateries. The idea of the Ketchup Kops further fueled the city’s excitement for the campaign, turning what could have been a fleeting trend into a long-lasting part of Pittsburgh’s quirky culture.
Every time a new Code 57 report came in, the Ketchup Kops were “called into action” via social media.These posts were not only hilarious but also reinforced the city’s playful side, showing that while Pittsburgh takes its Heinz seriously, it also knows how to have fun with its traditions.
Heinz Joins the Fray: The Full-Page Ad in the Post-Gazette
Even Heinz couldn’t ignore the groundswell of loyalty and humor that Code 57 generated. On Sunday, September 1, Heinz took out a full-page ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette acknowledging neBURGH and the Code 57 campaign. The ad featured a completely red page in the iconic red Heinz color. It simply said "oneBURGH. Code 57, Received."
Heinz’s message reinforced what every Pittsburgher already knows: in this city, ketchup means Heinz, and there’s no room for imposters. With Heinz officially acknowledging the campaign, Code 57 had been elevated from a fun social media trend to something much bigger. It was now a part of the city’s cultural dialogue.
As the movement continued to grow, oneBURGH decided to take things a step further by comically forming the **Ketchup Kops**, a tongue-in-cheek squad dedicated to investigating all Code 57 reports. With faux badges and red capes, the Ketchup Kops became the self-appointed enforcers of Heinz loyalty, patrolling Pittsburgh’s restaurants and responding to off-brand ketchup alerts.
The beauty of Code 57 lies in its ability to unite Pittsburghers from all walks of life. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a recent transplant, if you live in Pittsburgh, you know the unspoken rule: when it comes to ketchup, it’s Heinz or nothing. The movement has become a shared experience, something that people can laugh about and take part in no matter where they are in the city.
It’s not just about the ketchup itself, but about what it represents. For many Pittsburghers, Heinz is a symbol of the city’s industrial heritage, its resilience, and its commitment to quality. It’s more than a condiment—it’s a part of the city’s fabric. And with Code 57, oneBURGH has found a way to celebrate that connection in a way that’s fun, interactive, and distinctly Pittsburgh.
Whether you’re a Pittsburgh native or just passing through, there’s one thing you can always count on in the Steel City—when you reach for the ketchup, it better be Heinz. And thanks to oneBURGH and Code 57, you’ll always have a team of Ketchup Kops ready to make sure that Pittsburgh’s ketchup legacy remains intact.
So next time you sit down at a Pittsburgh restaurant, take a look at the ketchup bottle on the table. If it’s not Heinz, you know what to do—report it, hashtag it, and let the Ketchup Kops handle the rest. After all, this is Pittsburgh, and in this town, we don’t mess around when it comes to our ketchup.
