America's #1 Ketchup Is Back With Its Halloween Edition

If you've ever dressed as a bloody bride or as a vampire for Halloween (haven't we all?), then you know the struggle to find the perfect fake blood. It's got to be a precise color of red; it has to be inexpensive enough so you can douse yourself in it; and you should be able to easily wash it off before bed. As Halloween approaches, one food brand has embraced its own gory potential.

It's all about the ketchup. You may have been using ketchup for years as a Halloween costume aid, but Heinz finally made its likeness to blood official last year, when it released a special edition Tomato Blood Ketchup. The #1 ketchup-maker is bringing back the fun this year to keep its red sauce top of mind for anyone planning a scary costume. And the brand onboarded its very own vampire influencer to spread the word.

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Toby, a vampire, converted to vegetarianism years ago to spare the necks of humans. Instead, he gorges on ketchup and is on a mission to inspire his fellow vampires to do the same.

"Being a vegetarian vampire and only eating Heinz Tomato Blood comes with a lot of misconceptions," said Toby, the 280-year-old Tomato Blood activist. "I hope that by issuing a PSA, vampires nationwide will consider that humans can be more than just food and give friendship a chance while enjoying a tasty alternative."

So if you don't have a costume for this year, feel free to dress up as Toby, or simply follow his lead and grab a bottle of the Tomato Blood—and you won't really need much else. "There are few nights more magical than Halloween, and for years, Heinz has helped people make memories by helping them transform into the spookiest versions of themselves," said Ashleigh Gibson, the brand director for Heinz. "We believe that if you have Heinz, you have a costume."

Heinz's Tomato Blood Ketchup is available at retailers nationwide starting this month.