Tomato ketchup, red sauce, Tommy K - whatever you call it, we all love a bit of it on our plates.

A wise man once said: "should you ever come across a fool who doesn't like tomato sauce, ignore them, shun them, remove them from your life; they are backwards," and I think that neatly sums up the feelings we have towards Tommy K. You always know where you stand with it.

Amidst a squirt, squeeze or pour of the good stuff, you've probably noticed the prominent '57' splattered across Heinz bottles, as well as many of their other products.

It's pretty common knowledge that the number represents the variety of products Heinz has; although, it is a little known fact that in the beginning, Henry Heinz simply used 57 because he thought it was a lucky number. Since then, the slogan '57 varieties' has stuck.

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However, this is not the only interesting thing about the '57'. The number is actually strategically placed on the glass bottles of red sauce.

Although most us won't buy the glass bottles anymore, we'll probably still use them at restaurants from time to time. And when we do have to use them, fuck me, it doesn't half turn into a struggle to get some of the sauce out of the bottle.

The '57' is placed on the bottle neck as the best spot to tap in order to get sauce out quicker, and more efficiently.

On the 'Trivia' area of the Heinz website, which I'm guessing you've never visited before, it says: "To release Heinz Tomato Ketchup from its glass bottle with extra speed, apply a firm tap to the spot marked '57' on the neck label."

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Well I fucking never. I would not like to know the amount of time I've wasted shaking, bashing, and sticking a knife in the lid to try and lure a drop of sauce out.

Game = changed.

Words by Mark McGowan