Here's a weird thing: when they first introduced compulsory ingredients labelling in Australia, I remember reading the ingredients on Heinz Tomato Sauce (Australian for ketchup). The first ingredient on the list was apple. Some time later, I checked the ingredient list again, and it now contained no apple, just tomatoes. I was a kid, so ate enough of the stuff to know what it tasted like, but never noticed the change in ingredients. My guess is that if you put enough salt and sugar in something it pretty well masks any other flavouring; colour and texture can be tweaked.
I assume the product was first made with tomatoes; they changed to mostly apples at some point to save some bucks. Once it went on the label, there was a consumer backlash so they put the tomatoes back in. I'd also guess they did the same in the UK.
Notes:
- meat pie and tomato sauce is usually my one junk food indulgence when I go to Australia. That's only because I don't count Cherry Ripes and capricciosa pizza as junk food
- The Australian version contains more tomatoes and less vinegar than the UK version
- Heinz now calls it ketchup in Australia. All other brands are still tomato sauce.
- And makes it in New Zealand!