While eggs and bread were the most discussed topics, social media users generally agreed that eggs belong in the fridge and bread belongs in the cupboard. However, the ketchup debate caused the most controversy. 

A whopping 60% of emotion-categorized mentions about where to store ketchup contained disgust. People were divided with their opinions on whether it should be stored in the fridge or not – and disgusted at those who don’t share their habits.

Heinz even made the cut as a trending topic with some users synonymizing “Heinz” with “ketchup”. This shows just how powerful Heinz’ branding is when it comes to the sauce space.

Now, how about the facts?

The FDA explicitly recommends keeping eggs in the refrigerator to prevent salmonella and other bacterial growth. And, while storing bread in the fridge can’t hurt you, it – ironically – means the product becomes stale much quicker.

When it comes to chocolate, it’s more down to preference. Storing chocolate in the fridge does alter taste and texture, but some people prefer a colder version. 

For ketchup, Heinz actually released a statement to address the debate a few years ago. They said that, because of its natural acidity, Heinz Ketchup is shelf-stable. “However, we recommend that this product, like any processed food, be refrigerated after opening.”

So really, it’s down to preference. Just like the next debate…

The leftover pizza debacle

Do you prefer cold leftover pizza, or would you rather stick it in the microwave to get it piping hot? This question has divided the internet, causing plenty of controversy on social.

A cold pizza preference comes with plenty of backlash. In fact, 40% of mentions about cold leftover pizza were negative and just 12% were positive. On the other hand, one third of mentions discussing reheating pizza were positive.

If we had to call a winner here it’d be reheated pizza but of course there’s no right or wrong answer – as long, apparently, as you’re consuming any leftovers within four days.

Now, let’s dive into a debate where there’s a little more consensus.

Toilet paper orientation

An age old debate: Should toilet paper hang over the roll, or be tucked underneath?

Various surveys have concluded that over 70% of people prefer their toilet paper to hang over. “Overs” are also more likely to notice a roll’s orientation, and flip an incorrect roll. Interestingly, that’s almost exactly what the social data says too.

67% of mentions about toilet paper orientation were about hanging toilet paper rolls over. The “under” conversation carried a lot more negativity too, with 43% of emotion-categorized mentions showing disgust.

Like the surveys suggest, “over” hangers were more vocal about their preference – and more likely to disagree with people who hang the other way.

It turns out that “overs” might actually be right. According to the 1891 patent for the toilet-paper roll, the end of the roll should be hanging off the exterior – in other words, hanging the toilet roll over is the correct orientation. This also minimizes the amount of bacteria deposited onto the toilet roll. So maybe “overs” have a reason to be so vocal.

Controversies and consumer insights

Social media is riddled with interesting debates that brands can learn from and even get involved in.

Monitoring conversations around your products and those of competitors can help brands to understand consumer pain points and make improvements. For example, if it’s not clear that a product should be used in a particular way, they can update the packaging to help users have a better experience.

And, from providing education materials (like how to store edible goods) to entertaining followers with jokes about how best to store items like toilet paper, there are opportunities for brands of all kinds to engage with consumers online – even on the most mundane subjects.

Whether you keep your ketchup in the fridge or not, we’re not judging you. But people on the internet might.