Mona Justin, age 12, of Great Falls, Mont., for her question:

WHERE WAS CATCHUP FIRST MADE?

Catchup is a spiced sauce made from tomatoes. It can also be spelled "catsup," "katchup" or "ketchup."

Catchup was first made in the orient many centuries ago. The name originated from an Oriental word that was pronounced "kay chup."

`RCatchup is made up of tomato pulp, sugar, salt, mustard, vinegar

and a number of spices. There is no single standard formula for its

manufacture.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has established a "standard of identity" for catchup. This standard specifies what optional ingredients may be included in the sauce. It also specifies for some ingredients, such as dextrose, the maximum amount that may be used.