Why You Should Think Twice About Eating IHOP Syrup

IHOP, aka The International House of Pancakes, is a legendary name that is known all across the United States for good reason. It's not just for its wide range of delicious pancakes (not to mention a secret menu), but also for the welcoming environment. According to the IHOP website, the brand is particularly proud of the fact that it offers accessible meal options to customers in a cozy atmosphere that is ideal for dining with friends and family. 

But if you're someone who loves adding IHOP syrup to your pancakes, here's an intriguing tidbit: A Thrillist piece claims that real maple syrup is a rare find at IHOP. In fact, the only location that makes an exception and doesn't opt for the brand's artificially flavored go-to is a Vermont spot that offers the real stuff to customers at a slightly extra cost. There are a few reasons in general, however, that you may want to skip the syrup altogether at this restaurant in favor of other toppings.

The classic syrup at IHOP is still okay in moderation, but if you're a fan of the fruit-flavored varieties, you may want to reconsider ordering them in the future. If you had chosen the boysenberry flavor in the past and thought it tasted like cough syrup, you aren't alone. Because of that common complaint, it has been removed from all IHOP locations as of today. Additionally, a report by Amarillo Globe-News in 2011 noted a link between a salmonella outbreak at an IHOP in 2008 and the fact that a bath utilized to heat syrup bottles had been contaminated. 

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, IHOP decided to remove syrup containers from all tables in a bid to fight the virus because its staff members were found to not be sanitizing the bottles after each customer left. Fearing that it could have lead to a rise in infections since many customers frequently handle the containers, IHOP instead decided to offer its syrup varieties in single-use containers (per IHOP), which hopefully becomes the norm.