Hot Dog Truth

Hot dogs have long been know to be an unhealthy American food. The hot dog industry has tried hard in the recent years to improve their product and their image. Now many hot dogs are actually made of good materials for human consumption. 


Hot dogs are basically a form of sausage. They are made up of various types of ground meats, seasoning, and salt. The mashed meat is squeezed into casings which are removed before the meat is packaged. If a hot dog is not infused with nitrites or made of meat by-products, it is little different in nutritive value if compared to a Jimmy Dean sausage link. 


Sodium nitrite is a chemical that is found in a lot of processed meats such as deli meats, ham, corned beef, bacon, pepperoni, and hot dogs. It is what makes the meat so pink. Sodium nitrite is also used as a food preservative, preventing botulism from growing in meats.


Although sodium nitrate is said to be safe for human consumption, there are studies that have shown the sodium nitrite to be toxic to animals if given in large amounts. Sodium nitrite has also been shown to cause migraine headaches, cancer, and instigate lung disease. Pregnant and nursing moms are told to avoid eating nitrates, simply to be on the safe side.


Meat by-products or variety meats are used in some hot-dogs, however it is possible to purchase hot-dogs without those products. The variety meats used are perfectly safe for human consumption, but to name what part of the animal they are is enough to churn my stomach... brains, heart, livers, etc. Mechanically separated meats are may also be found in some hot-dogs. Mechanically separated meats are made by forcing bones and meat through a machine that forced the meat off the bones, turning the meat into mush in the process. Mechanically seperated beef is no longer allowed in American foods due to mad cow diease, but poultry can still be used.

The last ingreadient to watch out for in hot-dogs is MSG.
Monosodium glutamate is actually a naturally occuring acid in much of the food we eat. However, science has found a way to extract it and add it in larger amounts. In most cases is it derived from type of seaweed found in the Orient. Often Chinese food is known to contain it in large amounts. MSG can also be found in canned soups and broths, processed meats, and many prepared and canned meals. In any case, its health risks are still be studied, but many people do have side affects such as dizziness, headaches, tiredness, or stomach cramps, after ingesting foods containing MSG, so it does seem to have an averse affect on the human body. 


Hot dogs can be purchased without those ingredients added. Name brand hot dogs-Oscar Meyer in particular has some nice selections. I have also purchased kosher and organic hot dogs from various markets. Some people really love their hot-dogs, and if I can still serve them with a clean conscience, I will do my best to do that.