Hot Dogs

Name: Hot dogs, also called frankfurters or wieners — cooked, smoked and cured sausages made of finely ground pork, beef, chicken or turkey, served in a soft roll with mustard, ketchup, onions and other toppings. They are a staple of American street food and baseball games.

Description

Hot dogs derive from German sausages, the frankfurter of Frankfurt and the wiener of Vienna, brought by German immigrants to the United States in the 19th century, and sold in rolls from carts in New York, Chicago and Coney Island. Today, the American hot dog is an icon, with regional styles such as the Chicago dog, the Coney dog and the Sonoran dog.

They are made from finely emulsified meat, spices, salt, and curing agents, and stuffed in casings and cooked. They are widely eaten, but are a processed meat, and also a well-known choking hazard for young children.

Main nutrition value

Processed meats provide protein, but they are typically high in salt and saturated fat, and cured products contain added nitrites. Hot dogs are generally high in fat, salt and calories, and low in other nutrients, and the bun and toppings add to the total.

How best to be consumed

Hot dogs are an occasional treat, always cooked piping hot.

1. Heat until steaming hot, to at least 74°C, by boiling, grilling or pan-frying.
2. Choose products made of high-quality meat, with lower salt and no added nitrites if possible.
3. Cut into small pieces, lengthwise, for children under 5, and never serve whole.
4. Pile on vegetables, such as onion, tomato, sauerkraut or salad, and use a wholegrain bun.
5. Don't char them, and use within 1 week of opening the pack.

Overconsumption could cause…

Hot dogs are a processed meat, best occasional, and a choking hazard for young children.

1. Higher risk of bowel cancer and other conditions with regular intake of processed meat, which the World Health Organization's cancer agency classifies as carcinogenic to humans, because of nitrites, salt and smoking, so keep it occasional.
2. Choking in young children, since a round, firm, slippery hot dog can block the airway, so cut into small pieces lengthwise.
3. High salt (sodium), which can raise blood pressure over time, particularly in cured, canned and processed products.
4. Nitrites and nitrates used in curing, which can form cancer-linked nitrosamines when cooked at high heat, so avoid charring cured meats. Hot dogs charred on a grill are a particular concern.
5. Raised LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk from the saturated fat in fattier cuts, skin and processed products, so choose lean cuts and trim visible fat.
6. Listeria infection from cold cured or sliced meats and pâté, a particular risk in pregnancy, older age and weak immunity, so these groups should avoid them or heat them until steaming hot. This applies particularly to hot dogs that are not heated until steaming hot.

GroupsProcessed MeatHigh saturated fatHigh sodiumCured or salted

Related foodsChicken NuggetsMeatballsChorizoHamLuncheon MeatCorned Beef

Wikipedia — Hot dog, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dog