Do You Know What's In That Hot Dog You're Eating?

You get them at ball games, roller rinks, and at most backyard barbecues. Let’s face it - they’re a summer staple. I’m talking about hot dogs. Sure, they taste good, but do you really know what’s in that dog you’re eating? Here are the gruesome facts, courtesy of Prevention magazine.

• Beef and pork. Yes, both are high in protein, but they’re also loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol. The meat can come from pig and cow skeletal muscle, and by-products.


• Mechanically separated turkey – yes, even in your beef frank. It’s a paste-like substance that’s produced when tissue is removed from bones. This substance is cheap and helps hot dogs stay in their hot dog shape.


• Sodium nitrite. This helps preserve the red tint of the cured meat. Studies have shown that consuming sodium nitrite may trigger migraines and increase your risk of cancer.


• There’s corn syrup in there – which is used as a thickener and a sweetener. It contains no nutrients and adds extra calories. Corn syrup gets added to nearly every processed food we eat these days, like cakes, cookies, and soda. Corn syrup also turns up in breads, crackers, hot dogs, pasta sauce, frozen dinners, and even dog food. It trains our taste buds to crave even more sweetness, and some experts say it’s partly responsible for the rapid rise of obesity in America.


• Extract of paprika. As a spice, paprika is a good source of fiber, and vitamins A and E, but as an “extract” - it doesn’t offer much more than color.

If you simply can’t live without hot dogs, buy those made with USDA-certified organic beef. They don’t have nitrites or corn syrup, and are lower in saturated fat, calories and sodium than the typical supermarket types.