The hot dog has become as synonymous with America as Baseball or apple pie. But the hot dog has also claimed its title as one of the world’s most dangerous foods. Whether they be frankfurters, links, sausages, bratwurst, kielbasas, or just plain old hot dogs, the health implications of consuming these salty tubes of grease are vast. The basic hot dog usually contains mechanically separated pork, beef, chicken, or turkey (or a combination of the 4) as well as a vegetarian filler. Furthermore, some variations have a casing made of sheep intestines. Sounds appetizing, right? With that said, here are six reasons why hot dogs should be consumed with extreme caution.
Hot Dogs Are a Choking Hazard
Hot dogs cause kids to choke and asphyxiate more than any other food in the United States. According to a recent study undertaken by the American Academy of Pediatrics, says that 17% of all choking deaths in children below the age of ten are caused by a hot dog. In the release of their findings, the AAP suggested that the hot dog receive an extreme makeover to avoid choking deaths. The story has received extensive. However, I’m not convinced that it’s possible to redesign the hot dog without having to change the name.
Hot Dogs Increase The Risk of Colorectal Cancer
In a study performed by the American Institute for Cancer Research, the consumption of 50 grams of processed meat, equal to one average hot dog, every day will increase the risk of colo-rectal cancer by 21 percent. Some advocacy groups are lobbying to make it a requirement for distributors to include warning labels on their hot dog packages, similar to those displayed on cigarette containers. However, the industry apparently doesn’t have the same convictions, go figure. But, facts are facts and in the end hot dogs still are proven to increase the risk of colo-rectal cancer.
Hot Dogs Contain Carcinogens
Whether they are franks, wieners, or just plain hot dogs, they all wieners contain a great deal of preservatives. The preservative found in hot dogs known as sodium nitrite is considered to contain carcinogenic properties and has been known to increase the risk of cancer, especially in the lungs. I’m not sure you could liken eating a hot dog to smoking a cigarette, but why take your chances? Furthermore, when hot dogs are grilled, the amount of carcinogens present also greatly increase. Talk about a double whammy.
Hot Dogs Increase The Risk of Heart Disease
Because of the high amounts of fat and cholesterol contained in the mechanically separated meats that constitute hot dogs, these pink cylinders help to perpetuate the prevalence of heart disease in the U.S. The presence of Sodium Nitrite, which has been said to significantly lower blood pressure after consumption, also plays a factor in increased risk of heart disease. Most people also consume hot dogs with mustard, ketchup, relish, chili, cheese, sauerkraut, or some mixture of those condiments, most of which also contain high amounts of sodium which has been known to increase blood pressure leading to heart attack or stroke. And in all seriousness, who wants to eat something that has been “mechanically separated?”
Hot dogs Cause Serious Food-Born Illnesses
Because hot dogs are pre-cooked, people will sometimes make the mistake of consuming them without re-cooking them. Unfortunately, the incredible amount of preservatives contained within the hot dog isn’t always enough to protect them from contamination from a bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause Listeriosis. Although somewhat rarer than other food-born illnesses, 20 percent of all cases of Listeriosis are fatal. With that said, be sure to thoroughly cook your pre-cooked, packaged meats.
Hot Dogs Contain A Lot of Fat
We all know that obesity is a “big” problem in the U.S., and massive hot dog consumption does nothing to change this. While hot dogs are generally referred to as unhealthy, few probably know that most dogs are comprised of 30% fat. According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, American retail shoppers spent $1.6 billion on almost 730 million packages of hot dogs in 2008. And, that’s not including WalMart sales or ball park figures. That’s a helluva lot of hot dogs, not to mention fat, that Americans are consuming each and every year.
