Expert: Carol Schlitt - 3/29/2007

Question
What are hot dogs made of?
Are the ingredients healthy for us?
Is it true that leftover meat is used in it?
Why are hot dogs red?
Are "mystery meat" mixtures stuffed into casings like it says on the Internet? If so, what are the casings made of?

Answer
Hi Cheryl,

Hot dogs are a product that utilizes meat trimming (parts of meat products that are difficult to market and use in other ways).  These trimmings are formed into an emulsion (a fancy word for paste) are then forced into a casing and then cooked. The ingredients found in hot dogs include beef, pork, chicken, turkey, or soy products such as tofu.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that the meats used must be wholesome and high quality, just like the fresh ground meat sold in supermarkets. The government also requires that the meats used in the hot dog must be listed in order of predominance. The list of ingredients will be found on all hotogs, with the ingredients listed in descending order according to weight.

Are the ingredients healthy?  Many hotdogs contain a high proportion of fat and sodium and most people are aware of the consequences of consuming diets high in both of these nutrients. However, hot dogs can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation.

Leftover meat?  If you use the term leftover to mean meat portions that are "leftover" from the traditional cutting of meat into retail portions (steaks, chops, roasts, etc.) then you are right. These leftover pieces of meat would be difficult to use alone, but when chopped and emulsified become a product that can be utilized for food.

Why are hot dogs red?  The emulsified product often has a grey/white color and by dying them red they appear to look more like meat. Often the hot dog casing is dyed red for the same reason.

Hot dogs in the US are a carefully monitored and inspected product and all of the ingredients used to make them are approved for human consumption. All of the ingredients must be listed on the label so there is no mystery as to what is contained in hot dogs. While some of the ingredients may sound mysterious, they are all approved for human consumption.

Casings can either be natural (small intestines of animals -- usually sheep) or man-made (made from cellulose or other vegetable products.)

I hope this answers your questions. If you should have additional questions please let me know.

Carol