Hot dogs may be delicious, but they’re not exactly known for being healthy. In fact, some are full of fillers and ingredients you can’t pronounce. “The hot dog ingredients of greatest health concern are sodium nitrite, excess salt, and added sugar (corn syrup). Other additives are not necessarily dangerous on their own, but they indicate that the food is highly processed,” says Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, certified sports dietitian and co-author of the work. Flat stomach recipe book for dummies. “Eating hot dogs occasionally is unlikely to harm health, but frequent consumption is linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases, particularly colorectal cancer and heart disease.” Here are the 7 worst hot dogs that are loaded with fillers, plus more information on hot dog ingredients to watch out for.
Eckrich Franks
Eckrich Franks are “made from meat by-products rather than higher quality cuts,” says Collingwood. “Contains additives to improve flavor and shelf life, but not nutrition.”
Carolina Pride Hot Dogs
Carolina Pride Hot Dogs is a regional brand with a long ingredient list filled with additives and preservatives. “Less emphasis on whole, high-quality meat, more on inexpensive foods,” she says.
Classic Ball Park Franks
Ball Park Classic Franks is a popular brand, but not the one Collingwood recommends. “Very high in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure if consumed often. Often enriched with additives that decrease protein quality,” she says.
Oscar Mayer Classic Sausages
Classic Oscar Mayer smoked sausages may be a household staple, “but the ingredients include corn syrup and multiple additives,” says Collingwood. “Corn syrup adds unnecessary sugar to a product that doesn’t need it,” she says.
Gwaltney Hot Dogs
Gwaltney Hot Dogs is a budget-friendly brand that stretches meat with by-products and fillers. “Lower protein quality than hot dogs made from whole cuts of beef or turkey,” she says.
Value-Added Hot Dogs
Value Time hot dogs are cheap for a reason. “Extremely inexpensive because they use starches and meat trimmings instead of clean meat,” says Collingwood. “More filler than actual nutrition.”
Kayem meat hot dogs
Kayem Meat hot dogs are often made with fillers and preservatives to keep costs down. “Contains preservatives and fillers to reduce cost and extend shelf life,” notes Collingwood. “This is not a clean lab product: you will find many ingredients that you would not cook with at home. »
What to consider
Collingwood offers the following information on hot dog ingredients.
Beef – The main source of protein, but often from processed cuts. Although beef provides protein and iron, regular consumption of processed red meat has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer.
Corn Syrup – Adds sugar with no nutritional value. Excess added sugars contribute to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and metabolic health issues.
Salt – Hot dogs are notoriously high in sodium, which can increase blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease if eaten frequently.
Potassium lactate, potassium acetate, sodium diacetate, sodium phosphates – These are preservatives, acidity regulators and texture enhancers. Although they are considered safe in small quantities, they are markers of ultra-processed foods. Sodium phosphates in particular can increase phosphorus load, which can be of concern for kidney health in people with kidney disease.
Flavors – This can mean natural or artificial flavors, often undisclosed, making it harder for consumers to know what the food actually contains.
Sodium Erythorbate – An antioxidant added to preserve color and prevent nitrosamine formation. Generally considered safe, but another marker of treatment.
Sodium Nitrite – Perhaps the biggest red flag. This preservative helps prevent bacterial growth and maintains the pink color, but it can form nitrosamines in the body, which are carcinogenic. Processed meats containing nitrites are classified by the World Health Organization as Group 1 carcinogens (known to cause cancer in humans), particularly linked to colorectal cancer.
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