It’s a staple of sports events, kids’ parties and even breakfast, but the humble hot dog isn’t as fun as it seems.
It comes as no surprise to most people that hot dogs have negligible nutritional value, however many are not aware that they could also be carcinogenic. According a recent study by a leading cancer research center, eating just one hot dog a day heightens the likelihood of colorectal cancer by around 21 percent. Perhaps even more concerning, kids who eat 12 hot dogs a month (or more) are at a serious risk of developing leukemia and other diseases.
Hot dogs are filled with artificial additives and chemicals that are directly linked with malignant tumors and infections. You only have to attempt to decipher the ingredients’ list to see the potential harm. Other than pork, hot dogs typically contain mechanically separated turkey and chicken; flavoring; corn syrup; and dextrose. From here on in, the ingredients read like a chemistry lesson, with the following elements added into the recipe:
- Sodium phosphates
- Sodium diacetate
- Sodium ascorbate
- Sodium nitrite
- Sodium lactate
When this combination of ingredients is heated, a number of the elements bond together to make ‘nitrosamines’. When nitrosamines bond with amines (which are also present in hot dogs) the combination is proven to be carcinogenic.
Aside from the direct health risks, it’s also worth noting that the quality of meat added to hot dogs is below average. What is described as ‘chicken’, ‘pork’ or ‘turkey’ is likely to include the offcuts of these animals, including skin, fat, feet, sinew and heads.
In a disturbing review, the US Department of Agriculture also found a range of less than appealing items, including maggots, medical dressings, metallic objects (including blades), glass shards and even maggots.
All in all, it’s not just your waistline you’re putting at risk by eating hot dogs. Next time, put down the bun and reach for a better choice.