Real Food versus "Real Food": Hot Dogs

Image Credits: i.dailymail.co.uk

     An American Classic, the hot dog! When we think about hot dogs we imagine a picnic with the kids in the park, playing baseball, and the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. We would never think that a hot dog is one of the most harmful food items we can order at the concession stand. Let's have a look to see what type of harmful chemicals are used to make our favorite past time food item.

List of Ingredients

1. ›Mechanically separated meat›  
• Paste-like or batter-like product by forcing bones with attached edible tissue through a device under high pressure.
• Since 1994, Meat can be taken off the bone by advanced meat recovery machinery
2. ›Water
• ›less than 10%
3. ›Corn Syrup
• ›Made from corn (Omega-6 has flammatory properties)
• High sugar intake leads to diabetes and other health problems
• ›linked to health concerns and cancers
• ›Used for texture and taste
4. ›Potassium lactate
• ›common meat preservative
5. ›Sodium phosphate
• ›3 sodium salt phosphoric acids
• ›Used for texture and as preservative
• High salt intake leads to hypertension aka high blood pressure
6. ›Flavorings
• ›Most chemical combinations can be listed as “flavorings”.
7. ›Beef stock
• ›Made from joints, bones, connective tissue of beef carcass.
• Not made from REAL MEAT
8. ›Sodium diacetate
• ›Artificial flavor for salt and vinegar chips
• More CHEMICALS
9. ›Sodium erythorbate
• ›Preservative that keeps meat pink
• Nitrates are known causes of cancer in animals. 
• ›Links to dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, kidney stones, & cancer
10. ›Maltodextrin
• ›(another form of sugar) cooked from starch
• ›Used for a thickener and filler
11. ›Sodium Nitrate 
• preservative known to cause cancer in animals
• high sodium intakes lead to hypertension aka high blood pressure
• ›Increases risk of cancer, it is found in fireworks and fertilizers
12. 
    

      Now do you still want to eat pre-packaged hot dogs from the supermarket or ball park? It is more than obvious these CHEMICALS are not what you intended on feeding your kids with. Even if they are more cheaper than buying the handmade ones from your meat market they are full of chemicals that are harmful to your health. Learn to be a lot smarter when you buy food for your family and friends!