As Americans celebrate with fireworks, parades, stars, and stripes this weekend, there’s a very good chance they will also be celebrating with their favorite hot dog. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), recently showcased on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, estimates Americans will eat 150 million hot dogs on July 4th alone, the single biggest hot dog consumption day of the year.
While Independence Day may be the “right” time to eat a hot dog, a new survey commissioned by NHDSC and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, showed nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe there is no wrong time to eat a hot dog. And from coast to coast, there is more than one way to eat a hot dog.
The survey also showed that New York style (all-beef hot dog topped with steamed onions and a pale, deli-style yellow mustard) is the most popular regional style, followed closely by the Chicago style (all-beef hot dog layered with yellow mustard, dark green relish, chopped raw onion, pickle spear, sport peppers, tomato slices and topped with a dash of celery salt and served in a poppy seed bun).
The third most popular regional style was the Michigan Coney (Meaty chili sauce on top of an all-beef hot dog with mustard and onion).
“No matter how you top it, any hot dog is delicious,” said NHDSC Hot Dog Top Dog Eric Mittenthal. “Well, except for with ketchup. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council etiquette guide say only children should eat their hot dogs with ketchup.”
And to wash them down? Soda Pop. According to the same national survey, 76 percent of Americans who eat hot dogs say soda pop is the favorite beverage pairing for hot dogs, followed by beer (57 percent), lemonade (54 percent), iced tea (48 percent), orange juice (12 percent), milk (9 percent) and wine (9 percent).
Today, there are hot dogs for everyone with millions of different possible hot dog and topping combinations that meet a broad spectrum of nutrition needs, tastes, budgets, and personal preferences.
Like other prepared meats, Americans can enjoy hot dogs as part of a healthy diet. A standard beef hot dog is 190 calories, offers 7 grams of protein and 20 percent of our Daily Value of Vitamin B12, a crucial nutrient for normal metabolism, brain development in children, and mental clarity in adults.
Additionally, by popular demand, the NHDSC will invite American hot dog lovers and connoisseurs to compete for Hot Dog Ambassador’s title.
Participants must submit a hot dog essay to [email protected] detailing why they are qualified hot dog ambassadors and deserve to be recognized by the Hot Dog and Sausage Council. Essays should be no more than one page and may include photos, videos, and other creative elements.
Three winners will receive a plaque solidifying their status as one of the select few official NHDSC Hot Dog Ambassadors, along with a gift card for their favorite hot dogs and additional hot dog SWAG. The winners will be announced on National Hot Dog Day (July 21). Visit http://hot-dog.org/media/contests for more details.