August 15th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
OK, get your mind out of the gutter. Let’s get down to business.
Lest you believe I routinely champion the all-American hot dog, let me voice my support for one of the Cancer Project’s important causes: purging hot dogs from school lunch menus.
Adults can make their own dietary choices—the good and the bad, the ugly and the “wurst.” As I wrote Tuesday about the Denny’s excess-sodium lawsuit: “Eating a Denny’s Scramble is a personal decision. Eating a healthy organic diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, is a more sensible one.”
Children, however, are captive audiences. I’ve long decried the insufferable advertising campaigns that fast-food chains have conducted to McBribe them. The Cancer Project also condemns such tactics, and I applaud their lobbying efforts to send school-supplied hot dogs straight to detention.
“As a physician in the Greater Philadelphia area, I have seen unhealthful foods increasingly contribute to Pennsylvania’s epidemic of obesity and other medical problems, especially in our young,” says family practitioner Ana M. Negrón, MD, a member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). “Sadly, this problem is occurring nationwide. Hot dogs and other processed meats contain artery-clogging fat and cholesterol.”
PCRM petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture in October “to stop offering processed meats for purchase, subsidy and reimbursement under the federal school breakfast and lunch programs,” Dr. Negrón says. “The petition asks the USDA to encourage schools to include alternatives to processed meat products.”
Her solution?
“When parents, schools and doctors come together and demand more fresh fruits, carrots, broccoli and other vegetables; nutritious meatless options, such as rice and beans, oats and other whole grains; and model healthful nutrition, the children will learn to demand it for themselves,” she concludes. “In the meantime, it’s up to the adults to ensure that children are making healthier choices.”
For resources on changing your school district’s menu options, visit Chef Ann Cooper’s website. The “renegade lunch lady,” who sat on the National Organic Standards Board, has issued a National School Food Challenge.
Tags: cancer, Health, hot dogs, meat, obesity, school lunch
Posted in Health, Organic Food | No Comments »
August 12th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
New Jersey seems to be the new hotbed for food-related litigation.
Yesterday, I wrote about the Denny’s excess-sodium lawsuit. Now, three Garden State residents are suing Nathan’s Famous, Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer, Sara Lee, ConAgra Foods and Marathon Enterprises for failure to place warning labels on the hot dogs they produce.
As I reported in May 2008, American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) scientists found that consumption of processed meat (ham, sausage, bacon, cold cuts) raises one’s risk for colorectal cancer.
The class-action suit seeks to compel all five companies to place cancer-risk warning labels on hot dog packages sold in New Jersey. The labels would read: “Warning: Consuming hot dogs and other processed meats increases the risk of cancer.”
“Just as tobacco causes lung cancer, processed meats are linked to colon cancer,” says Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Cancer Project, which filed the suit on behalf of the plaintiffs. “Companies that sell hot dogs are well aware of the danger, and their customers deserve the same information.”
But the AICR and Cancer Project, an affiliate of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, have a tense history—what the former has called a “furious PR battle between two conflicting interest groups.” As we reported last August, AICR believes PCRM is spinning the data to promote an anti-meat agenda.
According to the data, every 50-gram serving of processed meat (roughly one hot dog) eaten per day increases colorectal cancer risk by 21%. This means that people who eat a hot dog every day have a 21% higher risk of colorectal cancer than if they never eat hot dogs.
According to the AICR’s official statement, the research “does not suggest…that an occasional hot dog at a ballgame, or a slice of ham at Easter, will cause colon cancer. What the evidence does show is that making processed meats an everyday part of the diet, as many Americans do, poses clear and serious risks. That is why AICR now recommends avoiding hot dogs, sausages, bacon, ham, cold cuts and other processed meats.”
The AICR is not taking a position on the New Jersey lawsuit.
My take: Hot dogs are by no means a healthful food, but they can be done right. Just ask San Francisco and L.A. residents who flock to Let’s Be Frank, which serves hot dogs that are free of hormones, antibiotics, nitrates and nitrites. Uncured franks are made from 100% grass-fed beef and organic spices. Italian sausages and bratwurst are made from family-farmed, humanely raise pork. Enjoy in moderation, dawg.
Tags: cancer, hot dogs, lawsuits, meat, pork
Posted in Health, Organic Food | 1 Comment »
June 11th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
How do you top your natural, organic or vegetarian hot dog?
The answer may depend on where you live. Regional favorites include:
- New York—spicy mustard, sauerkraut
- Chicago—cucumber, tomato, pickle, onion, pickle relish, celery salt
- South—coleslaw, mustard, onions
- Seattle—cream cheese, onions
- Southwest—corn relish, bacon
- Greek-style—sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, kalamata olives
- Midwest—melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut
- California-style—guacamole, sprouts, sunflower seeds
For me, nothing beats the basics: organic mustard, relish and fresh onions. Other family members opt for organic ketchup and sauerkraut. Here’s what you’ll find on my summer shopping list:
- Heinz Organic Ketchup
- Annie’s Organic Yellow Mustard
- Cascadian Farm Organic Sweet Relish
- Eden Organic Sauerkraut
Whichever toppings you choose, dress the dog—not the bun. Apply condiments to the dog in the following order:
- Wet condiments (mustard, chili)
- Chunky condiments (relish, onions, sauerkraut)
- Shredded cheese
- Spices (celery salt, pepper)
Photo courtesy of Boar’s Head
Tags: hot dogs, meat, Organic Food, shopping
Posted in Organic Food | 2 Comments »
June 10th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
 Hot dogs get a bad reputation, and deservedly so. They’re high in saturated fat, sodium, nitrates, cancer-causing compounds and pig parts I have no desire to eat.
But summer isn’t the same without a juicy, grilled frankfurter on a toasted bun. Fortunately, there are healthier, lower-fat natural, organic and vegetarian cures for your hot-dog cravings.
The Great Organic Uncured Hot Dog from Applegate Farms is made from organic grass-fed beef, as are Niman Ranch’s Fearless Franks and Organic Prairie’s Uncured Hot Dogs. Organic Prairie also offers chicken dogs and turkey dogs.
If you’re a vegetarian, check out the Lightlife line of Smart Dogs, Tofu Pups, Veggie Dogs and Pretzel Dogs. Another meatless option is the Yves line of Hot Dogs, Good Dogs, Tofu Dogs and Jumbo Hot Dogs.
Be sure to top your dog with organic condiments. I’ll show you some of my favorites tomorrow.
Tags: beef, chicken, hot dogs, meat, Organic Food, pork, shopping, turkey, vegetarian
Posted in Organic Food | 9 Comments »
July 13th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
When summer barbecue season began, I wrote about organic hot dogs, veggie dogs and bratwurst, including tasty recipes for Spicy Cracked Black Pepper Brats and Hot Dogs With Whipped Black-Eyed Pea Spread, Relish and Mustard.
 Well, there’s a new dog in town at natural and organic food stores: The Great Organic Hot Dog from Applegate Farms, a leader in organic and antibiotic-free deli meats since 1987. Made from 100% organic grass-fed and finished beef, these hot dogs are lean and flavorful. (Click here to view a cute product video.)
“I wanted to take America’s favorite food, create a delicious organic version and then make sure it was available in grocery stores throughout the country,” says company owner Steve McDonnell. “This is a hot dog I would happily feed to my children.”
Each hot dog has 8 g fat (compared to the average 15 g found in most hot dogs), with no growth hormones, antibiotics, nitrites or nitrates, gluten, casein, fillers, colorings, sugars or sweeteners, MSG or animal byproducts.
The Great Organic Hot Dog hit store shelves just before July 4, with a suggested retail price of $4.99 for a 16-oz. package of eight hot dogs. Click here to find a store near you. Click here to order online.
Tags: applegate farms, bbq, hot dogs, organic hot dogs, summer foods
Posted in Organic Food | No Comments »
May 16th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
 Temperatures are climbing, which means it’s backyard barbecue season. If you’re a vegetarian (or you’re hosting a party vegans will attend), there are some fine alternatives for your organic hot dog stand. You just need to buy the right sausage substitutes at your local organic or natural food store.
Hood River, Oregon-based Turtle Island Foods specializes in “meatless meats” made from certified organic soybeans. For the grill, choose from Tofurky Franks and spicier Chipotle Franks (named Best New Vegetarian Product at Expo West 2006 by Veg News Magazine). The company also produces ready-to-grill vegan sausages: beer brats, kielbasa and Italian sausage. Click here to find a store in your area that carries them. You may also order products online by clicking here.
Rochester, New York-based SoyBoy manufactures gluten-free NotDogs and Vegetarian Franks. Both “dogs” are made with organic tofu and special spices. They’re available at organic and natural food stores.
Tags: hot dogs, Organic Food, vegan, vegan hot dogs
Posted in Organic Food | No Comments »
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