As in, homo sapiens. One study found that wieners, bacon and other processed meats probably contribute to cancer, and now news of this study comes out. Major brands including Butterball, Boar's Head, Hebrew National, Oscar Meyer, Jennie O and Trader Joe's all received high marks. The next time you squeeze some ketchup onto a ballpark frank at a baseball game, you should know you could be eating porkor you could be eating someones eyebrows or spit. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, a trade group that represents hog dog and sausage manufacturers, called the report a "publicity stunt. Vegetarian hot dog products surprisingly fared the worst in this regard, with four out of the 21 products tested containing human DNA. How do they assure there are no false positives? Beef, chicken, pork, and lamb were all found as unlisted ingredients. Occasionally human workers are involved in the process, but theyre wearing so much protective gear youd think they were handling plutonium. February 12 is the 2023 Super Bowl LVII, and what better way to celebrate this annual sporting event than by enjoying the deliciousness of a chip and dip combo with some family and friends? We may earn a commission through links on our site. Some minor adjustments to your diet might be exactly what you need. originally ran on MensHealth.com. Altogether, 75 different hot dog brands from 10 different retailers were studied. However, areport uncoveredsome startling findingson what peopleare really eating when theybite into a frankfurter. MORE: 5 Gross Guy Habits That Are Good for You, The study comes from Clear Labsa food analytics startup based in Menlo Park, CA which used "genomic technology" to investigate hot dogs on a molecular level. Unless you also want to give up eating fruits and vegetables. about Take The Gallon Of Water Challenge! There were also issues with the nutritional content listed . But pig anus may seem like a more appetizing option when compared with the latest hot dog accusation. So what are we missing? It sometimes seems like it exists not because people enjoy the taste of a frankfurter, but because we just love speculating about all the secret and super-gross ingredients.. It also found human DNA in 2 percent of its hot dog samples and two-thirds of the vegetarian samples. "Oh yeah, sometimes a worker loses a finger or two in the goop vats. They also discovered human DNA in two percent of the samples. The company analyzed 345 hot dog and sausage products from 75 brands and 10 retailers, and said they found "human DNA in 2% of the samples, and in 2/3rds of the vegetarian samples.". "It's always a good idea to make sure that ground meats of any kind are well cooked.". The study, conducted by food analytics lab Clear Food, analyzed 345 different hot dogs and sausages, including vegetarian versions. Did you buy every apple or orange or potato or avocado that you groped or squeezed to make sure it was fresh? A company that uses genomic analysis technology to get information on the contents of food has . In other words, yes, your hot dogs are going to have a little human DNA on them. Americans eat 20 billion hot dogs and 14 billion servings of sausages each year, according to the council. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans spent $2.4 billion last year on hot dogs and another $2.74 billion on sausages. Only one of the molecules has vitamin statusNR. Human DNA found in the hot dogs was classified as a hygienic issue because human hair or skin dander likely got into the product during the manufacturing process, TruthOrFiction.com said the study reported. In a story that seems more appropriate in a Syfy original movie, Clear Food, a Bay Area-based food analytics lab, recently revealed that an in-depth DNA analysis on 75 major hot dog brands found traces of human DNA in 2 percent of all hot dogs and in around two-thirds of all vegetarian options. Font Size: Clear Food, a subsidiary of food analyzation startup Clear Labs, found that human DNA is present in 2 percent of hot dog and sausage brands, according to a recent study. But hey, customers hardly ever taste the flakes.". Do they have appropriate laboratory quality procedures with both positive and negative reference sample controls in their analyses? They analyzed 345 hot dogs from 75 brands, and found "human DNA in 2% of the samples, and in 2/3rds of the vegetarian samples.". Researchers analyzed 345 hot dogs and sausages from 75 different brands sold at 10 retailers, and found human DNA in 2 percent of its hot dog samples and two-thirds of the vegetarian samples . Yes, two percent of hot dogs and sausages out there contain human DNA, as a new study recently found.. What Are These Tiny Red Spots on My Skin (Petechiae)? Scientists may have tracked down the small percentage of DNA that might give modern humans the qualities unique to the species. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that in this country alone, we consume around 20 billion hot dogs annuallyor 70 hot dogs per person every year. Nobody knows what's in a hot dog. Getty Images For most of us growing up, it was one of those irresistible rumorslike how some rock songs have satanic messages if you play them backwardsthat aren't true but were endlessly fun to repeat. But this is not a "contaminant" but a "non-aesthetic idea of something in our food that the average consumer feels may not be pleasing to them.". So what are we missing? In other words, the ingredients on the package didnt always match what was in the samples. Gardein was the top specialty or regional brand. The study comes from Clear Labsa food analytics startup based in Menlo Park, CA which used "genomic technology" to investigate hot dogs on a molecular level. 3. In effect, almost all U.S. hot dogs are made with just meat.". Hot dogs haven't received much love lately. Any organs or edible by-products must be explicitly labeled in the ingredient line and the product name must have a qualifier made with variety meats., Well, what about blood or skin? If you're a hot dog lover, you may have beef with a study that finds certain varieties of hot dogs contain human DNA. Clear Labs, a nonprofit group that analyzes food at the molecular level, looked at 345 hot dog and sausage samples marketed under 75 different brands and sold at 10 different retailers. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Maybe Not, Study Shows, A Broccoli Anti-Aging Enzyme may Hold the Fountain of Youth, Illinois Ag. In most cases, a lot of humans are employed in the meat industry, and their DNA is throughout the building., Related: The 10 Dirtiest Foods You're Eating, Even if they never actually touch the hot dogs, they are touching the processing equipment, to clean and sanitize it. Clear Foodalso finds "there are a number of hot dog manufacturers, large and small, that are producing high-quality hot dogs with integrity.". Hot dogs are considered one of the most American foods. Hot Dogs and Processed Meats as Bad as Cigarettes? Well, it is true that human DNA was found in about 2 percent of hot dogs that were analyzed in one study, TruthOrFiction.com reported. People who don't eat pork might want to stay away from chicken dogs and sausages, as some of these brands commingled pork products. Three percent of samples contained a pork substitution, which is particularly troubling for people who do not eat pork for religious reasons. The online food guide, which uses "genomic technology" to examine foods by ingredients, foundhuman DNA in 2% of the samples. It's not like somebody found a pinkie in a Hebrew National. For the record, no, hot dogs dont contain anus. We didn't reach out to any of the major hot dog manufacturers, because obviously they would only deny the study's findings. Likely more than 2%. "In most cases, a lot of humans are employed in the meat industry, and their DNA is throughout the building. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. At least not enough to worry about. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. And for most of the Internet, it was enough reason to go into full-on panic mode. If you crunched the numbers, it was admittedly alarming. Clear Labs, a nonprofit group that analyzes food at. Major brands, including Butterball, Boar's Head, Hebrew National, Oscar Meyer, Jennie O and Trader Joe's received high marks. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Sean Gallup/Getty Images By Tina Hesman Saey July 16, 2021 at. And Gardein topped the specialty and regional hot dog list. It happens. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mistakenly listed the Taverrite's brand as vegetarian. Human DNA has been found in two per cent of hot dogs and sausages, a major study of popular brands has revealed Tests on 345 samples from different 75 brands also revealed ten per cent of. And they "provide limited information on their methodology. Remember the last time you were in the produce section of a grocery store? Basically, any food that you havent personally grown or harvested. Hot dogs have never been seen as prime cuts of meat, but a new study has found human DNA in some samples. But there were plenty of impartial meat academics happy to weigh in. Meers, W., Hot Dogs Contain Human DNA, Veggie Dogs Contain Meat: Study, The Huffington Post web site, October 28, 2015; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hot-dogs-dna-veggie-dogs-meat_562e45abe4b0ec0a38950dc5. Overall, the company found nutritional label inaccuracies, pork substitution and some unexpected ingredients, including chicken and lamb in its hot dogs. For the record, no, hot dogs don't contain anus. If you crunched the numbers, it was admittedly alarming. Plant personnel wear clean clothes and gloves, they have sanitary working equipment, and the USDA regularly inspects to ensure that products are made cleanly and safely for consumers.. Horton, H., Human DNA found in hot dogs and 10% of vegetarian sausages contain meat, The Telegraph web site, October 27, 2015; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11956947/human-DNA-found-in-hot-dogs-vegetarian-sausages-contain-meat.html. Hope you enjoyed your lunch, Hannibal Lecter. There's a concept that'll haunt you if you think about it too much. This bizarre information came from a single document released on Oct. 17 by the consumer marketing arm of a. Two-thirds of that human DNA was found in vegetarian hot dogs. They analyzed 345 hot dogs. Four of the six samples that tested positive for human DNA were vegetarian products. So, sorry, there arent any pig anuses in hot dogs. 10 Ways to Control Blood Sugar without Medication, Horton, H., Human DNA found in hot dogs and 10% of vegetarian sausages contain meat,, Meers, W., Hot Dogs Contain Human DNA, Veggie Dogs Contain Meat: Study,, Oaklander, M., This Could Cut Your Health Costs by $25,000 a Year, Study Finds,, Schulte, B., Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation not only reduces stress, heres how it changes your brain,, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11956947/human-DNA-found-in-hot-dogs-vegetarian-sausages-contain-meat.html, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hot-dogs-dna-veggie-dogs-meat_562e45abe4b0ec0a38950dc5, http://time.com/4071897/stress-relief-healthcare-costs/, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/05/26/harvard-neuroscientist-meditation-not-only-reduces-stress-it-literally-changes-your-brain/. Did you buy every apple or orange or potato or avocado that you groped or squeezed to make sure it was fresh? So what does this mean to you? Who are Really the Top Shareholders of Monsanto? "DNA is not a food safety hazard," says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. Or lips. But this is not a contaminant but a non-aesthetic idea of something in our food that the average consumer feels may not be pleasing to them.. 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Hot dog ingredients have long been a source of controversy. [2]. Additionally, 10 percent of all vegetarian products appeared to contain meat. Probably not, right? The DNA found in the samples likely came from "hair, skin, finger nail or saliva that was accidentally mixed in during the manufacturing process," according to Clear Food. Even more disturbing, 66 percent of those cases were found in vegetarian-labeled products. Does anyone leave a hotdog plant without taking a Silkwood shower? In light of the news that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has, Pork substitution was an issue in products across the price spectrum being sold at a wide variety of retailers. And if this new research is in any way factual, 1.4 of your yearly hot dogs have bits of people in them. Overall, 14.4 percent of the hot dogs and sausages were listed as "problematic" because of substituted or unexpected ingredients or hygienic issues, the media reports stated. Its not like somebody found a pinkie in a Hebrew National. Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. The stuffers pump the emulsified hot dog mixture into casings. Two-thirds of that human DNA was found in vegetarian hot dogs, according to the study. (Substitution meanswhen ingredients are added to the productthat are not displayed on the label and hygienic issues happen when a "non-harmful contaminant is introduced to the hot dog."). It could have come from the person doing the analysis in the lab, says Rentfrow. Credit: Marek Janta. But hey, customers hardly ever taste the flakes.. Clear Food does not release the names of the poor-performing products. Two-thirdsof the human DNA samples were vegetarian, according to Clear Food. By MORGAN KORN October 27, 2015, 8:50 AM Americans spent $2.4 billion last year on hot dogs and another $2.74 billion on sausages according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Yes, the ONE thing that they are NOT supposed to have in it. After analyzing hot dogs from 75 different brands, Clear Foods discovered human DNA in 2% of the samples studied. For non-meat eaters the results are particularly eye-opening: 10 percent of the vegetarian products tested contained meat (chicken in the veggie breakfast sausages and pork in the veggie hot dogs), and four of the 21 vegetarian samples had "hygienic issues." Altogether, 75 different hot dog brands from 10 different retailers were studied. Clear Food reported that it found human DNA in six of the 345 samples, or 2 percent of all samples tested. Pork was found in 3% of samples, mostly in products advertised as chicken- or turkey-only, a discovery that is likely very disturbing to those who avoid pork due to religious reasons. Clear Food says its testing found human DNA in two percent of all hot dog samples. With all of the green vegetable options out there, here are a few reasons, Need an easy, inexpensive and dare I say FUN way to drink more water? This $50 Meal Prep Plan Will Help You Build Muscle, 10 Food Subscription Boxes Worth Ordering, Theres Nothing Special About Gut Health Diets. Human DNA. Pork substitution was an issue in products across the price spectrum being sold at a wide variety of retailers.". Julie Fidler has written hundreds of articles on key world topics such as health, drugs, and law. The answer may be found in overlooked DNA Date: October 8, 2021 Source: Lund University Summary: Our DNA is very similar to that of the chimpanzee, which in. They analyzed 345 hot dogs from 75 brands, and found human DNA in 2% of the samples, and in 2/3rds of the vegetarian samples.. Last year, scientists were able to extract the DNA of Denisovans - a little-known human population for. 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Clear Food also found other problems with the hot dogs, including mislabeled ingredients, which could raise concern among religious and vegetarian groups. Researchers found issues with 14.4 percent of analyzed samples. Even with this stigma, hot dogs and sausages are incredibly popular in the U.S. Last year, Americans spent more than $5.0 billion on hot dogs and sausages. Its a theory echoed by Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D., a professor in Animal and Food Science at the University of Kentucky. In addition to the human DNA, 67% of the hygienic issues detected in the samples were caused by vegetarian products. Remember the last time you were in the produce section of a grocery store? Andrew L. Milkowski, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, says hes suspicious about the quality of (Clear Labs) information., After reviewing the companys website and research, Milkowski claims that while the founders have a molecular genetics background, as far as I can tell they do not have any expertise or scientific training around food or agriculture. And they provide limited information on their methodology. " Report: Human DNA Found in Hot Dogs " said USA Today, in a typical example. Well, as you hopefully already knew, hot dogs arent something you should be eating at every meal. Developed By, Antibiotics Could be to Blame for Skyrocketing Mental Illness Rates. "In most cases, pork found its way into chicken and turkey sausages," said Clear Food. The article "Is There Really Human DNA in Hot Dogs?" standards and labeling requirements are restrictive, says Milkowski. Even more disturbing, 66 percent of those cases were found in vegetarian-labeled products. Were pretty sure there arent any hot dog packages that list people as an ingredient, but 2% of the samples contained trace amounts of human DNA, probably from saliva or hair. The DNA found in the samples likely came from "hair, skin, finger nail or saliva that was accidentally mixed in during the manufacturing process," according to Clear Food. Overall, 14.4 percent of the hot dogs and sausages tested by Clear Foods "were. Or lips. The hot dog and sausage report was self-funded, according to Clear Food. That human DNA the Fresh Lab scientists found on the hotdogs they tested? How is anything from the bodies of a hotdog worker getting into the mix? And despite the genomic tests being done in California crowd-sourced labs, they probably dont have any people parts. ", officially listed processed meats such as bacon and sausages as cancer-causing, Huge New Study Shows Why Exercise Should Be The First Choice in Treating Depression, A World-First Discovery Hints at The Sounds Non-Avian Dinosaurs Made, For The First Time Ever, Physicists See Molecules Form Through Quantum Tunneling. That's right, human DNA. October 25, 2015 11:34 PM ET. The genomic analysis involved 345 different hot dog or sausage products from 75 brands, purchased at 10 different retailers in the US. The human DNA isn't . "It is unlikely that human DNA is harmful to consumer health. A new report, however, adds extra meaning to the phrase "you don't want to know how the sausage gets made.". 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Americans spent $2.4 billion last year on hot dogs and another $2.74 billion on sausages according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. Challenge yourself to drink one gallon of water DAILY at least for 30 days! The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that in this country alone, we consume around 20 billion hot dogs annuallyor 70 hot dogs per person every year. In particular, two percent of the hot dog samples contained human DNA. "What we do know is that any product collected in the marketplace was inspected and passed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its not all about, about 10 Foods Thatll Have You Sleeping Like A Baby. It did not . But a word of warning - the scientists only looked at one sample of each product, so it's hard to get a clear picture from that limited information about the overall safety and accuracy of an entire product line or brand. Unless you follow Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Human DNA is the last thing you could expect in your food. So, sorry, there aren't any pig anuses in hot dogs. DNA is not a food safety hazard, says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. In 2014 Americans spent $2.5 billion on hot dogs, another $2.74 billion on dinner sausages, and over half a billion on breakfast sausages. At least investigators didnt find a finger, but still [1]. The Hot Dog Report, Clear Food web site; http://www.clearfood.com/food_reports/2015/the_hotdog_report, last accessed October 30, 2015. It's sometimes referred to as the queen of greens because its nutritional value is just about unmatched. And for most of the Internet, it was enough reason to go into full-on panic mode. The study, conducted by Clear Food, found human DNA in hot dog sausage from 75 different brands, besides also finding that 10 percent of vegetarian sausage have meat in them. So NR seems to have a more efficient path to NAD+ generation. If you can stomach it, take a look at this video demonstrating how hot dogs are made. Butterball, McCormick, Eckrich and Hebrew National received the top scores for quality hot dogs among major brands. complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. While researchers from Clear Food state that human DNA is unlikely to pose any health threats, they believe the information should be made available to the public and that people should be able to decide for themselves whether they are comfortable eating hot dogs given these findings. But there were plenty of impartial meat academics happy to weigh in. Molecular biologists at Clear Labs then extracted the DNA from samples of these products and matched them to the genetic code of different animals. 9 Surprising Foods Packed With Vitamin C, 10 Signs Youre Living With Clogged Arteries, Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter, Taraji P. Hensons Workout: It Keeps Me Calm & Happy, Football Legend & Coach Deion Sanders Has Toes Amputated, BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, 10 Foods Thatll Have You Sleeping Like A Baby, When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip: Healthy Dips For Super Bowl Weekend, Move Over Oranges! Yes, human DNA! In other words, yes, your hot dogs are going to have a little human DNA on them. Just try to think a bit more about DNA testing while you're doing so. "Likewise, when they suggest that some products showed the presence of another species, like chicken in a beef product, this could also be from a single cell and even result from very practice of pulling samples from multiple packages in the same room as the company may have done.". Andrew L. Milkowski, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, says he's "suspicious about the quality of (Clear Lab's) information. Hope you enjoyed your lunch, Hannibal Lecter. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All that really means is that Clear uses genetic sequencing to figure out just whats in your lunch. First of all, lets all take a deep breath. Well, as you hopefully already knew, hot dogs aren't something you should be eating at every meal. Marion Nestle, a professor of public health and food studies at New York University and the author of several books, including "Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health," said the report's findings are not entirely surprising. This content is imported from youTube. A new study has just revealed that hot dogs might, if research is to be believed, have a little human DNA in it. 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Sixty-seven percent of hygienic problems found in the report were from vegetarian products. It happens. We talked to the actual experts in meat science, and got the real story, Is there any food more maligned than the lowly hot dog? Adding these foods to your diet may help to increase your odds of, Kale is the newest craze in the health world. Does anyone leave a hotdog plant without taking a Silkwood shower? According to the data collected by Clear Foods it has been found that out of 345 hot dogs and sausages being analysed, two percent has traces of human DNA. So, it's true that human DNA was found in hot dog samples - but that doesn't mean that consumers are cannibals as some of the more hysterical posts have claimed after the study was reported widely on media such as ABC News and USA Today.