Part of HuffPost News. 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.. And, yep, 10 percent of them contained meat. A spokesperson for Clear Food said that human DNA "degrades the quality of food" but is less of a public health concern. Human DNA was found in 2 percent of the samples, which doesn't mean that there were traces of human meat in the sausages, but simply that there was some kind of contamination, so that could be through a stray hair or skin cells, or potentially even saliva. "That could very well leave skin cells or other DNA sources on equipment," Campbell says. It did not . Is It Safe to Use Expired Protein Powder? Do a google search on the topic and you might end up believing that hot dogs contain everything short of snips and snails and puppy dogs tails. Remember the first time a friend told you the horrible truth about hot dogs; that they're actually made from lips and hooves and pig's anus? The human DNA found in the dogs is largely the result of hair and broken fingernails. "I have been in numerous plants that make hot dogs and other processed meat products across this country," he told us. Remember the last time you were in the produce section of a grocery store? Is there any food more maligned than the lowly hot dog? And heres another quandary worth considering. Hot dogs have never been seen as prime cuts of meat, but a new study has found human DNA in some samples. But why bother with store-bought snacks when you can make healthier homemade versions, Calling All Dippers and Chippers! Is it true that a study found that some hot dog brands contained human DNA? That human DNA the Fresh Lab scientists found on the hotdogs they tested? 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.. And so does most food that was processed, cooked, boxed, or placed on a supermarket shelf by another human being. Sometimes referred to as mystery meat, hot dogs have often been the target of rumors. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Veggie dogs were the worst off, accounting for 67 percent of the hygiene issues and two-thirds of the human DNA found. Unless you also want to give up eating fruits and vegetables. Other ingredients such as chicken, lamb, turkey and beef showed up in samples that were not listed on the product's packaging, according to Clear Food, which did note that no pork was found in the "100% Kosher" products it tested. Americans eat 20 billion hot dogs and 14 billion servings of sausages each year, according to the council. 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.". We didn't reach out to any of the major hot dog manufacturers, because obviously they would only deny the study's findings. And despite the genomic tests being done in California crowd-sourced labs, they probably dont have any people parts. A report by California startup Clear Food. ", 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. Remember the first time a friend told you the horrible truth about hot dogs; that theyre actually made from lips and hooves and pigs anus? 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. The skull of a modern human female individual from Zlat k. According to a study from Clear Labs, an independent food analytics startup, 10 percent of vegetarian hot dog products contain meat. Researchers found issues with 14.4 percent of analyzed samples. The researchers found human DNA in two percent of samples, and 2/3 of those products containing human DNA were vegetarian products. Two-thirds of the human DNA was found in vegetarian products. It would appear that modern hot dogs are made almost entirely by scary-looking machines. All of the latest health news that actually matters. This content is imported from youTube. And, yep, 10 percent of them contained meat. It's sometimes referred to as the queen of greens because its nutritional value is just about unmatched. At least not enough to worry about. Overall, 14.4% of the hotdogs and sausages that were tested were listed as "problematic" because of substituted or unexpected ingredients or hygienic issues. 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. about When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip: Healthy Dips For Super Bowl Weekend, about Move Over Oranges! I would imagine if you used the same technology to discover what was on cereal boxes in the grocery store aisle, you might no longer trust what is in other food products as well, Campbell says. In addition to the human DNA, 67% of the hygienic issues detected in the samples were caused by vegetarian products. But hey, customers hardly ever taste the flakes.. That's right, human DNA. Found ten per cent of vegetarian hot dogs and sausages contained meat. Butterball, McCormick, Eckrich and Hebrew National were among the major brands that received top scores from Clear Foods. Check out the Clear Food site for the complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. NR is a form of vitamin B3. But pig anus may seem like a more appetizing option when compared with the latest hot dog accusation. "Most consumers would be pleased and surprised to find out how clean and sanitary these plants are. Clear Food does not release the names of the poor-performing products. Well, as you hopefully already knew, hot dogs aren't something you should be eating at every meal. about Take The Gallon Of Water Challenge! It would appear that modern hot dogs are made almost entirely by scary-looking machines. What is DNA? They analyzed 345 hot dogs. Likely more than 2%. It's not like somebody found a pinkie in a Hebrew National. A report found some evidence of human DNA in a small percentage of tested hot dogs, a study shows. 3. Clear Food is the consumer outreach arm of Clear Labs, a B2B food analytics startup based in California. While, Before you gulp that daily glass of OJ, check out these 9 other surprising foods packed with vitamin C, an essential nutrient required for the development and maintenance of scar tissue, blood vessels, cartilage and more. Clear Food analyzed 345 hot dogs and sausages from 75 different brands sold at 10retailers and found that 14% had hygienic or substitution issues, according to thereport. It's a theory echoed by Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D., a professor in Animal and Food Science at the University of Kentucky. If you're a hot dog lover, you may have beef with a study that finds certain varieties of hot dogs contain human DNA. However, areport uncoveredsome startling findingson what peopleare really eating when theybite into a frankfurter. And most of our top guys have seriously dry skin. "Oh yeah, sometimes a worker loses a finger or two in the goop vats. 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. This bizarre information came from a single document released on Oct. 17 by the consumer marketing arm of a. "Theres the old saying, 'You dont want to know how the sausage get made.' If you can stomach it, take a look at this video demonstrating how hot dogs are made. While some of these substitutions, hygienic issues, other variances, or off-label ingredients may be permitted by the FDA, our scientific disclosure allows you, as the consumer, to decide whether the variance or problems meet your personal standard in your buying decision, Clear Food says in their study. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Especially when it comes to hot dogs. How do they assure there are no false positives? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Yes, humans work at meat processing establishments, he says. Study: Sustainably-Sourced Goods are KEY for Protecting Endangered Species, California Will Get Swamped by Millions of Mosquito-Killing Mosquitoes, Yellowstone Grizzly Bears Lose Federal Protection After 42 Years, 15 Health Benefits of Cucumbers: Grow Your Own Cooling Food, Ancient Medicine: Black Seed Oils 21 Powerful Health Benefits, Avocados Could be Key in Avoiding Metabolic Syndrome, Numerous Ailments, Cinnamon Could Increase Ability to Learn, Study Says, Your IBS Diet Plan 9 Dietary Tips for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Do they have appropriate laboratory quality procedures with both positive and negative reference sample controls in their analyses? is that the scientists found no correlation between price and quality. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. At least investigators didnt find a finger, but still [1]. Human DNA. Major brands, including Butterball, Boar's Head, Hebrew National, Oscar Meyer, Jennie O and Trader Joe's received high marks. So, sorry, there arent any pig anuses in hot dogs. 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. 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? 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! But let's say, just for the sake of argument, that Clear Labs' research methods and results can be trusted. "We found chicken in a vegetarian breakfast sausage and pork in a vegetarian hot dog," the report explains. Yes, the ONE thing that they are NOT supposed to have in it. The study, conducted by food analytics lab Clear Food, analyzed 345 different hot dogs and sausages, including vegetarian versions. A new study has just revealed that hot dogs might, if research is to be believed, have a little human DNA in it. Theyre still, as with most things in life, best in moderation. Overall, the company found nutritional label inaccuracies, pork substitution and some unexpected ingredients, including chicken and lamb in its hot dogs. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Report has startling revelations for contents of hot dogs. People who don't eat pork might want to stay away from chicken dogs and sausages, as some of these brands commingled pork products. Maybe youve seen The Water Challenge floating around on social media. What they found was that 14.4 percent of the items tested were problematic in some way, either as a result of contamination - which means that a non-harmful contaminant was found, most often human DNA - or substitution, which is where another food ingredient that's not on the label has been added. Some minor adjustments to your diet might be exactly what you need. First published on October 25, 2015 / 10:20 AM. DNA is not a food safety hazard, says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. It sounds horrifying. What are they going to tell us? Vegetarian hot dog products surprisingly fared the worst in this regard, with four out of the 21 products tested containing human DNA. ", After reviewing the company's 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." Suppress Coughs by Coating the Throat inChocolate? And for most of the Internet, it was enough reason to go into full-on panic mode. 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. "DNA is not a food safety hazard," says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. ", "Anything that's made from meat byproducts is likely to contain parts that don't pass the 'yuck' test," she added. 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. The first human DNA gleaned from cave dirt came from Denisova Cave in Siberia in 2017. "Yes, humans work at meat processing establishments," he says. Additionally, 10% of vegetarian hot dogs sold today contain traces of meat. 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. Biden was treated for basal cell carcinoma. Kosher hot dogs were the safest choice for products containing no pork. Men's Health Review: Dymatize Protein Powder, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, a trade group that represents hog dog and sausage manufacturers, called the report a "publicity stunt. 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. 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. 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. ", "We are unfamiliar with [Clear Food] and have a difficult time determining what to make of their methods or their findings," NHDSC spokesperson Janet Riley told ABC News in a statement today. Yes, two percent of hot dogs and sausages out there contain human DNA, as a new study recently found.. According to "The Hot Dog Report" put out by Clea. However, Janet Riley, president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, said Clear Food "has said very little about its sample collection procedure. Initial attempts by USA TODAY Network to. As for specialty picks, the study suggested Taverrite's pork sausages and vegetarian option Gardien. Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. Only one of the molecules has vitamin statusNR. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has attempted to reach Clear Food multiple times for further explanation on the report, according to Riley. In effect, almost all U.S. hot dogs are made with just meat.". What is a Detox Bath and How do You take One? Farmer Reports: GMOs Causing Deformities, Birth Defects in Piglets, GMO Corn and Herbicide Found in 100% of Frito-Lay SunChips Samples, Dangerous Ingredients: 54% of Food Sold at Walmart is Banned by Whole Foods Market, EWG Report: Your Tap Water is Contaminated with Toxic Forever Chemicals, Is Non-Toxic Nail Polish Really Non-Toxic? Probably not, right? But lets say, just for the sake of argument, that Clear Labs research methods and results can be trusted. Even more disturbing, 66 percent of those cases were found in vegetarian-labeled products. The online food guide, which uses "genomic technology" to examine foods by ingredients, foundhuman DNA in 2% of the samples. 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. 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. And we know that the food being served is almost as important as which team is scoring the most points. Concession stand worker Janice Towns checks on the hot dogs she is making July 23, 2013, on National Hot Dog Day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Its not like somebody found a pinkie in a Hebrew National. Four of the six samples that tested positive for human DNA were vegetarian products. Skin is not allowed as it has no muscle tissue and thus does not qualify as a muscle trimming. "I would imagine if you used the same technology to discover what was on cereal boxes in the grocery store aisle, you might no longer 'trust' what is in other food products as well," Campbell says. Clear Food says its testing found human DNA in two percent of all hot dog samples. complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. And if this new research is in any way factual, 1.4 of your yearly hot dogs have bits of people in them. Clear Foodalso finds "there are a number of hot dog manufacturers, large and small, that are producing high-quality hot dogs with integrity.". A study of both meat and vegetarian hot dogs showed that they contain unadvertised ingredients - including human DNA. Video provided by Newsy, and other processed meat can cause colorectal cancer, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. BDO is the worlds largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. The U.S. does not allow blood, he says. 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. 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. Getty Images 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. They also discovered human DNA in two percent of the samples. The good news: As bad as some brands were found to be, there are some . Around 3% of hot dogs and sausages analyzed contained pork where it wasn't listed, ten percent of vegetarian dogs included animal DNA, and most shocking of all 2% of samples contained. Its not all about, about 10 Foods Thatll Have You Sleeping Like A Baby. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. All of these things can contaminate meat on the production line as its prepared and packaged. Moreover, the amount of protein listed in some of the vegetarian products exaggerated the amount of protein in the item by as much as 250 percent, according to the report. Clear Food, an independent company that analyzes food at the molecular level, found that 14.4 percent of the hot dogs it tested were "problematic.". [2]. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And they "provide limited information on their methodology. How did actual human DNA end up in hotdogs? That human DNA the Fresh Lab scientists found on the hotdogs they tested? Two-thirds of that human DNA was found in vegetarian hot dogs. All that really means is that Clear uses genetic sequencing to figure out just whats in your lunch. One with a hygienic issue contains non-harmful contaminants, such as human DNA. Do a google search on the topic and you might end up believing that hot dogs contain everything short of snips and snails and puppy dogs' tails. Did you buy every apple or orange or potato or avocado that you groped or squeezed to make sure it was fresh? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, about 7 billion hot dogs will be consumed in the U.S., and on the Fourth of July more than 150 million hot dogs will be consumed alone. Flashback: Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury, 3 Simple, Natural Ways for Detoxing Your Body, The Herbal Remedy to Kick the Smoking Habit & Repair the Lungs. America's 120-year-old love affair with hot dogs extends from ballparks to backyards to the White House. 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. This $50 Meal Prep Plan Will Help You Build Muscle, 10 Food Subscription Boxes Worth Ordering, Theres Nothing Special About Gut Health Diets. Oaklander, M., This Could Cut Your Health Costs by $25,000 a Year, Study Finds, Time web site,October 13, 2015; http://time.com/4071897/stress-relief-healthcare-costs/. Ten products tested contained chicken that weren't meant to, four contained beef, three contained turkey, two contained lamb and, worryingly, nine contained pork. 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.. "U.S. standards and labeling requirements are restrictive," says Milkowski. Imagine how many apples could test positive after being handled by half the people shopping in the grocery store, he says. The Hot Dog study found human DNA samples in 2% of the 345 hotdogs and sausages that it looked at. The article "Is There Really Human DNA in Hot Dogs?" So what are we missing? In products not supposed to contain them, 10 contained tracesof chicken meat, 9 pork, 4 beef, 3 turkey and 2 lamb. Oh yeah, sometimes a worker loses a finger or two in the goop vats. "We found chicken in a vegetarian breakfast sausage and pork in a vegetarian hot dog," the report explains. Unless you follow Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Human DNA is the last thing you could expect in your food. 2023 www.jacksonville.com. Butterball, McCormick, Eckrich and Hebrew National received the top scores for quality hot dogs among major brands. The researchers found that there were issues with more than 14% of the samples analyzed. But if its vegetarian products youre looking for, your best bet is to make a trip to Trader Joes. Credit: Marek Janta. .css-1pm21f6{display:block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1pm21f6:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}The Absolute Best Crackers for Healthy Snacking, 18 Healthy Snacks That Actually Keep You Full, 15 Surprising Health Benefits of Chia Seeds, Tasty High-Protein Snacks to Keep You Fueled, The 15 Best Protein Powders for Smoothie Making, The Healthiest Fast Food Menu Items at Chains, 37 Calcium-Rich Foods That Aren't a Glass of Milk.