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Although hot dogs are often considered tasty, they aren’t typically regarded as healthy. Many are packed with fillers and hard-to-pronounce ingredients. Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies, notes, “The key health concerns with hot dog ingredients are sodium nitrite, too much salt, and added sugar like corn syrup. While the other additives aren’t necessarily harmful on their own, they indicate that the food is heavily processed.” She adds, “Consuming hot dogs in moderation isn’t likely to damage health, but regularly eating them is associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases, particularly colorectal cancer and heart issues.” Below, we highlight seven hot dogs high in fillers, along with more info on what ingredients to watch for.
Eckrich Franks
According to Collingwood, Eckrich Franks use “meat by-products instead of premium cuts,” and they include additives to enhance flavor and preserve shelf life rather than improve nutritional value.
Carolina Pride Hot Dogs
Carolina Pride Hot Dogs, a regional brand, is known for its extensive list of additives and preservatives. Collingwood states, “There’s less emphasis on using whole, quality meat and more on cost-effective fillers.”
Ball Park Classic Franks
Ball Park Classic Franks are a popular brand, but not one that Collingwood recommends. “Very high in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure if eaten often. Often bulked up with fillers that lower the quality of the protein,” she says.
Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners
Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners might be a household staple, “but the ingredients include corn syrup and multiple additives,” says Collingwood. “Corn syrup adds unnecessary sugar to a product that doesn’t need it,” she says.
Gwaltney Hot Dogs
Gwaltney Hot Dogs is a budget brand that stretches meat with by-products and fillers. “Lower protein quality compared to hot dogs made from whole cuts of beef or turkey,” she says.
Value Time Hot Dogs
Value Time Hot Dogs are cheap for a reason. “Extremely low-cost because they use starches and meat trimmings instead of clean meat,” says Collingwood. “More filler than actual nutrition.”
Kayem Meat Hot Dogs
Kayem Meat Hot Dogs are often made with fillers and preservatives to cut costs. “Contains preservatives and fillers to keep costs down and shelf life long,” Collingwood notes. “Not a ‘clean labe’” product — you’ll find many ingredients you wouldn’t cook with at home.”
What to Consider
Collingwood offers the following information about hot dog ingredients.
Beef – The primary protein source, but often from processed cuts. While beef provides protein and iron, regular intake of processed red meat has been linked with higher risk of heart disease and colorectal cancer.
Corn Syrup – Adds sugar with no nutritional value. Excess added sugars contribute to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and metabolic health concerns.
Salt – Hot dogs are notoriously high in sodium, which can raise blood pressure and increase risk for cardiovascular disease when eaten frequently.
Potassium Lactate, Potassium Acetate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Phosphates – These are preservatives, acidity regulators, and texture enhancers. While considered safe in small amounts, they are markers of ultra-processed food. Sodium phosphates in particular can add to phosphorus load, which may be concerning for kidney health in those with kidney disease.
Flavorings – This can mean natural or artificial flavors, often undisclosed, which makes it harder for consumers to know what’s really in the food.
Sodium Erythorbate – An antioxidant added to preserve color and prevent nitrosamine formation. Generally considered safe, but another marker of processing.
Sodium Nitrite – Perhaps the biggest red flag. This preservative helps prevent bacterial growth and keeps the pink color, but it can form nitrosamines in the body, which are carcinogenic. Processed meats with nitrites are classified by the World Health Organization as Group 1 carcinogens (known to cause cancer in humans), particularly linked with colorectal cancer.
