By: Hilary Walke

Jul 27, 2009

The anti-smoking campaign has decreased cigarette users tremendously over the years, and now an anti-hot dog crusader is on the rise. Cancer Project president Neil Barnard has filed a lawsuit against major processed meat companies, such as Hebrew National and Oscar Mayer.

Why? He claims that hot dogs cause cancer—and he’s so confident that he is demanding these companies include warning labels (much like cigarettes) on their products stating that hot dogs increase the risk of cancer. “Warning: Consuming hot dogs and other processed meats increases the risk of cancer." This is due to the carcinogenic break down of nitrites in most processed meat. Yikes.

According to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, Americans bought 730 million packages of hot dogs and sausages in U.S. supermarkets last year, spending a total of $3.4 billion. Consuming 50g of processed meat a day, or about one hot dog, can increase your risk of colorectal cancer by 21 percent according to a report from the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Thinking about tossing out all of those wieners in your fridge? Relax. You should take a look at the facts first. Here is what our health-editor-at-large Madelyn Fernstrom had to say about hot dogs and nitrites:

• When it comes to eating unhealthy foods, limiting consumption is key to disease prevention. Eating hot dogs in small quantities, two to four wieners (with nitrites) per month, likely won't have a significant consequence on your health, (unless you’re on a salt restricted diet).
• It's well known that nitrites have a possible link to cancer, as a possible (not positive) carcinogen—but it is highly dependent on the amount and frequency of consumption of nitrite-containing foods.
• Almost any nutrient can be toxic in high amounts—even water.
• The health message to the public is to limit all processed foods for a lot of reasons—and one of them is nitrites (others are salt and fat). This is also an issue with bologna, salami, bacon, and other processed meats, so you should try to limit your consumption of these foods.
• If you are concerned, or eat hot dogs or other types of processed meat frequently, consider nitrite-free products. They look odd, but taste fine and are found in Whole Foods and many small markets.
• When it comes to hot dogs, regardless of nitrite content, look for lower sodium and fat versions.

 
From documentaries like Food, Inc. to books like former FDA commissioner Michael Pollan’s The End Of Overeating to diets like The Eco-Atkins diet, we’re seeing a growing anti-processed food and meat movement. Will you be jumping on board or is this all bologna (pun intended)?