When we were kids, we all loved hot dogs. It was the tastiest snack we could get, and the only thing we were supposed to do is pop our hot dog in the microwave. Also, when your mom had to work late at night, your dad probably made the good old Hot dogs cut up in Mac&Cheese. Those were the good days, right?

And there is the 4th of July, the biggest hot dog holiday of the year, and Americans eat about 155 million wieners. We would fire up the grill and enjoy our hot dogs. Here is an interesting fat: Even though Americans eat hot dogs all year long, about 7 billion hot dogs are eaten between Memorial and Labor day.

So, you are probably wondering what is the big deal.

You will sure find the answer to your question in this L.A. Times article:

“Children who eat more than 12 hot dogs per month have nine times the normal risk of developing childhood leukemia, a USC epidemiologist has reported in a cancer research journal. Two other reports in the same issue of Cancer Causes and Control suggest that children born to mothers who eat at least one hot dog per week during pregnancy have double the normal risk of developing brain tumors, as do children whose fathers ate hot dogs before conception.”

Hot dogs are packed with nitrates

Yes, you should be pretty concerned about this one.

Q: Why are hot dogs bad?

A: Producers add nitrite additives which form carcinogens.

In the past year we witnessed eye-opening evidence, pointing out that hot dogs are one of the root causes of cancer in children.

Peters et al. did a research on the relation between the consumption of certain foods and the risk rate of leukemia in children not older than 10 in LA Coundy in the period between 1980 and 1987.

He found that children who ate more than 12 hot dogs per month were nine times more likely to develop leukemia. Increased risk of leukemia was also noticed in children whose fathers ate 12 or more hot dogs per month.

The research conducted by Sarusua and Savitz involved children diagnosed with cancer in Denver. They found that children whose mothers had one or more hot dogs per week during their pregnancy had double the risk of brain tumor. The researchers also found that children who consumed one or more hot dogs per week had an increased risk of brain cancer.

Bunin et al. found that mothers who consume hot dogs during their pregnancy put their children at a higher risk of childhood brain cancer.

Q: In which way do hot dogs cause cancer?

A. Hot dogs are packed with nitrites which are often used as preservatives, mostly to fight botulism. During the cooking, nitrites in hot dogs bind to amines that are naturally present in meat and form carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds.

Researchers also believe that nitrites are able to bind combine to amines in our stomach and form N-nitroso compounds. These cancer-causing compounds may cause cancer of the oral cavity, urinary bladder, esophagus, stomach and brain.

Q. Certain vegetables contain nitrites, is it safe to consume them?

A: Nitrites are commonly present in leafy green vegetables, including spinach, celery and green lettuce. But, these vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer. Wonder how is this possible? The answer is in the formation of N-nitroso compounds which develops as a product of the relation between nitrites and amines.

Vegetables packed with nitrites are also rich in vitamin C and D, and these inhibit the formation of N-nitroso compounds. To be more precise, vegetables are quite safe and super-healthy, and organic vegetables can reduce the risk of cancer.

Q: Are nitrites present in other foods?

A: Yes, all kinds of cured meat are loaded with nitrites, including bacon and fish.

Q. Do all hot dogs increase the risk of childhood cancer?

A: No, not all hot dogs offered on the market contain nitrites. Thanks to the improved refrigeration methods, producers today add nitrites for the red color they give (and it is associated with the freshness of the product) rather than for preservation.

Nitrite-free hot dogs taste the same as nitrite-packed hot dogs. They have a brownish color and unfortunately, that is the reason why they are not that popular. Nitrite-free hot dogs are perfectly safe for consuming even when they are fully cooked.

Check These Useful Tips and Protect Your Health:

1. Avoid buying hot dogs that are packed with nitrite. Remember, children and potential parents should not consume 12 or more of nitrite-loaded hot dogs per month.

2. Do everything that is in your power to get nitrite-free hot dogs available in your supermarket.

3. Learn more about the food that is offered in schools, and find out whether your children eat nitrite hot dogs. If they are being served nitrite hot dogs, request for a nitrite-free hot dogs.

4. Write the FDA to express your concern about nitrite-hot dogs not being labeled for their risk of childhood cancer. You can also mention the CPC’s petition on hot dogs, docket #: 95P 0112/CP1.

Source: www.fhfn.org (Obtained permission from the website owner)