Call to Action: Redesign the Hot Dog
March 29, 2010 by Kathy McManus
Looks like one of America’s most iconic foods is in the doghouse.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a statement saying that hot dogs — which account for 17% of all food-related deaths among children — should be “redesigned.” As USA Today put it, “so their size, shape, and texture make them less likely to lodge in a youngster’s throat.”
According to pediatrician Gary Smith, author of the AAP statement, once a piece of hot dog blocks a child’s airway, “It’s only a matter of minutes before permanent brain damage and death occur.” Parents can’t “watch all of their kids 100% of the time,” Dr. Smith concluded, so it’s best to “design these risks out” of hot dogs. What a reworked hot dog might look like has not been discussed.
Janet Riley, president of the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, countered, saying that parents are capable of cutting up their children’s food. Riley said she redesigned her own hot dogs “in my kitchen by cutting them with a paring knife until my children were old enough to manage on their own.”
Tell us what you think: Should hot dog manufacturers redesign the hot dog? Or should such ‘makeovers’ be done at home?
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13 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
April 23, 2010 by Carly
Instead of forcing companies to do things differently if they don't want to, we should focus on letting parents know the risks, and urge them to act on it.
If there is enough economic demand, I'm positive some companies will make hot dogs more suited for children... but I'm sure most families will still end up buying the regular ones out of convenience.
Kids can choke on almost anything. It's the caregiver's responsibility to prepare food that is safe for their children.
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July 27, 2010 by brenda
agreed but lots of parents out there may not take the time to watch there children so i also think to redesign the famous dogs that we all no kids love. would be helpful we all only want to protect the little ones thanks
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May 7, 2010 by Mark
The age old history making hot dog! How can you blame corporate america for parents not watching over there children. Parents including myself, need to pay attention to what our children put in their mouth. We wouldn't serve them a whole pork chop, would we? We would cut it up. So why can't we cut up a hotdog. Stop blaming other people for your lack of attention.
Thank you M. Elia
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July 27, 2010 by brenda
a little touchy are we i didnt say u i said some paren no where did i blame the corpate. they asked what u thought about changing the hotdog design. im glad for your kids you no how. .
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May 18, 2010 by jannet jackson
I hate hot dogs there nasty as hell! whats in a hot dog anyway!?
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July 28, 2010 by Raymond
I thing the hot dog should be the same. All we have to do is to put the hot dog threw , a meat tender rizer miachine. put on a bun and there you go.
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August 3, 2010 by tracy
parents should know they have to cut their childs food ...why is everything such a big deal now....they have been makeing hot dogs for a hundred years ..why change them now.
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September 4, 2010 by Coleen W
I think all parents should slice hot dogs into small pieces for their smaller children. Kids love hot dogs! Why should the industry redo the hot dog? The parents should be more responsible in serving this type of food to their kids. the parent is where the responsibility lies. I have 3 kids so I'm a parent who feels responsible for her own children. If the industry did something to harm my kids, like put glass bits in a hot dog then I would be up in arms but they're not responsible for my serving my kids hot dogs, I am.
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September 17, 2010 by bj johnson
II love a good grilled hot dog and don't want one that looks like a hockey puck. Way back in the 60's, when my kids were small, I always bought skinless and I cut them into little coins for my kids and I also removed all the bones from meat, poultry & fish. Today, I do the samer for my grandchildren. I think the parents or caregivers should take the responsibility of preparing food in a proper manner for their children. If you don't think they are safe in the form it comes in then modify them to suit your needs or don't serve them.
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October 25, 2010 by macposey
I wonder where in the heck all these goobber heads come from, no one
wants to harm a child or anyone else. I think a slight change in the hotdog
would be easy and not take anything away from it. For years I have made a cut in the hotdog almost all the way through it, this helps in the cooking process and after it cooks it open's up"the Dog" and then I add the condi-
right down the middle. The Perfect Hotdog!
Shame on you folks that don't see any need to change things.
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January 12, 2011 by San Diego's Greatest Hot Dogs Nana's Heavenly Dog's
We offer to cut the dog into smaller pieces for our customers with children. Not the best option but it works. Kids can choke on anything. I remember swallowing a small chicken bone from KFC when I was a kid and I don't think they redesigned the chicken, or did they?
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August 3, 2011 by Janet
I don't think it would hurt companies to change to maybe a flat ,[ not totally flat} Hot Dog . Parents need to what their kids eat anyway, and cut their food up if need be.
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January 3, 2012 by Mumfordjr52
GRowing up in "GEORGIA we used to get all meat weiner/s right across the counter ..a loaf of bread ..a jar of mustard out via ,,. river bank fishing ,,,W/ my UNCLE/s ,.."POP,.and "DUKE' out in the ROW BOOT ALL DAY LONG ,..THKs,.for the "MEMORIES...
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