Hot dogs might be delicious, but they aren’t exactly known to be healthy. In fact, some are full of fillers and ingredients you can’t pronounce. “The most concerning hot dog ingredients from a health perspective are sodium nitrite, excess salt, and added sugar (corn syrup). The rest of the additives aren’t necessarily dangerous on their own, but they indicate the food is highly processed,” says Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies. “Eating hot dogs occasionally is unlikely to harm health, but frequent intake is tied to increased risk of chronic diseases, especially colorectal cancer and heart disease.” Here are the 7 worst hot dogs that are full of fillers, plus, more information on hot dog ingredients to look out for.
Eckrich Franks
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Eckrich Franks are “made with meat by-products instead of higher-quality cuts,” says Collingwood. “Contain additives to boost flavor and shelf life, but not nutrition.”
Carolina Pride Hot Dogs
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Carolina Pride Hot Dogs is a regional brand with a long ingredient list filled with additives and preservatives. “Less focus on whole, high-quality meat, more on cheap fillers,” she says.
Ball Park Classic Franks
Ballpark
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
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
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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
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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
Ball Park
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.
