MORE: 5 Gross Guy Habits That Are Good for You, The study comes from Clear Labsa food analytics startup based in Menlo Park, CA which used "genomic technology" to investigate hot dogs on a molecular level. Woot! Remember the first time a friend told you the horrible truth about hot dogs; that they're actually made from lips and hooves and pig's anus? Not least, the fact that 10 percent of the vegetarian mock-meat products tested actually contained meat. Who are Really the Top Shareholders of Monsanto? Butterball, McCormick, Eckrich and Hebrew National were among the major brands that received top scores from Clear Foods. Still, it's always nice to use a little science when making your shopping decisions, so go forth and gorge yourself on hot dogs. In most cases, a lot of humans are employed in the meat industry, and their DNA is throughout the building., Related: The 10 Dirtiest Foods You're Eating, Even if they never actually touch the hot dogs, they are touching the processing equipment, to clean and sanitize it. "That could very well leave skin cells or other DNA sources on equipment," Campbell says. Flashback: Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury, 3 Simple, Natural Ways for Detoxing Your Body, The Herbal Remedy to Kick the Smoking Habit & Repair the Lungs. This publicity stunt changes nothing about the fundamental safety of Americas carefully regulated and inspected hot dogs.. We talked to the actual experts in meat science, and got the real story, Is there any food more maligned than the lowly hot dog? Heres another analysis that will either put everything in perspective or send you into a spiral of food paranoia. Clear Labs, a nonprofit group that analyzes food at the molecular level, looked at 345 hot dog and sausage samples marketed under 75 different brands and sold at 10 different retailers. I have been in numerous plants that make hot dogs and other processed meat products across this country, he told us. A food with a substitution issue has an unexpected ingredient that is not listed on the label. 2023 www.jacksonville.com. Overall, 14.4% of the hotdogs and sausages that were tested were listed as "problematic" because of substituted or unexpected ingredients or hygienic issues. They analyzed 345 hot dogs from 75 brands, and found "human DNA in 2% of the samples, and in 2/3rds of the vegetarian samples.". .css-1pm21f6{display:block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1pm21f6:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}The Absolute Best Crackers for Healthy Snacking, 18 Healthy Snacks That Actually Keep You Full, 15 Surprising Health Benefits of Chia Seeds, Tasty High-Protein Snacks to Keep You Fueled, The 15 Best Protein Powders for Smoothie Making, The Healthiest Fast Food Menu Items at Chains, 37 Calcium-Rich Foods That Aren't a Glass of Milk. Molecular biologists at Clear Labs then extracted the DNA from samples of these products and matched them to the genetic code of different animals. Initial attempts by USA TODAY Network to. Additionally, 10% of vegetarian hot dogs sold today contain traces of meat. Well, we. The researchers found human DNA in two percent of samples, and 2/3 of those products containing human DNA were vegetarian products. Pork was found in 3% of samples, mostly in products advertised as chicken- or turkey-only, a discovery that is likely very disturbing to those who avoid pork due to religious reasons. One study found that wieners, bacon and other processed meats probably contribute to cancer, and now news of this study comes out. Yes, human DNA! Do they have appropriate laboratory quality procedures with both positive and negative reference sample controls in their analyses? Part of HuffPost News. I would imagine if you used the same technology to discover what was on cereal boxes in the grocery store aisle, you might no longer trust what is in other food products as well, Campbell says. Around 3% of hot dogs and sausages analyzed contained pork where it wasn't listed, ten percent of vegetarian dogs included animal DNA, and most shocking of all 2% of samples contained. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. DNA from 7,300-year-old skeleton Bess' found in Sulawesi cave uncovers mysterious human lineage ABC Science / By science reporter Belinda Smith Posted Wed 25 Aug 2021 at 12:00pm, updated Wed 25 Aug 2021 at 2:02pm The cave in which this skeleton was found was earmarked for development as a water park. In light of the news that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially listed processed meats such as bacon and sausages as cancer-causing, this is probably the least of your worries if you're an avid hot dog lover. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Is that even possible? Like Davey Griffin, Ph.D., a professor and meat specialist at the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M; University. "We found chicken in a vegetarian breakfast sausage and pork in a vegetarian hot dog," the report explains. Unless you also want to give up eating fruits and vegetables. There's a concept that'll haunt you if you think about it too much. A new report, however, adds extra meaning to the phrase "you don't want to know how the sausage gets made.". Last year, scientists were able to extract the DNA of Denisovans - a little-known human population for. Andrew L. Milkowski, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, says hes suspicious about the quality of (Clear Labs) information., After reviewing the companys website and research, Milkowski claims that while the founders have a molecular genetics background, as far as I can tell they do not have any expertise or scientific training around food or agriculture. And they provide limited information on their methodology. And despite the genomic tests being done in California crowd-sourced labs, they probably don't have any people parts. "It's always a good idea to make sure that ground meats of any kind are well cooked.". Even more disturbing, 66 percent of those cases were found in vegetarian-labeled products. Farmer Reports: GMOs Causing Deformities, Birth Defects in Piglets, GMO Corn and Herbicide Found in 100% of Frito-Lay SunChips Samples, Dangerous Ingredients: 54% of Food Sold at Walmart is Banned by Whole Foods Market, EWG Report: Your Tap Water is Contaminated with Toxic Forever Chemicals, Is Non-Toxic Nail Polish Really Non-Toxic? According to a study from Clear Labs, an independent food analytics startup, 10 percent of vegetarian hot dog products contain meat. America's 120-year-old love affair with hot dogs extends from ballparks to backyards to the White House. Processed meat causes cancer, red meat could too, says WHO, According to a report from a research division of WHO, processed meats cause cancer, and red meat likely does, too. The report comes amid unrelated research released by theWorld Health Organization on Monday that finds eating hot dogs, ham and other processed meat can cause colorectal cancer. It happens. Substitution issues are much more problematic. What is DNA? Like Davey Griffin, Ph.D., a professor and meat specialist at the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. Three percent of samples contained a pork substitution, which is particularly troubling for people who do not eat pork for religious reasons. For hot dogs without human DNA, the study found that Walmart, Target, and Safeway were the safest retailers to buy from. Additionally, 10 percent of all vegetarian products appeared to contain meat. Oh yeah, sometimes a worker loses a finger or two in the goop vats. For most of us growing up, it was one of those irresistible rumorslike how some rock songs have satanic messages if you play them backwardsthat aren't true but were endlessly fun to repeat. Hot dogs are considered one of the most American foods. There were also issues with the nutritional content listed . The answer may be found in overlooked DNA Date: October 8, 2021 Source: Lund University Summary: Our DNA is very similar to that of the chimpanzee, which in. Pork substitution was an issue in products across the price spectrum being sold at a wide variety of retailers.". Check out the full report for more information about the brands in the US that did well on the test. If you crunched the numbers, it was admittedly alarming. And most of our top guys have seriously dry skin. Clear Food analyzed 345 hot dogs and sausages from 75 different brands sold at 10retailers and found that 14% had hygienic or substitution issues, according to thereport. "It is unlikely that human DNA is harmful to consumer health. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Report has startling revelations for contents of hot dogs. As in, homo sapiens. Hot dogs have always had a reputation for containing God-knows-what, but recent DNA testing on wieners revealed the presence of human DNA in small sample of the franks. Could Hibiscus Tea be Better than High Blood Pressure Drugs? In effect, almost all U.S. hot dogs are made with just meat.. 10 Ways to Control Blood Sugar without Medication, Horton, H., Human DNA found in hot dogs and 10% of vegetarian sausages contain meat,, Meers, W., Hot Dogs Contain Human DNA, Veggie Dogs Contain Meat: Study,, Oaklander, M., This Could Cut Your Health Costs by $25,000 a Year, Study Finds,, Schulte, B., Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation not only reduces stress, heres how it changes your brain,, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11956947/human-DNA-found-in-hot-dogs-vegetarian-sausages-contain-meat.html, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hot-dogs-dna-veggie-dogs-meat_562e45abe4b0ec0a38950dc5, http://time.com/4071897/stress-relief-healthcare-costs/, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/05/26/harvard-neuroscientist-meditation-not-only-reduces-stress-it-literally-changes-your-brain/. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The lab analyzes a product's label and how closely that matches its actual molecular contents, as well as nutrition-content accuracy, such as carbs, fat, calories and protein. The study, conducted by Clear Food, found human DNA in hot dog sausage from 75 different brands, besides also finding that 10 percent of vegetarian sausage have meat in them. Human DNA found in the hot dogs was classified as a hygienic issue because human hair or skin dander likely got into the product during the manufacturing process, TruthOrFiction.com said the study reported. 9 Surprising Foods Packed With Vitamin C. It sounds horrifying. They classified the types of issues as either substitution and hygienic. A new DNA analysis of hot dogs and sausages in the US has revealed a few harsh realities about everyone's favourite street food. ", After reviewing the company's website and research, Milkowski claims that while the founders have a molecular genetics background, "as far as I can tell they do not have any expertise or scientific training around food or agriculture." Sign Up for the Latest Health News and Tips, Home - Most Popular News Human DNA Found in Hot Dogs. Vegetarian hot dogs were also found to contain traces of meat, suggesting that they may not be as meat-free as advertised. But hey, customers hardly ever taste the flakes.. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. And so does most food that was processed, cooked, boxed, or placed on a supermarket shelf by another human being. With all of the green vegetable options out there, here are a few reasons, Need an easy, inexpensive and dare I say FUN way to drink more water? "One thing's certain: questions about the hot dog are as old as the hot dog itself. A new study has just revealed that hot dogs might, if research is to be believed, have a little human DNA in it. Oaklander, M., This Could Cut Your Health Costs by $25,000 a Year, Study Finds, Time web site,October 13, 2015; http://time.com/4071897/stress-relief-healthcare-costs/. "DNA is not a food safety hazard," says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. The study, conducted by food analytics lab Clear Food, analyzed 345 different hot dogs and sausages, including vegetarian versions. October 25, 2015 / 10:20 AM originally ran on MensHealth.com. The company analyzed 345 hot dog and sausage products from 75 brands and 10 retailers, and said they found "human DNA in 2% of the samples, and in 2/3rds of the vegetarian samples.". There were also issues with the nutritional content listed on labels, with the analysis showing that protein content could be exaggerated up to 2.5 times. want to find out," Clear Labs Cofounder Mahni Ghorashi told Huffington Post. This bizarre information came from a single document released on Oct. 17 by the consumer marketing arm of a. Two-thirds of that human DNA was found in vegetarian hot dogs. But the ingredients of hot dogs aren't nearly as ominous as we're often led to believe. MORE: The 26 Hot Dogs Every Man Must Devour. One with a hygienic issue contains non-harmful contaminants, such as human DNA. Two percent of the samples tested positive for human DNA, and a whopping 66 percent of vegetarian hot dogs contained evidence of such contamination. NR, on the other hand, can make its way into the cell on its own. Just try to think a bit more about DNA testing while you're doing so. After analyzing hot dogs from 75 different brands, Clear Foods discovered human DNA in 2% of the samples studied. But pig anus may seem like a more appetizing option when compared with the latest hot dog accusation. It did not . In particular, two percent of the hot dog samples contained human DNA. While some of these substitutions, hygienic issues, other variances, or off-label ingredients may be permitted by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration], our scientific disclosure allows you, as the consumer, to decide whether the variance or problems meet your personal standard in your buying decision," Clear Food explains. Researchers found issues with 14.4 percent of analyzed samples. Plant personnel wear clean clothes and gloves, they have sanitary working equipment, and the USDA regularly inspects to ensure that products are made cleanly and safely for consumers.". In 2014 Americans spent $2.5 billion on hot dogs, another $2.74 billion on dinner sausages, and over half a billion on breakfast sausages. At least not enough to worry about. Human DNA in samples "is a sign of lots of touching with human hands," she told ABC News. And Gardein topped the specialty and regional hot dog list. First of all, lets all take a deep breath. Yes, the ONE thing that they are NOT supposed to have in it. Do they have appropriate laboratory quality procedures with both positive and negative reference sample controls in their analyses? Maybe Not, Study Shows, A Broccoli Anti-Aging Enzyme may Hold the Fountain of Youth, Illinois Ag. Or lips. Is it true that a study found that some hot dog brands contained human DNA? And, yep, 10 percent of them contained meat. Clear Foodalso finds "there are a number of hot dog manufacturers, large and small, that are producing high-quality hot dogs with integrity.". Do a google search on the topic and you might end up believing that hot dogs contain everything short of snips and snails and puppy dogs' tails. If you can stomach it, take a look at this video demonstrating how hot dogs are made. Samples showed chicken, beef, turkey and lamb were found in products that were not supposed to have those ingredients. In general, we consider human DNA a hygienic issue that degrades the quality of food more than a public health concern," Sasan Amini, also a Clear Labs cofounder, told HuffPost. about 7 billion hot dogs will be consumed in the U.S. So, it's true that human DNA was found in hot dog samples - but that doesn't mean that consumers are cannibals as some of the more hysterical posts have claimed after the study was reported widely on media such as ABC News and USA Today. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Difficult economy and loneliness forces some retirees to move in with family, New drug could slow one type of vision loss, 20,000 people may have been exposed to measles at Asbury University revival. This information is coming from a study by a fairly new organization that's using Kickstarter to fund much of its research. Theyre still, as with most things in life, best in moderation. The study also found that two thirds of the samples containing human DNA were advertised as vegetarian and almost 15 percent of . Some minor adjustments to your diet might be exactly what you need. Clear Foods is a company that translates quantifiable molecular tests into actionable food data insights, according to its website. Do a google search on the topic and you might end up believing that hot dogs contain everything short of snips and snails and puppy dogs tails. The Clear Labs hot dog study found human DNA samples in 2 percent of the 345 hot dogs and sausages. complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. While researchers from Clear Food state that human DNA is unlikely to pose any health threats, they believe the information should be made available to the public and that people should be able to decide for themselves whether they are comfortable eating hot dogs given these findings. How is anything from the bodies of a hotdog worker getting into the mix? Despite some of the shocking findings, Clear Foods reports "there are a number of hot dog manufacturers, large and small, that are producing high-quality hot dogs with integrity.". The company analyzed 345 hot dog and sausage products from 75 brands and 10 retailers, and said they found "human DNA in 2% of the samples, and in 2/3rds of the vegetarian samples.". Wake up to the day's most important news. (Substitution meanswhen ingredients are added to the productthat are not displayed on the label and hygienic issues happen when a "non-harmful contaminant is introduced to the hot dog."). In addition to the human DNA, 67% of the hygienic issues detected in the samples were caused by vegetarian products. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mistakenly listed the Taverrite's brand as vegetarian. Well, as you hopefully already knew, hot dogs aren't something you should be eating at every meal. Font Size: Clear Food, a subsidiary of food analyzation startup Clear Labs, found that human DNA is present in 2 percent of hot dog and sausage brands, according to a recent study. Check out the Clear Food site for the complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. A report found some evidence of human DNA in a small percentage of tested hot dogs, a study shows. DNA is not a food safety hazard, says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. And here's another quandary worth considering. Hot dogs have never been seen as prime cuts of meat, but a new study has found human DNA in some samples. 3. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Actually, such items as feces, maggots and rodent hair in processed foods are allowed by the FDA because food growing and manufacturing processes cannot be totally free of non-hazardous, naturally occurring defects. As in, homo sapiens. DNA is not on the FDA's list of product defects, so the agency would likely decide what action needs to be taken on a "case-by-case basis" if it confirmed the report's findings. Clear Foods, which "uses genomic technology to analyze the world's foods at a molecular level, ingredient by ingredient," released a report recently that it said was designed to look at the accuracy of the content labels of several major hot dog brands. Horton, H., Human DNA found in hot dogs and 10% of vegetarian sausages contain meat, The Telegraph web site, October 27, 2015; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11956947/human-DNA-found-in-hot-dogs-vegetarian-sausages-contain-meat.html. But the ingredients of hot dogs arent nearly as ominous as were often led to believe. Clear Labs, a nonprofit group that analyzes food at. And they're not wholly unwarranted," the report said. The genomic analysis involved 345 different hot dog or sausage products from 75 brands, purchased at 10 different retailers in the US. In a story that seems more appropriate in a Syfy original movie, Clear Food, a Bay Area-based food analytics lab, recently revealed that an in-depth DNA analysis on 75 major hot dog brands found traces of human DNA in 2 percent of all hot dogs and in around two-thirds of all vegetarian options. It's a theory echoed by Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D., a professor in Animal and Food Science at the University of Kentucky. Clear Food study found 14.4 per cent of hot dogs or . For non-meat eaters the results are particularly eye-opening: 10 percent of the vegetarian products tested contained meat (chicken in the veggie breakfast sausages and pork in the veggie hot dogs), and four of the 21 vegetarian samples had "hygienic issues." ", Milkowski adds: "Certainly their information can make some juicy headlines and promote their organization, but I personally do not trust any of it. Human DNA was found in 2 percent of the samples, which doesn't mean that there were traces of human meat in the sausages, but simply that there was some kind of contamination, so that could be through a stray hair or skin cells, or potentially even saliva. She is also the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The good news: As bad as some brands were found to be, there are some . "I have been in numerous plants that make hot dogs and other processed meat products across this country," he told us. The Hot Dog Report, Clear Food web site; http://www.clearfood.com/food_reports/2015/the_hotdog_report, last accessed October 30, 2015. ", "Anything that's made from meat byproducts is likely to contain parts that don't pass the 'yuck' test," she added. "Any organs or edible by-products must be explicitly labeled in the ingredient line and the product name must have a qualifier 'made with variety meats'. We didnt reach out to any of the major hot dog manufacturers, because obviously they would only deny the studys findings. 9 Surprising Foods Packed With Vitamin C, 10 Signs Youre Living With Clogged Arteries, Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter, Taraji P. Hensons Workout: It Keeps Me Calm & Happy, Football Legend & Coach Deion Sanders Has Toes Amputated, BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, 10 Foods Thatll Have You Sleeping Like A Baby, When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip: Healthy Dips For Super Bowl Weekend, Move Over Oranges! However, areport uncoveredsome startling findingson what peopleare really eating when theybite into a frankfurter. As one example, in the mid-nineteenth century, rumors suggested that butchers used dog meat for their hot dogs. It happens. Most consumers would be pleased and surprised to find out how clean and sanitary these plants are.