The hot dog is the food of the people, an edible piece of Americana encasing the egalitarian values that the country was founded upon: They’re affordable, versatile, accessible, and delightfully mouthwatering when kissed by the grill and smeared with some spicy mustard (everyone knows ketchup is for monsters). We even nationally televise an event where people eat as many of them as they can without vomiting. I challenge you to find something more American than that!

The first ingredient listed on many hot dog packages is “mechanically separated chicken,” which according to the United States Department of Agriculture, is defined as a “paste-like and batter-like poultry product produced by forcing bones, with attached edible tissue through a sieve or similar device under high pressure.”





Although the idea of a mechanically-separated anything might sound disturbing, these ingredients are actually pretty sustainable because they utilize parts of the fowl that would otherwise be discarded. Hot dogs can last for months in the right storage conditions, which means they are more likely to end up in stomachs than landfills.





All of these qualities make a strong case for the classic frank, but traditional hot dog faces some competition from overseas. Moving Mountains, a UK-based food manufacturer specializing in vegan alternatives to traditional animal products, is preparing to launch their new plant-based, foot-long frankfurter this month. And opposed to mechanically separated chicken, this vegetarian hot dog uses sunflower seeds as its primary ingredient, along with carrots, coconut oil, onion, and paprika. Animal products across the board are more resource intensive, requiring more water, feed, and processing time. They also burp and fart which does some serious damage to the ozone layer.





But will this product really be a hit amongst vegans and “flexitarians”? I have my doubts. Meat-free products tend to have a price point that’s double or triple their meat-based counterparts, and because traditional hot dogs are already so inexpensive, the disparity between them and vegan-friendly options may be even greater. It seems like a mismatch of markets. The vegan demographic tends to be more affluent, while the typical hot dog consumer can be from any range of income brackets.





And are these the type of foods brands should be trying to replicate anyway? The slightly-off taste and texture of meat-free burgers can be hidden behind a tower of flavor-masking toppings and condiments, but hot dogs tend to stand alone, meaning their distinct flavor will be displayed prominently. Unlike a burger, which is a popular dinner option, who is going out on a Thursday night for a couple of hot dogs? Someone very very alone, that’s who.

I know this article asked a lot more questions than it answered, but my intentions were to point out the sometimes-scattered motivations of these meat-free food manufacturers. While it seems that plant-based burgers have a chance at disrupting the market, I don’t think their early success means consumers want a vegetarian alternative for every animal product out there.