Hot Dogs Are Not Sandwiches, Says the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council The Council said the hot dog "is truly a category unto its own."

 -- National Sandwich Day came and went, and sandwich lovers everywhere were left still debating an important distinction -- whether a hot dog could be classified as a sandwich. Until now, that is.

On Friday, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) hoped to silence the debate once and for all by issuing a statement that declared the hot dog is not a sandwich but in a league all its own.

"A hot dog is an exclamation of joy, a food, a verb describing one ‘showing off’ and even an emoji," the NHDSC said in the press release. "It is truly a category unto its own."

The controversy over whether the hot dog should be placed in the same category as the BLT or the grilled cheese has prompted strong responses from both sides of the issue. Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan weighed in on Wednesday. And that same day, the controversy exploded in the Buffalo Bills locker room. Even presidential candidate Carly Fiorina has gotten caught up in the debate.

The NHDSC combed through history and language to make its decision. In its press release, the Council referenced the USDA's definitions of open and closed sandwiches. The Council also mentioned that although the hot dog was once known as a "Frankfurter sandwich" or a "Coney Island sandwich," "terminology changes." Ultimately, the NHDSC determined that the hot dog represents so much more than just meat and bread.

“Limiting the hot dog’s significance by saying it’s ‘just a sandwich’ is like calling the Dalai Lama ‘just a guy,'" the Council said.

No matter what, though, the NHDSC said there's one thing everyone can agree on: the hot dog "is THE great American food, beloved by all.”