Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
You can hot dog, be a hot dog, and exclaim Hot Dog! Of course, you can eat a hot dog, or you can try to add your name to Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Hall of Fame by downing more than 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes. You can also do all of that while watching wiener dog races. There are Coneys, Chicago-Style, and Rippers. No matter how you serve it, the hot dog is the best of the wurst and an American tradition (even if its origins can be traced to Frankfurt, Germany). And so much so, that not only is July 21 National Hot Dog Day but July is also National Hot Dog Month. Let’s take a few moments and examine some legal and literary aspects of the hot dog.
9 C.F.R. § 319.180 governs frankfurters, hot dogs, garlic bologna, and other types of smoked sausage. Section 319.180 describes the preparation process and approved ingredients and addresses the labeling requirements for cooked sausage. Hot dogs can be made from beef, chicken, pork, turkey, or a combination, can be skinless, and may be smoked. Manufacturers just have to be sure to include such information on the label. In addition to the federal standards for identity, there are certain safety guidelines that should be adhered to. 9 C.F.R. § 430.4 addresses the control of listeria monocytogenes in post-lethality exposed ready-to-eat products, such as hot dogs. The regulation requires establishments to rework any product that may have come into contact with L. monocytogenes, such as using a post-lethality treatment and an antimicrobial agent or process, or sanitation measures only. As consumers, we are urged by the United States Department of Agriculture to freeze or refrigerate packaged hot dogs immediately upon arriving home after purchase and to never leave them at room temperature for more than one hour when the temperature reaches 90°F, which, here in Houston, is every day in the summer.
Food safety preparation guidelines aside, the humble hot dog has played a prominent role in various types of litigation, from personal injury to criminal to trademark infringement cases. There are many cases out there, so we’ve provided a sampling for you:
Parks LLC v. Tyson Foods, Inc. - A suit alleging false advertising and trademark dilution.
Schussler v. Webster - Dispute concerning the use of Hot Dog Hall of Fame.
Watkins v. Gwaltney of Smithfield, Ltd. - Personal injury lawsuit alleging injury caused by a sharp object inside a hot dog.
Johnson v. City of Austin - Controversy regarding licenses to sell hot dogs from a portable vending stand.
Speaking of reading, did you know that the hot dog features into various works of literature, too? All right, many of them are children’s picture books, but they are still a lot of fun to read. Here are some of our favorites:
For adults, we located some nonfiction books that delve more into the history of the hot dog, such as Hot Dog, A Global History; Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America; and Famous Nathan: A Family Saga of Coney Island, the American Dream, and the Search for the Perfect Hot Dog. By the way, you can find all of these titles at the Harris County Public Library.
So, during this National Hot Dog Month, toss a few hot dogs on the grill, grab your favorite toppings, and enjoy. Happy eating (and reading)!