Clear Food says its testing found human DNA in 2 percent of all hot dog samples. We may earn a commission through links on our site. 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. Researchers found issues with 14.4 percent of analyzed samples. But it's definitely disconcerting news for all those who are trying to cut down or avoid eating meat products by buying vegetarian options. The researchers found human DNA in two percent of samples, and 2/3 of those products containing human DNA were vegetarian products. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. However, no kosher dogs tested contained pork. That could very well leave skin cells or other DNA sources on equipment, Campbell says. Interestingly, two-thirds of the samples with human DNA were from vegetarian hot dogs, indicating that the meat-free options had more hygiene issues than the regular sausages. Were pretty sure there arent any hot dog packages that list people as an ingredient, but 2% of the samples contained trace amounts of human DNA, probably from saliva or hair. It happens. Most consumers would be pleased and surprised to find out how clean and sanitary these plants are. The human DNA found in the dogs is largely the result of hair and broken fingernails. 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. While it may be the time of year when horror stories are passed around, the researchers believe that what theyre finding traces of isnt from chunks of human flesh, but rather from poor quality control standards that are resulting in human DNA entering the products in the forms of saliva, skin fragments (such as dry skin flakes), hair, and broken fingernails. Altogether, 75 different hot dog brands from 10 different retailers were studied. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that in this country alone, we consume around 20 billion hot dogs annuallyor 70 hot dogs per person every year. Concession stand worker Janice Towns checks on the hot dogs she is making July 23, 2013, on National Hot Dog Day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. 7 Natural Anti-Anxiety Herbs to Reduce Stress, Human DNA Found in a Small Sample of Hot Dogs and Sausages. Clear Food study found 14.4 per cent of hot dogs or . First of all, let's all take a deep breath. Researchers highlighted the pork, which was found in beef and turkey hot dogs, as a particularly problematic result, given that some religions forbid the consumption of pork. "Theres the old saying, 'You dont want to know how the sausage get made.' 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. Men's Health Review: Dymatize Protein Powder, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. "DNA testing produces no end of surprises but I seriously doubt that parts of human remains are incorporated into even the cheapest sausages. The study suggests that those looking for a DNA-free dog should head to Target, Safeway and Walmart, the study reports. But pig anus may seem like a more appetizing option when compared with the latest hot dog accusation. In products not supposed to contain them, 10 contained tracesof chicken meat, 9 pork, 4 beef, 3 turkey and 2 lamb. 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.". But thats not all. If you can stomach it, take a look at this video demonstrating how hot dogs are made. How did actual human DNA end up in hotdogs? But there were plenty of impartial meat academics happy to weigh in. U.S. It sounds horrifying. THE Organic Non-GMO Cookbook & Shopping Guide (E-Book). 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. Vegetarian hot dog products surprisingly fared the worst in this regard, with four out of the 21 products tested containing human DNA. 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. Who are Really the Top Shareholders of Monsanto? ", officially listed processed meats such as bacon and sausages as cancer-causing, Huge New Study Shows Why Exercise Should Be The First Choice in Treating Depression, A World-First Discovery Hints at The Sounds Non-Avian Dinosaurs Made, For The First Time Ever, Physicists See Molecules Form Through Quantum Tunneling. So NR seems to have a more efficient path to NAD+ generation. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. But this is not a "contaminant" but a "non-aesthetic idea of something in our food that the average consumer feels may not be pleasing to them.". It's not like somebody found a pinkie in a Hebrew National. It would appear that modern hot dogs are made almost entirely by scary-looking machines. 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. But the good news from the report (yes, there is some!) Its a theory echoed by Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D., a professor in Animal and Food Science at the University of Kentucky. Agencies Investigating Asbestos in J&J Baby Powder, Insane: Free Drug for Debilitating Disease Leaps to $375k a Year, Barium Everywhere: Tell Congress to Stop Toxic Chemtrail Spraying, Alaska Fishermen Concerned GM Salmon Could Harm $6.4 Billion Fishing Industry. The study indicates that many people could be eating pork without realizing it, although kosher hot dogs were found to be safe. Maybe youve seen The Water Challenge floating around on social media. It's a theory echoed by Gregg Rentfrow, Ph.D., a professor in Animal and Food Science at the University of Kentucky. This content is imported from youTube. Department Illegally Seizes Privately Owned Bees Resistant to GMO Poison, Breakdown of GMO Labeling Laws in Each Country (Global Map), What Theyre Not Telling You About Monsantos Role in Ukraine, Toxic Weedkiller Dicamba Drift Damages Crops Across America. Do they have appropriate laboratory quality procedures with both positive and negative reference sample controls in their analyses? Clear Food does not release the names of the poor-performing products. A new DNA analysis of hot dogs and sausages in the US has revealed a few harsh realities about everyone's favourite street food. What You Should Know: Or shopping at grocery stores, or buying food that at any point in its production was touched by human hands. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Yes, humans work at meat processing establishments, he 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. After analyzing hot dogs from 75 different brands, Clear Foods discovered human DNA in 2% of the samples studied. Maybe Not, Study Shows, A Broccoli Anti-Aging Enzyme may Hold the Fountain of Youth, Illinois Ag. Getty Images While some of these substitutions, hygienic issues, other variances, or off-label ingredients may be permitted by the FDA, 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 says in their study. Yes, human DNA! The human DNA found in the dogs is largely the result of hair and broken fingernails. The DNA found in the samples likely came from "hair, skin, finger nail or saliva that was accidentally mixed in during the manufacturing process," according to Clear Food. Researchers for Clear Labs, a company that sets standards for food quality, looked at 345 samples of hot dogs and sausages from 75 brands and 10 retailers, assigning each brand a score up to 100 for the highest quality products. How do they assure there are no false positives? So what are we missing? Ten percent of vegetarian products contained meat. First of all, lets all take a deep breath. Clear Food also found other problems with the hot dogs, including mislabeled ingredients, which could raise concern among religious and vegetarian groups. The skull of a modern human female individual from Zlat k. Do they have appropriate laboratory quality procedures with both positive and negative reference sample controls in their analyses? That may not bother a lot of people, but it means that 3 percent of the sausage and hot dog products tested contained a type of meat that's often excluded for religious reasons. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ", "It's entirely possible that the human DNA found could be linked back to the company's own staff," Riley said in a statement on Tuesday. Meers, W., Hot Dogs Contain Human DNA, Veggie Dogs Contain Meat: Study, The Huffington Post web site, October 28, 2015; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hot-dogs-dna-veggie-dogs-meat_562e45abe4b0ec0a38950dc5. A report found some evidence of human DNA in a small percentage of tested hot dogs, a study shows. At least investigators didnt find a finger, but still [1]. But lets say, just for the sake of argument, that Clear Labs research methods and results can be trusted. 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/. 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. Is that even possible? And we know that the food being served is almost as important as which team is scoring the most points. In response to The Hot Dog Report's findings, Janet Riley, president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council stated that Clear Food "has said very little about its sample collection procedure . Human DNA. But if its vegetarian products youre looking for, your best bet is to make a trip to Trader Joes. 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. There's a concept that'll haunt you if you think about it too much. Hot dog sausages contain human DNA, study says, and many vegetarian ones contain meat Another problem is that 4.3 per cent of burgers contained pathogenic DNA, which can cause food. Here's another analysis that will either put everything in perspective or send you into a spiral of food paranoia. During these very stressful times, it can be challenging to fall asleep or stay asleep. After the WHO went public with their findings on the effects of red meat and cancer, there's more troubling news from the meat industry. How is anything from the bodies of a hotdog worker getting into the mix? The other other white meat. Well, it is true that human DNA was found in about 2 percent of hot dogs that were analyzed in one study, TruthOrFiction.com reported. Check out the Clear Food site for the complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. The first human DNA gleaned from cave dirt came from Denisova Cave in Siberia in 2017. What is a Detox Bath and How do You take One? 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. Biden was treated for basal cell carcinoma. But hey, customers hardly ever taste the flakes.. Pork substitution was an issue in products across the price spectrum being sold at a wide variety of retailers.". And here's another quandary worth considering. That's right, human DNA. A study of both meat and vegetarian hot dogs showed that they contain unadvertised ingredients - including human DNA. 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. Oh, and she loves to take care of two ridiculously- spoiled cats in her free time. "We found chicken in a vegetarian breakfast sausage and pork in a vegetarian hot dog," the report explains. Wake up to the day's most important news. So what are we missing? "It is unlikely that human DNA is harmful to consumer health. Initial attempts by USA TODAY Network to. 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. Americans spent $2.4 billion last year on hot dogs and another $2.74 billion on sausages according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. Its not all about, about 10 Foods Thatll Have You Sleeping Like A Baby. What is DNA? Adding these foods to your diet may help to increase your odds of, Kale is the newest craze in the health world. Two-thirds of that human DNA was found in vegetarian hot dogs, according to the study. But a word of warning - the scientists only looked at one sample of each product, so it's hard to get a clear picture from that limited information about the overall safety and accuracy of an entire product line or brand. Rachel Holt (@ItsRachelHolt) dishes what else the study found. A report by California startup Clear Food. DNA is not a food safety hazard, says Jonathan A. Campbell, Ph.D., a Meat Specialist and Assistant Professor at Penn State University. Not least, the fact that 10 percent of the vegetarian mock-meat products tested actually contained meat. It did not . In other words, yes, your hot dogs are going to have a little human DNA on them. Theres a concept thatll haunt you if you think about it too much. At least not enough to worry about. If you crunched the numbers, it was admittedly alarming. As for the top dogs, Clear Food recommends national brands Butterball, McCormick, Eckrich and Hebrew National. Sources for Todays Article: For the record, no, hot dogs dont contain anus. How did actual human DNA end up in hotdogs? want to find out," Clear Labs Cofounder Mahni Ghorashi told Huffington Post. As for specialty picks, the study suggested Taverrite's pork sausages and vegetarian option Gardien. Developed By, Antibiotics Could be to Blame for Skyrocketing Mental Illness Rates. It does, however, score products based on hygiene, safety and accurate labeling, ABC News reported. complete list of products Clear Food regards as high quality. Related: .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}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. "I have been in numerous plants that make hot dogs and other processed meat products across this country," he told us. Now thatsahygienic issue. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. And most of our top guys have seriously dry skin. 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. As in, homo sapiens. Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. Sign Up for the Latest Health News and Tips, Home - Most Popular News Human DNA Found in Hot Dogs. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. Unless you follow Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Human DNA is the last thing you could expect in your food. Some Hot Dogs, Sausages Studied Contain Human DNA, Says New Report Clear Foods also analyzed vegetarian hot dogs and sausages. / CBS News. Remember the first time a friend told you the horrible truth about hot dogs; that theyre actually made from lips and hooves and pigs anus? The study, conducted by food analytics lab Clear Food, analyzed 345 different hot dogs and sausages, including vegetarian versions. "It is unlikely that human DNA is harmful to consumer health. What are they going to tell us? Clear Food says its testing found human DNA in two percent of all hot dog samples. Probably not, right? Found ten per cent of vegetarian hot dogs and sausages contained meat. Major brands, including Butterball, Boar's Head, Hebrew National, Oscar Meyer, Jennie O and Trader Joe's received high marks. 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.". It sometimes seems like it exists not because people enjoy the taste of a frankfurter, but because we just love speculating about all the secret and super-gross "ingredients.". Overall, 14.4 percent of the hot dogs and sausages tested by Clear Foods were problematic, the company said. All of the latest health news that actually matters. But "people" is an ingredient most would expect limited to Soylent Green. They also discovered human DNA in two percent of the samples. Molecular biologists at Clear Labs then extracted the DNA from samples of these products and matched them to the genetic code of different animals. The researchers found human DNA in two percent of samples, and 2/3 of those products containing human DNA were vegetarian products. The products came from 75. Hot dogs have never been seen as prime cuts of meat, but a new study has found human DNA in some samples. Clear Labs, a nonprofit group that analyzes food at. 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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.". Veggie dogs were the worst off, accounting for 67 percent of the hygiene issues and two-thirds of the human DNA found. How is anything from the bodies of a hotdog worker getting into the mix? Ten products tested contained chicken that weren't meant to, four contained beef, three contained turkey, two contained lamb and, worryingly, nine contained pork. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Moreover, the amount of protein listed in some of the vegetarian products exaggerated the amount of protein in the item by as much as 250 percent, according to the report. Theyre still, as with most things in life, best in moderation. So what does this mean to you? Probably not, right? Then, long links of hot dogs are cooked in a smokehouse, cooled by being passed under a. It happens. Likely more than 2%. A food with a substitution issue has an unexpected ingredient that is not listed on the label. And Gardein topped the specialty and regional hot dog list. In other words, yes, your hot dogs are going to have a little human DNA on them. (Supplied: University of Hasanuddin) What Are These Tiny Red Spots on My Skin (Petechiae)? "That could very well leave skin cells or other DNA sources on equipment," Campbell says. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has attempted to reach Clear Food multiple times for further explanation on the report, according to Riley. Or shopping at grocery stores, or buying food that at any point in its production was touched by human hands. The Absolute Best Crackers for Healthy Snacking, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. And, yep, 10 percent of them contained meat. Overall, 14.4% of the hotdogs and sausages that were tested were listed as "problematic" because of substituted or unexpected ingredients or hygienic issues. ", Well, what about blood or skin? Nobody knows what's in a hot dog. Butterball, McCormick, Eckrich and Hebrew National were among the major brands that received top scores from Clear Foods.