With more than 7 billion consumers in the USA only, hot dogs are definitely among the most popular fast foods in the whole world. However, it appears that this food is so unhealthy that it may cause 4 different types of cancer.

Hot dogs were introduced in the 19th century by the German immigrants and their popularity has grown so much and now, in the 21st century, they’re the favorite food of people of all ages.

According to the WHO, all processed meats, including red meat, increase the chances of cancer. Hot dogs are made of slaughter by-products from beef, chicken, and pork. They’re often filled with leftovers from steaks or pork chops, parts of heads and feet of animals, and fatty tissue and skins.

During the production, hot dogs are filled with additives like nitrates, salt, corn syrup, and other chemicals. Unfortunately, these additives have been closely associated with cancer. According to a statement by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the risk of cancer from hot dogs is the same as the one from smoking.

The nitrates and nitrites are the most harmful substances used in hot dogs. When exposed to high heat, they bind with amines and convert to nitrosamines. Nitrosamines have been tied to bladder, colon, stomach, and pancreatic cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research claims that people who consume one hot dog per day have an increased chance of colorectal cancer by 21%. To make matters worse, even organic hot dogs have nitrite, even in higher amounts that the nonorganic ones.

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