This Is What's Really <br />Inside Your Hot Dog Every time you bite <br />into a juicy hotdog, you might find yourself <br />pushing its potential contents <br />to the back of your mind. But if you'd like to know <br />what you're eating, <br />here's the lowdown. No matter if your hot dog <br />is made of beef, pork or chicken, <br />they all start with "trimmings." This is a more pleasant term for leftover meat cuts such as fatty tissue, sinewy muscle, head meat and sometimes liver. "Trimmings" can also <br />include blood, skin and feet,<br /> and it's all USDA-approved. Once combined, the gristle is <br />pre-cooked to kill bacteria <br />and formed into a paste. At this point, any number of additives could be introduced. The meat paste is then pumped <br />into casings to attain its shape. Then the franks are rinsed, the <br />casing is removed, and they <br />are ready for consumption. If you'd like to stick with muscle tissue instead of organs, feet and blood, opt for hot dogs labeled "all beef" or "all pork."
