The hot dog has fallen on hard times. Today's frankfurters contain less than 12% protein and about 28% fat, according to a study released last week by the Consumers Union. In contrast, the wieners of 1937 averaged nearly 20% protein and only 19% fat. Space age franks were also found by the Consumers Union to contain alarmingly high levels of water, bacteria and potentially poisonous nitrites. More than 40% of the test hot dogs were in the process of spoiling; insect parts and rodent hairs turned up in 19%.
Young wiener wolfers today, say C.U. testers, are eating products that are only...