As baseball season approaches, health experts are raising alarms about the risks associated with a beloved ballpark staple: hot dogs. A March 2024 report revealed an alarming number. Individuals who consume high amounts of red or processed meats are at a 30% to 40% increased risk of getting colorectal cancer. Cases of colorectal cancer have been consistently increasing in younger populations since the 1990s. So much so that it has recently become the number one cause of cancer-related deaths for Americans younger than 50, reported the National Cancer Institute.
As we’ve learned from the World Health Organization (WHO), processed meats are carcinogenic to humans. This category connects their retail diet specifically with an escalation of colorectal cancer risk. In fact, a December 2024 study found an especially frightening link between colorectal cancer. It found chronic inflammation, typically exacerbated by unhealthy eating habits, as the main culprit to this disease’s explosion.
During the height of hot dog season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans will eat about 7 billion hot dogs. That mind-boggling figure is provided by none other than the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council (NHDSC). According to a new national survey, a doggone 88% of American adults have savored that classic hot dog experience. This shows exactly how iconic this classic snack is nationwide! Yet nobody knows about its health effects. Most are not aware that hot dogs can be extremely dangerous to their health.
Noah Praamsma is a nutrition education coordinator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. He urged everyone to act now and address this problem head-on. He stated that “tens of millions of Americans could eat hot dogs this baseball season, but most of them are unaware that doing so raises their risk of colorectal cancer and other diseases.”
We were thrilled that our first poll revealed the same! Forty percent of respondents would be excited to see plant-based hot dogs offered at baseball stadiums. However, 63% think that stadiums should provide more plant-based options. The American Heart Association recommends that you avoid processed meat altogether. No more than 100 grams per week (two servings) as it is a high-sodium and high-fat option.
Now, Praamsma is back to make healthier food options the standard at the ballpark. He encouraged an approach of making modest incremental improvements and changes. Fans can dramatically boost their health by replacing even one serving of processed meat per day with a plant-based option. He recommended that conference-goers opt for roasted peanuts when veggie dogs and other plant-based food are impossible to find. This stadium staple is packed with disease-fighting plant protein, which helps protect against colorectal cancer.
Despite all this, millions of Americans are still unaware that hot dogs can pose serious health risks. The NHDSC’s release of the report highlights an important opportunity to educate the public about making healthier dietary choices at a time when consumption is at its highest.
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