FOOD NEWS
The Sausage Organization That Prohibits Putting Ketchup On Hot Dogs
By Julia Mullaney
Hot dogs are one of those popular foods beloved for their sheer variety of available toppings, but apparently, not all toppings are appreciated with the same reverence.
Ketchup seems like a relatively ordinary hot dog topping, but it turns out that the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) heavily frowns upon the use of the condiment.
The council says it aims to be "an information resource to consumers and media on questions related to quality, safety, nutrition, and preparation of hot dogs and sausages."
It has strict rules against the use of ketchup unless you're under the age of 18. Children are welcome to explore ketchup on hot dogs, but adults should leave it behind.
The council's etiquette page states that, unlike ketchup, "mustard, relish, onions, cheese, and chili are acceptable." It doesn't explain why, but others share the same opinion.
Bob Schwartz, the senior vice president at Vienna Beef — the brand behind the Chicago-style hot dog — even wrote a book about hot dogs titled "Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog."
In 2014, food writer Giancarlo Buonomo wrote about a higher-up at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs that once referred to ketchup on a dog as "a sign of a 'less sophisticated' palate."