Unfortunately, it’s not always appetizing – from industrial “ingredients” like sodium diacetate and nitrates to random animal parts – and Applegate wants to open hot dog lovers’ eyes to the other options. 

Applegate’s Super Natural Hot Dogs are made with just beef, water, sea salt and spices and without any of the junk found in conventional hot dogs. All of Applegate products are produced from animals that were never administered antibiotics or hormones – although labeling standards allow the other guys to label meats made from animals administered antibiotics as “natural.” Applegate hot dogs also have half the calories and fat of most conventional hot dogs and less sodium.

In a recent survey that asked Americans about their hot dog preferences 77 percent of U.S. hot dog eaters said they really want to know what’s in their hot dogs and how they are made, despite the fact that 75 percent also agreed that many hot dogs are of “low quality.”

To encourage this conversation, Applegate just launched www.whatsinyourhotdog.com where shoppers can view hilarious videos and infographics on the subject and learn more about what they are buying.