Is a hot dog a sandwich? Call it a culinary food fight. An epic food battle. A delicious debate.
There are those who say yes because a hot dog contains a frank, a bun and toppings.
And there are those who say no because the shape of a hot dog, its cylindrical form, resembles nothing like a sandwich, or two pieces of bread, a middle component and toppings or condiments.
Those in the “(expletive) no” camp get a little more … passionate.
Though the debate is year-round, the age-old question seems to pop up like clockwork every year in July. After all, that summer month is synonymous with hot dogs, the great American food, thanks to the Fourth of July holiday, the enormously popular annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, and National Hot Dog Day, which falls on the third Wednesday in July every year.
Over time, experts have weighed in on the “is a hot dog a sandwich?” debate:
-
YES: In the same press release from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the organization cited guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the USDA, a hot dog is a sandwich.
-
YES: In March 2023, Padma Lakshmi, a longtime host of “Top Chef” and cookbook author, told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” that a hot dog is a sandwich, saying, “I mean, it’s a poor excuse for a sandwich, but it’s technically a sandwich.”
-
NO: The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky, a USA TODAY Network newspaper, owned up to calling a hot dog a sandwich in a correction that ran July 19, 2017: “Correction: On the following dates, the Courier-Journal incorrectly referred to hot dogs as sandwiches: Oct. 2, 1887; Aug. 10, 1901; March 20, 1904; July 21, 1935; Jan. 14, 1939; May 4, 1941; Sept. 15, 1950; June 29, 1958; Nov. 16, 1961; and Aug. 4, 1966. Among those errors were references to a frankfurter sausage sandwich, frankfurter sandwich, coney island sandwich, frankfurter sandwich with mustard, and, the most egregious, a frankfurter sandwich with catchup. We deeply regret the errors, especially that last one.”
The Courier-Journal made national news with its correction by then executive editor Joel Christopher (he’s now executive editor at the Knoxville News Sentinel, another USA TODAY Network newspaper). His July 19, 2017, photo tweet of the correction in the newspaper − ironically, or coincidentally − on National Hot Dog Day caught the attention of Twitter users. Shots fired! A substantive social media firestorm ensued. So much so that Courier-Journal columnist Joseph Gerth wrote a story about the hot dog hoopla on July 19, 2017, followed by another writeup from the Courier-Journal on July 22, 2017, after the newspaper made national news.
What do you think? Take our “is a hot dog a sandwich?” poll below and browse a photo gallery of “hot dogs” with this story.
Photos of hot dogs with toppings, for your next hot dog recipe, and topping ideas
Is a hot dog a sandwich? Yes or no? Take our poll
Having trouble viewing the “is a hot dog a sandwich” poll? Click on this link to answer in another window.
How to watch Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and Joey Chestnut
ESPN and ESPN2 will provide live coverage of the men’s competition, which begins at noon.
The women’s competition starts at 10:45 a.m. on ESPN3.
Both will be repeated on ESPN at 5 and 9 p.m. July 4.
How to stream Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on the Fourth of July
FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV streaming available for subscribers.
Contributing: John Gallas, USA TODAY Network-Florida
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. And for those wondering, Sangalang does not consider a hot dog a sandwich (apologies in advance).
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hot dog sandwich debate: Why the great American food shines every July