National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Celebrates National Hot Dog Month

Washington, D.C., July 8, 2010 -- July 1 marked the beginning of National Hot Dog Month -- and the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council (NHDSC) is encouraging all Americans to join in celebrating this national icon by firing up the grill and enjoying one of America's most beloved foods.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce officially designated July as National Hot Dog Month in 1957 and the celebration today is as strong as ever.

In an effort to give the dog its due (and add some excitement to hot dog-themed gatherings) the Council on July 1 unveiled a new series of placemats.

The series features four engaging, colorful themes: "Coloring with Frank Furter," a coloring page for kids that includes many favorite summertime images as well as a maze; "Hot Dog Trivia," a hot dog fun facts challenge for both young and old; "Hot Dogs Across America," an illustrated map of the United States with photos and descriptions of regional hot dog favorites and "Hot Dog Etiquette," a tongue-in-cheek guide about eating hot dogs with wiener style and grace, based upon the Council's hit YouTube video(http://www.youtube.com/user/hotdogcouncil).

To download these free placemats, go to the NHDSC's website at www.hot-dog.org.

"On Independence Day, Americans will enjoy 150 million hot dogs, enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times. That's just part of the 20 billion hot dogs that Americans eat in a year. Given the hot dog's popularity, it is only natural that we celebrate this essential American food, not just on this great American holiday, but the whole month of July," said NHDSC President and "Queen of Wien" Janet Riley.

So what will Americans be dressing their 150 million hot dogs with this month? The Council has the answer to that as well. Council survey data shows mustard to be the most popular condiment (32 percent). Twenty-three percent of Americans said they preferred ketchup. Chili came in third at 17 percent, followed by relish (9 percent) and onions (7 percent).

"We want to remind any Americans over the age of 18 who dress their dogs with ketchup that they need to review Council etiquette rules. In fact, in some cities like Chicago, it's rumored that one could be arrested for such an offense," Riley said.

To participate in this month's hot dog celebrations, the Council encourages visits to its website (www.hot-dog.org). The Council also wants to hear consumers' stories. Visit its Facebook page at http://bit.ly/auXuu2 to share favorite Fourth of July and Hot Dog Month memories.

Established in 1994, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council serves as an information resource to consumers and media on issues related to quality, safety, trivia, nutrition, preparation and recipes of hot dogs and sausages.