Do we dare say it out loud in mixed company? Oh go ahead, throw caution to the wind. July is National Hot Dog Month. There I said it. While there are some people who say they have never, or will never eat hot dogs, there are plenty more out there who are not afraid to say they love eating hot dogs. I happen to be one of them. I’m not sure if there’s another industry out there that has worked as hard as the hot dog industry to offer consumers what they want - healthier, yet good tasting hot dog choices. They aren’t your grandparents hot dogs anymore. There are low fat, fat free, low sodium, and even kosher hot dogs to choose from. And forget the old joke about hot dogs containing everything but the squeal, with today’s regulations on product ingredient statements there are no surprises when it comes to what is in your hot dog. Yes, hot dogs do contain a preservative, it’s sodium nitrate and it’s what makes a hot dog a hot dog. It also ensures the safety of the hot dog and protects consumers against germs. Sodium nitrate got a bad rep several years back as a possible carcinogen, but the U.S. Toxicology Program has tested sodium nitrate and declared it a non-carcinogen. So go ahead, enjoy that hot dog!