Casper Doesn’t Think Hot Dogs Are Sandwiches, But Are They?

Earlier this week we posted a meme to our social media sites asking Casperites: "Do you consider a hot dog a sandwich?"

Almost 90% of the people that sounded off said no. That being said, Merriam-Webster says that is... at least when served on a bun. The definition of a sandwich is:

• two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between
• one slice of bread covered with food

Merriam-Webster further states:

We know: the idea that a hot dog is a sandwich is heresy to some of you. But given that the definition of sandwich is "two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between," there is no sensible way around it. If you want a meatball sandwich on a split roll to be a kind of sandwich, then you have to accept that a hot dog is also a kind of sandwich.

They also argued, that to exclude hot dogs from the sandwich category, one would also have to demote both peanut butter and also bologna sandwiches.

For those that still argue that the hot dog should not be classified as a sandwich, will find solace in the fact that the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, that really is a thing) agrees with you. They have been firmly against the classification since at least 2015. It is worth noting though, that even on their NHDSC website, they have a statement from the USDA that does actually states the hot dog is a sandwich. The USDA states:

SANDWICH - CLOSED:
Product must contain at least 35 percent cooked meat and no more than 50 percent bread.  Sandwiches are not amenable to inspection. If inspection is requested for this product, it may be granted under reimbursable Food Inspection Service. Typical —closed-faced“ sandwiches consisting of two slices of bread or the top and bottom sections of a sliced bun that enclose meat or poultry, are not amenable to the Federal meat and poultry inspection laws. Therefore, they are not required to be inspected nor bear the marks of inspection when distributed in interstate commerce.

SANDWICH - OPEN:

Must contain at least 50 percent cooked meat. Sandwiches are amenable only if they are open faced sandwiches. Product must show a true product name, e.g., —Sliced Roast Beef on Bread.“ This regulatory policy in no way alters the Department's present policy with respect to caterers who include meat sandwiches in their dinners.

So where do you fall on the hot dog/sandwich debate?

A post shared by @ kisscasper on Jun 6, 2018 at 3:37pm PDT