A report from Clear Foods, part of molecular food testing company Clear Labs, says that it found human DNA in samples of hot dogs, USA Today reports.
According to its report, the company tested 345 hot dog and sausage samples from 75 brands and 10 retailers. It says that some 14.5 percent of the samples were "problematic in some way." Those issues include apparent ingredient substitutions and hygiene concerns.
For example, they found traces of chicken, beef, pork, and other meats in products that were not supposed to contain them. And the hygiene problem, the company notes, is exemplified by about 2 percent of the samples containing human DNA, including in vegetarian products.
However, the president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Janet Riley, tells USA Today that Clear Food "has said very little about its sample collection procedure." She argues that the apparent ingredient swaps could be due to the testing of different products at the same time and that the human DNA uncovered could come from the testing company's own staff.