You may have seen them in stores next to favorite canned meats like Spam and corned beef hash, even if you’ve never tried them. Of course, were talking about Vienna sausages. If you haven’t seen or eaten them before, they might look a lot like the hot dogs we love, but in a can. But the two meaty, savory treats have some subtle but meaningful differences.
The first is obvious to anyone whos taken a bite of each. Most hot dogs have a light, snappy casing and a firm bite. Vienna sausages, on the other hand, tend to be softer. The second crucial difference doesnt even require tasting them. Vienna sausages are shorter and have open ends, while longer hot dogs are closed within their casings.
There are also some finer distinctions between the two. In the past, Vienna sausages were made with meat from pigs, cows, and even horses. Frankfurters, which are the German ancestor of hot dogs, were made with only pork. These days, many well-known hot dog brands, such as Hebrew National, sell Kosher versions made with only beef. These are often considered higher-end products than mixed-meat dogs.
Vienna sausage has been a popular canned meat product especially in North America for over 100 years. But rumors have persisted that these little sausages contain an unsavory meat – horse. Is there any truth to claims that Vienna sausage contains horse meat? Let’s take a closer look at how these sausages are made.
A Brief History of Vienna Sausages
Vienna sausage originated in Austria in the late 1800s. The Wiener wurstchen or “little Vienna sausage” was made from a mixture of pork and beef, stuffed into casings. These fresh sausages were thin, often smoked, and served hot in a bread roll or bun
When European immigrants brought wiener wurstchen to North America in the early 1900s, a new version emerged – the canned Vienna sausage. These were chopped up, smoked, cooked sausages packed into cans and sold commercially. By the 1950s, the casings were removed to better fit the can.
Canned Vienna sausages became hugely popular as a quick, inexpensive meat source. Consumption peaked from the 1940s through the 1970s. Though not as ubiquitous now, they still have a loyal following today.
Rumors of Horse Meat
Almost since canned Vienna sausages appeared in North America, rumors have swirled that they contain horse meat. Where did this notion come from?
In the early 1900s, sausages in Europe did sometimes contain horse meat. The use of horse meat for human consumption has long been more common and accepted in Europe than in North America. Some immigrants may have associated sausages with horse meat based on experience in their home countries.
Additionally, there were likely suspicions that such a cheap canned meat product could not possibly contain “desirable” meats like beef and pork. Horse meat unfairly became a scapegoat, assigned as the likely “mystery meat” used in sausages.
However, there has never been evidence that North American Vienna sausage manufacturers substituted horse meat for beef or pork. The rumors seem to be unfounded speculation based on the product’s low cost.
Vienna Sausage Ingredients
So what exactly is in Vienna sausage?
In the U.S., Vienna sausage contains just four ingredients: pork, beef, water, and corn syrup. Beef and pork are the primary meats. Mechanically separated meat may be used, but no variety contains horse meat.
The blend of meats can vary. Some versions are 70% pork and 30% beef, others are the opposite ratio. Spices like garlic and pepper are often added for flavor. But again, no horse meat is present in U.S. Vienna sausages.
In Europe, chicken, turkey, or rarely beef is used instead of pork to meet kosher and halal dietary restrictions. Horse meat is not an ingredient.
Why the Misconception Persists
The rumor that Vienna sausages contain horse meat has persisted for over a century in North America. Why does this myth continue?
A few factors help perpetuate the horse meat misconception:
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Lack of regulation – Vienna sausages have no standard of identity, so contents can vary by brand. This variability feeds the notion that mystery meats could be included.
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Negative perceptions of processed meats – Processed meats like sausages and hot dogs are often viewed with suspicion about what “hidden” ingredients they might contain.
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The long history of the rumor – The “common knowledge” that Vienna sausages contain horse meat has been passed down for so many decades that few question it.
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General dislike of canned meats – Canned meat products tend to have a poor reputation as well, subjecting Vienna sausage to further skepticism.
Though the notion has endured, evidence indicates that Vienna sausage today is just pork and beef, no horse included! The rumors can finally be put to rest.
The Bottom Line
While it’s understandable how the misconception arose, Vienna sausage sold today in the U.S. and Europe contains no horse meat. Just pork, beef, water, corn syrup and spices.
Manufacturers confirm that only government-inspected pork and beef are used in Vienna sausage. The rumors of unsavory contents like horse meat are unfounded.
So feel confident that canned Vienna sausages are exactly what they claim to be – a pork and beef product that is shelf-stable, inexpensive and easy to store. The myths about mystery meats like horse can finally be laid to rest!
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The origin is in the name
The two sausages also have crucial differences in their origin. Vienna sausages were originally referred to as wieners, a term derived from the German name for Vienna: “Wien. It is not clear if they were first made in Vienna or if they were just named after the city, but they are not the same as frankfurters, which come from Frankfurt, Germany.
It is important to know that the mass-produced Vienna sausages you can find in stores are not the same as the ones you can find in other parts of the world, especially in Germany and nearby countries. American Vienna sausages are made from a mixture of meat and spices that is almost like a paste. They are fully cooked and sometimes smoked. Instead of being canned, European Vienna sausages are usually sold in delis, meat cases, or as street food. They have a light casing like an American hot dog.
So while there are some noteworthy distinctions, the two do share many similarities. That’s especially true when you think about all the other kinds of sausages that people all over the world love.
Lots of people can’t stand Vienna sausages
Another difference between hot dogs and canned winners that you may have noticed is that hot dogs are often associated with baseball and cookouts. Many people think that one of the biggest mysteries about Vienna sausages is why people still make them. (This is about the kind that comes in a can, not fresh Viennese-style sausages.) ) Are these weenies maybe a taste that you have to work at getting? If so, not everyone has been able to do it.
One Reddit discussion devoted to these sausages did unearth a few fans, although even those who liked them didnt seem to display any overt enthusiasm. The one word that recurred most often in the comments thread, however, was “disgusting,” with “gross” running a close second. One Redditor who pulled no punches said of the sausages: “They look like embalmed baby fingers and taste like s***.” Over on Quora, these pudgy pink pork(ish) products didnt fare much better. Some said they ate Vienna sausages when they were kids, but couldnt stand them as adults, while one person, who called them “nasty,” pointed out that the texture is “nothing like sausage.” (Spongy, is what wed call it.)
Here’s How Vienna Sausages Are Really Made
FAQ
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