WASHINGTON – Congressional lawmakers, staff, meat industry representatives and members of the media gathered at the Rayburn House Office Building Courtyard on Capitol Hill to celebrate National Hot Dog Day during the Annual North American Meat Institute Hot Dog Lunch Thursday.

“For more than 40 years, the annual NAMI Hot Dog Lunch has been a great American celebration, bringing people together in their shared love of an iconic American food,” said NAMI President and CEO Barry Carpenter. “It is one of the most anticipated events on Capitol Hill, as guests join us to enjoy hot dogs in the company of Major League Baseball greats.”

July is also recognized as the National Hot Dog Month by NAMI.

Guests ate more than 3,500 hot dogs, corn dogs, brats and other sausages from popular hot dog manufacturers: Boar’s Head Provisions, Dietz & Watson, Hofmann Sausage Company, Hormel Foods Corp., Land O’Frost, Smithfield Foods and Tyson Foods. 

Keeping with tradition, NAMI invited former professional baseball players to greet attendees and sign autographs. This year, Andy Van Slyke, Jack Clark and Baseball Hall of Famer Andre Dawson were in attendance.

The latest edition of the MEAT+POULTRY podcast series features NAMI’s vice president of public affairs, Eric Mittenthal, discussing the highly anticipated event.

In the link below he talks about how important baseball is to the hot dog lunch and some other highlights from the day on Capitol Hill.

Click the link below to listen.