After 140 Years, Oscar Mayer Gives Its Hot Dogs a Meatless Makeover

Oscar Mayer, known for its traditional meat-based hot dogs, is venturing into the global vegan hot dog market with plant-based NotHotDogs and NotSausages through its parent company, Kraft Heinz. The joint venture with The Not Company aims to meet the growing demand for plant-based alternatives and tap into the $496 million vegan hot dog industry. Using AI-powered technology, the products are made with ingredients like mushrooms, peas, bamboo, and cherry to replicate the taste, texture, and appearance of traditional hot dogs and sausages.

By remaking its classic products, Kraft Heinz is positioned to capture a portion of the $19 billion plant-based food industry. In addition to plant-based hot dogs and sausages, the company has also released vegan versions of mayonnaise, cheese singles, and mac and cheese. The joint venture's goal is to expand into more categories and make plant-based products accessible to a wider range of consumers.