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The Ketchup Prohibition
An analysis of the cultural strictures advising against applying ketchup to Chicago-style and heavily constructed hot dogs.
Applying ketchup to a Chicago-style hot dog is widely considered a severe faux pas.
According to industry groups like the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the high sugar and acid content of commercial ketchup functionally overwhelms the delicate spice blends of pure beef franks and clashes directly with the existing sweet-sour balance already provided by the combination of neon relish, sport peppers, and yellow mustard.