Applegate® Do Good Dog™ hot dog FAQ

What is the Applegate® Do Good Dog™ hot dog?

The Applegate ® Do Good Dog™ hot dog is the first, nationally available hot dog made with beef sourced from verified regenerative U.S. grasslands.

When is it launching?

The new Do Good Dog™ hot dog will be available at select major retailers and on Amazon with an suggested retail price of $7.49 starting October 25, 2021.

What makes the Do Good Dog™ hot dog different from other hot dogs?

The Do Good Dog™ hot dog is the first nationally available hot dog made with beef raised on verified regenerative U.S. grasslands. Beef for the Do Good Dog™ hot dog comes from SunFed Ranch in California and boasts the Savory Institute’s Land to Market Seal, the world's first regenerative sourcing verification.

How is this different from Applegate’s hot dogs?

Like all other Applegate® beef products, the Do Good Dog™ hot dog uses 100% grass-fed beef that’s raised to Applegate humanely-raised standards with no antibiotics ever. The Do Good Dog™ hot dog takes sourcing one step further with beef raised on verified regenerative U.S. grasslands, furthering our mission -- Changing The Meat We Eat®.

Does this hot dog have a casing?

No, our Do Good Dog™ hot dog is made without an animal-derived casing! The meat is cooked in  cellulose casings  that are removed prior to packaging. The cellulose used with our products  is made from cotton fibers or wood pulp. They are free of allergens, PVC and BPA.

(Remember the saying about not watching sausage get made? We believe in full disclosure on that topic, check out our YouTube to see how our sausages and hot dogs are made).

Some people talk about a “bite” in our hot dogs, still no casing. You get a bite because the proteins in the meat rise to the surface during cooking! Cool huh?!

Is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog gluten free?

Yes, the Do Good Dog™ hot dog is gluten free.

Is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog kosher?

No, the Do Good Dog™ hot dog is not certified kosher.

Is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog keto?

No, the Do Good Dog™ hot dog is not keto.

Is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog paleo?

No, the Do Good Dog™ hot dog is not paleo.

Is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog Whole30 Approved®?

The Do Good Dog™ hot dog is Whole30 compliant, but does not carry the Whole30 Approved® seal. All other Applegate® hot dogs are labeled Whole30 Approved®. We chose to focus on the regenerative sourcing for the labeling on the Do Good Dog™ hot dog.

Is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog a good source of protein?

Yes, the Do Good Dog™ hot dog is a good source of protein* (at least 7g according to USDA standards).

Does the Do Good Dog™ hot dog contain sugar?

No. The Do Good Dog™ hot dog has a total of zero sugar.

What are the ingredients of the Do Good Dog™ hot dog ?

The Do Good Dog™ hot dog is made with grass-fed beef raised on verified regenerative U.S. grasslands. Additional ingredients to enhance the beef flavor include sea salt, paprika, dehydrated onion, spices, nutmeg oil and cultured celery powder.

What varieties does the Do Good Dog™ hot dog come in?

The Do Good Dog™ hot dog is currently made only from beef.

Where can I purchase the Applegate® Do Good Dog™ hot dog?

The new Do Good Dog™ hot dog will be available at select retailers including New Seasons, HyVee and Gelsons, as well as on Amazon with an suggested retail price of $7.49 starting October 25, 2021. To find a store near you, use our PRODUCT LOCATOR. We expect more retailers to carry it by Spring 2022.  

How much does the new Applegate® Do Good Dog™ hot dog cost?

The Applegate® Do Good Dog™ hot dog retails for $6.99.

How should I cook my Applegate® Do Good Dog™ hotdog?

The Do Good Dog™ hot dog is fully cooked and simply needs to be reheated to enjoy:

• If grilling your Do Good Dog™ hot dog , we recommend placing your hot dog over medium heat and turning it as it starts to brown, approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. Total heating time is about 8-12 minutes. When grilling frozen hot dogs, heating times will be slightly higher.
• If steaming your Do Good Dog™ hot dog, use a Dutch oven with a steamer rack. Fill the pan with water just below the rack. Bring water to a boil, and then reduce to low heat. Place hot dogs on the steamer rack. Cover tightly and steam for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
• To boil your Do Good Dog™ hot dog, bring a pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat and carefully add hot dogs. Simmer for about five minutes, though frozen hot dogs will take a little longer to heat through.
• While microwaving your Do Good Dog™ hot dog is not recommended, the microwave oven can be used if all other heating methods are unavailable. Microwaves vary in power and features, so experimenting with heating times may be needed. Thaw hot dogs before placing on a microwave-safe plate. Use a fork to poke holes in it. Heat in 30 second intervals until desired temperature is reached.

Do Good Dog™ Regenerative Farming & Seal Details

What is regenerative agriculture?

Unlike Organic, which is a standard regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is no one definition of regenerative agriculture. In general, though, it describes a set of practices and techniques that prioritize the building of rich and healthy soil, which is essential to productive farming and ranching.

Here at Applegate, we define regenerative as a series of practices that use animals to have a positive impact on the land. These include holistic managed grazing, where animals are moved through stretches of grassland in a way that mimics wild herds. These grazing plans are constantly adapted to ensure that the animals are working with nature to enrich soil, increase water retention, boost biodiversity and, over time, sequester carbon .

So is the Do Good Dog™ hot dog regenerative?

The Do Good Dog™ hot dog is made with regeneratively sourced beef and carries the Savory Institute’s Land to Market seal, the world’s first regenerative sourcing certification.

Regenerative practices are designed with the land in mind.  So we can’t say the animal (or its meat) is itself regenerative—only the land that it grazes upon. That said, the animal plays an essential role in regenerating the land. Cattle’s grazing stimulates root growth; their manure fertilizes soil and their hooves serve as a natural tractor, aerating soil.

Where and how are the cattle raised?

The beef used in the Do Good Dog™ hot dog comes from SunFed Ranch. SunFed Ranch manages 1.5 million acres, using regenerative practices including holistic managed grazing. The cattle for the Do Good Dog™ hot dog, though, come from specific areas that are assessed and monitored by the Savory Institute, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture and creator of the Land to Market seal. This verification doesn’t just set standards, it measures outcomes, ensuring that the ranch or farm is progressively improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions, such as water retention or erosion reduction.

Do you have metrics yet about how the Do Good Dog™ hot dog is impacting the land?

Not yet.  The Savory team visited SunFed Ranch in the late spring of 2021. It took baseline measurements on a series of indicators of ecological health. They include things like vigor and reproduction of grasses and trees, desirable (and undesirable) species, bare soil, wind erosion and water erosion. (You can read more about what kind of information Savory collects and how they monitor here.) Applegate will receive its first progress report at 12 months.

Why does Applegate believe it is important to support regenerative agriculture in the meat sector?

Industrial livestock production is a contributor to climate change. Regenerative practices, such as holistic managed grazing, allow animals to live in harmony with nature, following their instincts and, in doing so, bettering the environment and mitigating climate change. In other words, animals raised right play a vital role in a healthy food system.  We are committed to demonstrating the positive impact that animals have on the land and producing meat that we all can feel good about eating.

What is the Land to Market seal on the packaging? What does it mean?

The Savory Institute’s Land to Market seal is the world’s first regenerative sourcing verification. That means the sourcing of our beef has been verified by Savory so you can trust it comes from regenerative grasslands in the U.S.!

Why did Applegate decide to utilize Regenerative Farming?

Regenerative agriculture provides an area that is hopeful and optimistic – an area where consumers have the power to make impact through their support and their purchase. As the first brand to bring regeneratively sourced beef to consumers on a large-scale basis, we are tasked with driving consumer knowledge and awareness around this impact as we bring the Do Good Dog™ hot dog to retail.

Will Applegate be utilizing this process for all of their products?

Our goal is to have at least one product sourced from regenerative lands per each of our species (pork, poultry, beef).