AMI’s Annual Hot Dog Lunch Brings Together American Icons for One of the Largest Events of the Summer on Capitol Hill

Two all American Icons – hot dogs and baseball – will be vying for top billing today at the American Meat Institute’s (AMI) annual hot dog lunch on Capitol Hill. The event will feature a gathering of hot dog makers, Major League Baseball legends and politicians who will all consume one of America’s favorite foods: hot dogs.

“The Hot Dog Lunch is one of the most popular annual events on Capitol Hill, a testament to America’s unending enthusiasm for the hot dog,” said J. Patrick Boyle, AMI’s President and CEO. “We look forward every year to celebrating this American food icon in the nation’s capital.” More than 1,000 Capitol Hill staff, lawmakers and federal agency officials are expected to attend the event, held in the courtyard of the Rayburn House Office Building. The crowd is expected to consume more than 4,000 hot dogs, which if laid end to end, would be three times taller than the Washington Monument.

The lunch will feature popular hot dog manufacturers, including Hormel Foods Corporation, Johnsonville Sausage, Sara Lee Food & Beverage, Oscar Mayer, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Tyson Foods, Inc. Copious amounts of mustard, relish, ketchup, onions, chili and other treats will be available to personalize each hot dog. This event will help Washingtonians contribute to the nation’s substantial hot dog consumption, estimated at 20 billion hot dogs annually.

Three baseball All-Stars will also be major attractions. Robin Roberts is one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game. While he is best known for his work with the Philadelphia Phillies (’48 – ’61), he also played for the Orioles, Astros and Cubs towards the end of his almost twenty-year MLB career. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.

Bob Boone is a four-time All-Star catcher who, from 1972 to 1990, played for the Phillies, Angels and Royals. Boone caught 2,225 games over the course of his impressive career, and as one of the top defensive catchers of his time earned seven Gold Glove awards. Currently, he serves as Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development for the Washington Nationals.

Al Bumbry played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1972 to 1984, and finished his career with the San Diego Padres in 1985. He primarily played the outfield, but was sometimes called to start as third-baseman or designated hitter. He was elected to the AL All-Star team in 1980.


The annual Hot Dog Lunch is organized by the American Meat Institute and sponsored by the American Beverage Association, Miller Brewing Company, Hormel Foods, American Bakers Association, International Bottled Water Association, Snack Food Association, Utz, Stroehmann Pennsylvania Dutch Bakers, Little Debbie Snacks and Cracker Jack

AMI represents the interests of packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal and turkey products and their suppliers throughout North America. Together, AMI's members produce 95 percent of the beef, pork, lamb and veal products and 70 percent of the turkey products in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute provides legislative, regulatory, public relations, technical, scientific and educational services to the industry.

For more information, check out the Council’s web site at http://www.hot-dog.org/.