Skinless Hot Dog Story

An idea conceived a number of years earlier was commercialized in the 1920s by Erwin O. Freund, a Chicago native and the founder of what is known today as Viskase Companies, Inc.

In the 1900's, the hot dog was manufactured with animal intestine casings. A large percentage of these casings originated in countries far removed from the U.S. These natural casings were often in short supply, and seriously limited the growth of the American sausage industry.

Mr. Freund, who had spent his business life in the animal casing business, knew the needs of the sausage makers. His dream was a manufactured sausage casing made of readily available domestic raw materials which would have a uniform diameter and length, and would be strong enough to withstand the rigors of stuffing and processing.

Early exploration to develop his vision into reality focused on the "viscose" process in which purified cotton cellulose was dissolved and then regenerated in the form of thin films or filaments.

Through intensive experimentation, short lengths of casing were produced by painting viscose on a pipe, drying it and then dipping the pipe into a trough containing weak acid. This changed the dry viscose back to cellulose and the wet tube slipped off the pipe. Some casings on hand were dried, inflated to avoid shrinking, and tested on a stuffing horn. They worked: the casings were removed from the horn with ease.

The new casing stuffed well, was linked, and then was put into the smokehouse, but it emerged loose and baggy. Surely such a ridiculous looking product would not be sold by any self-respecting butcher. Then Mr. Freund made a startling discovery! Taking one of the strands, he found that in the separation of the meat from the casing, the franks retained their shape and were firm. Mr. Freund tasted them and proclaimed the birth of the Skinless Frankfurter!

All America wanted this new "dog without an overcoat" and the NOJAX® (no jackets) Casings brand appeared on meat counters throughout the land.