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When it comes to summer barbecuing, hot dogs are up there in popularity with burgers. But have you ever noticed that hot dogs and their buns come in unequal packaging?

It is such a strange phenomenon to have an unequal hot dog and bun ratio when going out to purchase summer barbecue supplies. However, it might surprise you to know that it’s by design.

Photo: freeimageslive.co

As the National Hot Dog Sausage Council has revealed, the mismatched packaging is a result of the the way items were sold. As the council shared, items were always sold in even numbers and even hot dogs weren’t sold in packs of 10 until 1940.

But why are buns only sold in differing numbers? Well, it has to do with the manner in which they are baked.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

As the hot dog council, which was founded back in 1994, explained, “Sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns, most often come eight to the pack because the buns are baked in clusters of four in pans designed to hold eight rolls. While baking pans now come in configurations that allow baking 10 and even 12 at a time, the eight-roll pan remains the most popular.”

Photo: flickr/Stacy Spensley

This is something that has some people wanting a change, and there was even a recent petition by Heinz Ketchup Canada that calls for an end of the uneven buns and hot dogs – with a goal of 7,500 signatures. If you feel strongly about the uneven ratio, you can click here to sign the petition on Change.org.

What do you think of the differing hot dogs and buns? Let us know!

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