Nitrites in hot dogs and other processed meats break down during digestion, the complaint claims. The resulting compounds are considered to be cancer causing.

While not defending the sausage-shape meat, the Centre for Science in the Public Interest executive director, Michael Jacobson, said heart disease is a bigger risk than cancer.

"Though I favour warning notices in certain circumstances the overuse of warnings can lead to 'warning fatigue'," Jacobson said. "Eating hot dogs occasionally is not by itself worrisome," he told the Los Angeles Times.

But one consumer, who was interviewed about the lawsuit, was skeptical: "Vegans complaining about hot dogs is like the Amish complaining about gas prices," she said.