Oscar Mayer made a Hot Dog Straw for real, a year after a man’s DIY effort went viral

The makeshift straw that divided the internet gets a stamp of approval from the meat marketer and agency Johannes Leonardo

Published On
Aug 23, 2023
Product shot of Oscar Mayer's Hot Dog Straw

Editor's Pick

It was the video that impressed, intrigued and/or appalled the internet—a fan at a baseball game hollowing out a hot dog and using it as a straw to drink his beer, as captured by the famed social-media documentarian New York Nico.

Well, it took a year, but Oscar Mayer has now gotten on board, releasing its own “official” version of a Hot Dog Straw (for pre-order, while supplies last) on Tuesday, the first anniversary of the viral video.

There’s one notable difference between the original and the new Hot Dog Straw—Oscar Mayer’s version isn’t actually made of hot dog. It’s made of food-safe soft silicone that mirrors the size and color of a cooked dog. Meaning, obviously, that it’s reusable and won’t rot over time. In that sense, it’s actually superior to the original.

As part of the Hot Dog Straw launch, they even recreated New York Nico’s video. As you’ll see, the Oscar Mayer version slips easily out of the package and into your beer, requiring no time-consuming hollowing out whatsoever.

 

The stunt was orchestrated with help from agency Johannes Leonardo, which has helped the meat marketer with all sorts of wacky efforts over the years, from developing a bologna face mask to putting the “hot dog legs” meme on billboards this summer.

Much like the original video did, Oscar Mayer’s co-opting of the idea has inspired both love and hate. “Oscar Mayer Curses Us With a Hot Dog Straw,” wrote The Takeout, reversing its own position from a year ago, when it published “In Defense of the Hot Dog Straw.” As they say, if your marketing isn’t making someone mad, you’re probably not doing it right.

Regardless, it’s gotten more press for Oscar Mayer in a day than the brand’s tube steaks usually generate in a year.

Product shot of the Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Straw

“It’s rare when you get the opportunity to insert yourself into culture as a brand, and it’s even rarer when culture finds a way to involve your product,” said Zack Roif, creative director at Johannes Leonardo. “And the rarest? When the brand finds an opportunity to connect those two exact things to create a whole new way to look at the moment in culture that doesn’t feel inauthentic and #cringe—and that’s what we’ve managed to pull off with Oscar Mayer and ‘New York Nico.’”

Roif added: “For over a century, Oscar Mayer has proudly produced some of  the finest hot dogs for eating, and now we’re proud to have made the best one for drinking.”

“While the viral ‘Hot Dog Straw’ divided the internet, we salute the brave man who paved the way to enjoy his hot dog as he wishes,” said Kelsey Rice, associate director, Oscar Mayer. “Taking inspiration from a classic Oscar Mayer dog, the silicone Hot Dog Straw is designed for optimal sipping, and we hope it brings a friendly reminder that we don’t need to take enjoying a delicious hot dog seriously. Some things are just meant to be fun.”

Product shot of the Oscar Mayer Hot Dog Straw sitting in a beer at a ballgame

Credits

Date
Aug 23, 2023
Client :
Oscar Mayer
Agency :
Johannes Leonardo
Vice President Brands & Creativity :
Jessica Vultaggio
Head/VP of North America Brand Communications :
Nina Patel
Head of North America Brand Communications :
Anne Field
Associate Director Brand Communications :
Kelsey Rice
Director of External Communications & PR :
Jenna Thornton
Manager Brand PR & Media Relations :
Kate Mitchell
Co-Founder & Creative Chairman :
Jan Jacobs
Co-Founder & Creative Chairman :
Leo Premutico
Group Creative Director :
Nathan Frank
Creative Director :
Zack Roif
Senior Art Director :
Jose Contreras
Senior Copywriter :
Sam Geloso
Chief Strategy Officer :
Steve Zaroff
Group Strategy Director :
Mark Aronson
Strategy Director :
Sameer Naseem
Communications Strategy Director :
Annie Yuan
Senior Communications Strategist :
Cameren Moncrieff
Strategist :
Andrew Grant
Head of Account Management :
Connor Keeshan
Senior Account Director :
Jack Beck
Account Supervisor :
Jonathan Skewes
Account Manager :
Shenea Walker
Group Executive Producer :
Brett Fisher
Producer :
Sydney Jow
Production Assistant :
Omar Zapata
Business Affairs Director :
Alesa Blanchard-Nelson
Senior Business Affairs Manager :
Krishna Shah
Public Relations Associate :
Nana-Saa Kessie
PR :
The Kitchen
Associate Creative Director :
Blase Mnich
Account Director :
Chelsea Kidd-Edie
Senior Social Strategist :
Hayley Gregory
Social Manager :
Marcus Smith
PR :
Publicis 57
EVP Director :
Chris Harder
Director :
Olamide Aruwajoye
Global CEO :
Michael Epstein
PR :
Zeno Group
SVP :
Jamie Dammrich
Senior Account Supervisor :
Bri Shanley
Account Supervisor :
Bethany Stokoski
Account Supervisor :
Veronica Smith
Talent :
New York Nico
Digital Talent Agent :
Sarah Matthews
Industrial Design :
Spitfire Industry
Design Lead :
Isis Shiffer
Executive Vice President and Partner :
Lenny Polakoff
Account Manager Sales :
Lisa MacDonald
Account Coordinator :
Samantha Swanson

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