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Food July 7, 2021

Flat hot dogs exist and now food experts, eaters and home cooks are split

WATCH: Social media is split on new flat, sliced hot dogs

It's been a longstanding debate: "Is a hot dog a sandwich?"

But now one butcher shop has entered the chat with an alternative to the beloved backyard BBQ staple and people are split on the idea of a flat hot dog.

Check out the latest online food fight over a flat, round hot dog from a butcher shop in New Jersey.

Rastelli's in New Jersey unveiled a 3-ounce flat frankfurter ahead of the Fourth of July and the internet had a field day, questioning whether it still could be considered a hot dog.

Ray Rastelli Jr. commented to "Good Morning America" on Instagram, "We can confirm it is a hot dog!"

How is this different than bologna? I actually don't know how hotdogs differ from bologna other than the shape.

— Black Lilith (@naboone) June 15, 2021

Initially, social media users had mixed feelings over the circular sausage that loses the traditional snap due to the shape -- and some called the whole thing baloney.

"isn't that just bologna" my understanding is that there are subtle differences in seasoning/spices, beyond just shape, that differentiate hot dogs from bologna. mostly its about POV tho and these are marketed as "round dogs" https://t.co/3GekYfIPIy

— maria yagoda (@mariayagoda) June 15, 2021

Other food experts like Mythical Kitchen chef Josh Scherer pointed out that this is simply "semantics" over forcemeat -- a blended mixture of meat and spices encased with preservatives before cooking.

Rastelli said they came up with the novel shape after requests from customers to pre-cut their dogs.

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The hot dog patties have a larger surface area that can hold more condiments and they allow home cooks to buy just one type of bun.

The pack of 8 sells online for $18 and is currently sold out.