We answer to a higher authority facts for kids

We answer to a higher authority is a famous slogan for Hebrew National hot dogs. This company is now part of ConAgra Foods. The slogan suggests that their kosher-certified hot dogs and meats are better quality than other similar products. In 1997, The New York Times newspaper said this advertising campaign was one of the longest and most well-known ever.

In 2009, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council reported an interesting fact. They said that about three-quarters of the six million Americans who like kosher hot dogs are not Jewish. In 2010, the New York Times also mentioned that Hebrew National hot dogs are not considered "kosher enough" for many Jewish people who strictly follow kosher rules.

What is the "Higher Authority" Slogan?

The slogan "We answer to a higher authority" started in 1965. It has been used ever since to show that Hebrew National products are special. The company wanted to sell their products to both Jewish and non-Jewish people, highlighting their quality.

Early TV Commercials (1972)

Some of the first TV ads for this campaign were made in 1972. These commercials showed Uncle Sam getting ready to eat a hot dog. This hot dog had extra ingredients and fillers that were allowed by government rules. Then, a voice from above would say that Hebrew National couldn't use those ingredients. The camera would look up to the sky, and the voice would explain, "because we answer to a higher authority." These ads appeared on TV for almost 20 years.

Later Ad Campaigns (1990s)

In 1992, the ads were updated. A new character named "Frank Wiener" was shown. He was supposed to be a competitor who made lower-quality products. Frank Wiener then had to answer to the "higher authority" himself for not matching Hebrew National's quality.

The All-Knowing Hot Dog Vendor (1997)

A new campaign began in 1997, created by a company in New York City. These ads featured actor Robert Klein as a wise hot dog vendor. He had a shiny hot dog cart and gave out both hot dogs and smart advice. These commercials were funny and reminded people of the older ads.

In these ads, the vendor would help people. For example, he guided a man to meet his future wife. He told someone who found a bag of money to return it, and that person later won the lottery. When a customer asked if he took credit cards, the vendor joked, "I take credit for everything." This campaign cost $5 million, which was double the money spent the year before. The ads were shown in cities where Hebrew National products were already popular, like Baltimore, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco.