Wieners (frankfurters or "hot dogs"), potted meat food product, bologna, luncheon meat, etc. have followed a similar trend.
Until recently, one major brand was one of the few holdouts so, when shopping, I favored their hot dogs and bologna (even bacon, I'll get to that later). It's a matter of principle. When I want to eat chicken, I order chicken. Same with turkey. But when "mechanically separated" chicken or turkey is added to a product which previously contained only beef and/or pork, it is changing the recipe, not for health reasons, but to reduce the cost of ingredients. The texture changes, it does not taste the same.
Yesterday, while browsing around the local supermarket, a sale for my favorite brand of wieners caught my eye. I casually glanced at the label and saw "turkey" as an ingredient. In the same section, their bologna was also on special. Paying attention now, I read the ingredients and saw turkey listed there also.
Previously I bought this brand of bacon just because I favored some of the company's other products, and so supported the company. At this point at least, it is inconceivable that chicken would be added to bacon (unless a form of "processed bacon product" becomes commonplace). However, there is no more reason for loyalty, as they too have succumbed.
Perhaps the message to me is to reduce my consumption of these types of products in favor of more fish and soy. After all, I don't (yet) foresee the day when mechanically separated chicken or turkey will be added to fish.
Raymond T. Kaya
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
www.reikialoha.com/raymond