I heard back from the hotdog company - I don't think their explanation is the reason. It looks more like something that happened during processing:
Thank you for visiting our website.
I apologize that your Turkey Franks had an unusual appearance. I truly understand your concerns.
This is a very unusual situation, as we have extensive quality control programs in all our facilities, including on-line and finished product inspections. Every effort is made to ensure that all our products reach our consumers in a satisfactory condition, but we have limited control once they leave our facilities. Irregular storage conditions during distribution, such as temperature abuse or humidity can negatively impact the product's appearance. We are sorry that these circumstances have impacted you, and we will forward your comments to the appropriate staff to help prevent this from happening again.
I hope this information is helpful, and again, I apologize for this experience. Thank you for your loyalty and I hope that your next experience is a good one.
Consumer Relations Department