Joey Chestnut is barred from competing in this year’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island due to a dispute over a product that contains no beef. Chestnut aimed to promote Impossible Foods’ new plant-based vegan hot dog, but the contest’s policy prohibits brand switching, even for the 16-time champion.
Major League Eating (MLE), which oversees global eating competitions including Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, stated it had previously accommodated Chestnut’s requests except for altering the rules, even allowing him to participate in a separate hot dog eating contest, which Chestnut accepted.
“Major League Eating and Nathan’s made significant efforts to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and permitting Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day,” The league announced.
MLE affirmed its policy of exclusive Nathan’s brand participation throughout Chestnut’s nearly two-decade competition history. The organization expressed that “Joey and his managers seem to have placed a new partnership with a different brand above our longstanding relationship.”
Chestnut has triumphed in 16 of the past 17 contests, setting a world record by consuming 76 hotdogs in 2021.
Last year, Chestnut reportedly received $200,000 for his appearance at the contest and was proposed a $1.2 million, four-year contract for future events.
