Joey Chestnut Quits Hot Dog Contest Over Vegan Dog Dispute

Joey Chestnut, the sixteen-time champion of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, will not be competing in this year’s July 4 event, Major League Eating announced. Chestnut, known for his dominance in the competition held at Coney Island, New York, has decided to be represented by Impossible Foods, a plant-based food company, instead of Nathan’s Famous, the traditional host of the event.

Major League Eating expressed disappointment, stating that they had made significant efforts to accommodate Chestnut and his management team, even allowing him to participate in a rival eating contest on Labor Day. Chestnut’s decision to represent a brand that sells plant-based hot dogs led to his withdrawal from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, where he has reigned supreme for eight consecutive years.

Chestnut’s legacy in competitive eating is well-established, particularly his victory over Takeru Kobayashi in 2007 with a then-record 66 hot dogs. Since then, he has consistently dominated the July 4 contest, setting new records along the way. Despite a loss to Matt Stone in 2015, Chestnut has been nearly unbeatable, setting multiple records, including 76 hot dogs consumed in 2021.

In 2023, Chestnut was once again victorious, with DraftKings Sportsbook placing him as the clear favorite with a moneyline of -4,000. His closest competitors, Geoffrey Esper and Nick Wehry, were far behind in the odds, demonstrating Chestnut’s unparalleled skill and dominance in competitive eating.