Joey Chestnut Banned from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Major League Eating rules that Chestnut cannot compete in the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a rival of Nathan's.

Joey Chestnut, the legendary competitive eater known for his prodigious feats at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, has been banned from the 2024 edition of the iconic event due to a partnership with a rival brand.

Major League Eating, the governing body of competitive eating, announced Tuesday that Chestnut would not be allowed to compete in the July 4 spectacle as long as he maintains his deal with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat substitute company.

This ruling stems from a recent agreement between Chestnut and Impossible Foods, which launched a vegan wiener. Nathan's, the exclusive hot dog supplier for the contest, views this partnership as a conflict of interest and has thus barred Chestnut from participation.

Chestnut, who has won the contest 16 times, expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that he was "gutted" to learn of his ban through the media. He emphasized his love for the event and its patriotic significance, highlighting his year-round training to defend his title.

To clarify, Chestnut does not have contracts with Major League Eating or Nathan's, but the organizations intend to modify the rules regarding partnerships for future competitions. This change has reportedly prompted Chestnut's ban, which does not extend beyond the July 4th event.

Despite his exclusion from Nathan's, Chestnut remains an active competitor. He travels extensively throughout the year, setting numerous records in various eating challenges. Some notable achievements include consuming 32 Bic Macs in 38 minutes, 44 Raising Cane's chicken fingers in five minutes, and 61.5 four-ounce pork roll sandwiches in 10 minutes.

In a testament to his dominance, Chestnut memorably subdued a protester at the 2022 Nathan's event with a chokehold, unfazed as he proceeded to devour 63 hot dogs and buns.

Widely acknowledged as the greatest of all time in his sport, Chestnut has consistently won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest every year but one since 2007. His upset loss to Matt Stonie in 2015 was followed by an eight-year winning streak, culminating in his record-setting 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021.

Last year, Chestnut defended his title by consuming 62 hot dogs within the allotted 10 minutes. His absence from the 2024 contest is sure to disappoint fans and fellow competitors alike, casting a shadow over the annual Independence Day celebration.