Joey Chestnut Shares Big News About Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Joey Chestnut has declared his exciting comeback to the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest after skipping last year’s event due to a disagreement regarding vegan products.
“This competition holds immense significance for me,” Chestnut, 41, stated on Instagram on Monday, June 16. “It’s a beloved tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a significant part of my existence.”
Last year, Chestnut was barred from the annual July 4 hot dog eating contest after he signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a company producing plant-based meat alternatives.
“While I’ve collaborated with various brands, including some in the plant-based sector, those partnerships have never conflicted with my passion for hot dogs,” Chestnut explained. “To clarify: Nathan’s is the sole hot dog brand I have ever endorsed.”
He added, “I understand that there were differing interpretations, but I appreciate that we managed to reach a consensus.”
In 2023, Chestnut claimed victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the eighth consecutive year, devouring 62 hot dogs and buns.
“I’m thrilled to return to the Coney Island stage, doing what I love, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in hand!” Chestnut expressed. “Stay hungry!”
In Chestnut’s absence, last year’s contest saw Patrick Bertoletti take the men’s division by consuming 58 hot dogs and buns, while Miki Sudo won the women’s division with 51 servings.
In 2021, Chestnut set a world record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns to win the contest. He has achieved the title of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champion 16 times.
A representative for Major League Eating (MLE) informed Us Weekly in June 2024 that the decision to bar Chestnut was made after he chose to endorse “another hot dog brand” rather than Nathan’s.
“We are disheartened to hear that Joey Chestnut has opted to endorse a rival brand that offers plant-based hot dogs rather than participating in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” MLE stated at the time.
The statement further explained, “MLE and Nathan’s made significant efforts in recent months to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to an appearance fee and allowing him to compete in a rival unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day. For nearly twenty years, we have operated under the same fundamental hot dog exclusivity terms. However, it appears that Joey and his management have placed a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our longstanding relationship.”
The 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest will take place on Friday, July 4, at the corner of Surf and Stillwell in Coney Island.
