Competitive Eater Joey Chestnut Banned from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for Endorsing Vegan Hot Dogs

Joey Chestnut, winner of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for the past several years, has been banned from competing in 2024. Chestnut signed a deal to represent plant-based meat company Impossible Foods, whose products include a vegan hot dog. Nathan's contest organizers have a policy that competitors must exclusively represent their brand of hot dogs. Chestnut was offered a $1.2 million, 4-year contract to continue competing for Nathan's but turned it down to partner with Impossible. Major League Eating says it's "devastated" by Chestnut's choice but hopes he'll return when not representing a rival brand. Chestnut has won the men's competition 16 times, including every year since 2016. His world record is 76 hot dogs eaten set in 2020.