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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey Chestnut Fires Back After Nathan's Hot Dog Ouster
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change. It's a Fourth of July tradition — the beach, fireworks, and Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Except in 2024, things looked very different for 16-champion Joey Chestnut. The competitive eater was banned from the competition last year after he collaborated with the plant-based company, Impossible Foods. He wanted to promote their vegan hot dogs for "Meatless Mondays," but Major League Eating (MLE) didn't see it that way. Now, Chestnut is breaking his silence with The Blast. Advertisement 'I really didn't think my relationship with Impossible would affect anything with Nathan's,' Chestnut said. 'It didn't go against any of my previous agreements.' He also claimed that he "eats more meat than anybody," but still enjoys taking "a break on Mondays." He added, "And sometimes I still want something that tastes like meat, so that's where plant-based comes in.' Chestnut is open to returning to the world-famous competition in Coney Island, NY, and making sure there are no sponsor conflicts. Still, he admitted, "But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.' Instead of his beachside location in 2024, Chestnut headed to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX, to battle members of the Army for their annual 'Pop Goes the Fort' celebration. The event raised $106,000 for Operation Homefront, a nonprofit that supports military families, according to NPR. Advertisement Of course, Chestnut also hit the big time with Netflix and his hot dog rival, Takeru Kobayashi, in September 2024's TV special, Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef. He was able to break his personal record with 83 dogs which "broke the world record for most eaten in 10 minutes, without dunking them in water, in the history of competitive eating," according to Tudum by Netflix. Patrick Bertoletti won the men's Mustard Belt at the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest after eating 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Related: Why Joey Chestnut Has Been Banned From the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Joey Chestnut Fires Back After Nathan's Hot Dog Ouster first appeared on Men's Journal on May 27, 2025
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Joey Chestnut reveals if he expects to compete at Nathan's hot dog eating contest this summer
Joey Chestnut doesn't seem to think that the fence will be mended with Nathan's and Major League Eating in order for him to return to compete in the famed Fourth of July hot dog eating contest that takes place every year on the Coney Island boardwalk. Chestnut did not compete in last year's competition after an apparent issue that MLE and Nathan's had over a deal that the famed eater had with another hot dogs brand, Impossible Foods — the plant-based food company that makes vegan hot dogs. While Chestnut told The Blast he would want to come back, he doesn't expect to get a call to return to the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Advertisement Joey Chestnut celebrates after eating 57 hotdogs in five minutes at the Pop Goes the Fort eating contest on Fort Bliss, Texas on July 4, 2024. Justin Hamel for the NY Post 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he told the outlet. 'I'd work with them to make sure there weren't any conflicts with other sponsors. … But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.' The Post had exclusively broken the news last year that Chestnut would not be competing in the Nathan's contest due to the spat and that he had been offered $200,000 to compete in last year's contest, along with a $1.2 million, four-year contract going forward. Advertisement Chestnut also told The Blast that 'I still don't know exactly where our relationship stands' and that he was 'really surprised' about their reaction to his partnership with Impossible Foods. The partnership with Impossible Foods had been to promote 'Meatless Mondays,' an initiative that encourages people to try plant-based alternatives and is something that Chestnut said he takes part in. 'It was for Mondays, for people who aren't even eating meat,' he said about the partnership that ended up becoming an issue. Joey Chestnut is pictured at the Pop Goes the Fort in July 2024. Justin Hamel for the NY Post Advertisement Chestnut, who is a household name, had won the Nathan's hot dog eating contest 16 times, which included winning every year from 2016 until last year, when he did not compete. He holds the record for most dogs and buns eaten, with 76 during the 2021 contest.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joey Chestnut reveals July 4 plans after bitter fallout with Nathan's over iconic hot dog contest
Joey Chestnut would be open to competing in this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest - though he doesn't expect to be asked back amid his ban from the competition last year. Chestnut, who's won the famous July 4 event 16 times, did not compete last year in Coney Island due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a plant-based food company which sells vegan hot dogs. And while the legendary competitive eater would be happy to discuss a return to the competition, he's not holding his breath. 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he told The Blast. 'I'd work with them to make sure there weren't any conflicts with other sponsors… But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.'' Chestnut added to the publication that he 'didn't think' his deal with Impossible would have any impact on his eligibility for the Nathan's contest, which he first won in 2007. He also said that his partnership with Impossible Foods was merely to promote 'Meatless Mondays,' when he skips eating meat. 'I still don't know exactly where our relationship stands,' he said. Nonetheless, Major League Eating said at the time that it was 'devastated' by Chestnut choosing his Impossible Foods partnership over competing in the Nathan's competition. 'MLE and Nathan's went to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day,' they added in a statement. 'Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which he has dominated for years. We hope that he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.' A source told the New York Post that Chestnut was paid $200,000 to appear at last year's contest, and was even offered a $1.2 million, four-year deal beginning this year. MLE's Richard Shea insisted to NBC News that there was 'no ban,' though that contradicted what Chestnut said himself last year. 'I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years Im banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest,' Chestnut said in a post to X. 'I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title. 'To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with. 'This is apparently the basis on which I'm being banned, and it doesn't impact the July 4th event. While Chestnut looks unlikely to be involved in this year's July 4 contest, he is attempting to set a popcorn eating record on Monday. He wrote on Instagram that he'll be attempting to eat 34 servings of popcorn in eight minutes, with each serving amounting to 24 ounces. Chestnut is doing the event from a Rural King supermarket location in Indiana.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey Chestnut Reveals Where He Stands With Nathan's Months After Shocking Ban
Joey Chestnut is speaking out once again on his shocking ban from the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, a decision that stunned fans and reshaped one of America's most iconic holiday traditions. In an exclusive interview with The Blast, the 16-time champion opened up about the dramatic fallout with Major League Eating (MLE), which occurred after Chestnut partnered with Impossible Foods, the plant-based brand behind a new vegan hot dog. Joey Chestnut Says He Was 'Surprised' Nathan's Took Offense To His Plant-Based Partnership 'I really didn't think my relationship with Impossible would affect anything with Nathan's,' Chestnut admitted. 'It didn't go against any of my previous agreements.' Advertisement Chestnut explained that his collaboration with Impossible was meant to promote Meatless Mondays, encouraging people who occasionally skip meat to explore plant-based alternatives. 'I eat more meat than anybody,' he said with a laugh. 'But even I take a break on Mondays. And sometimes I still want something that tastes like meat, so that's where plant-based comes in.' Despite the partnership having nothing to do with the annual Fourth of July competition directly, MLE took issue with the move, ultimately leading to Chestnut's exclusion from the contest he's headlined for over a decade. 'I was really surprised they took offense to that,' he said. 'It was for Mondays, for people who aren't even eating meat. I still don't know exactly where our relationship stands.' Joey Says He'd Consider Returning To Nathan's, But Doubts They'll Ask / MEGA As for whether he'd ever return to the Coney Island stage if invited back, Chestnut didn't rule it out. Advertisement 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he said. 'I'd work with them to make sure there weren't any conflicts with other sponsors… But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.' Though his future with Nathan's remains uncertain, Chestnut continues to dominate the competitive eating scene, and fans haven't seen the last of him yet. Joey Chestnut Keeps Competitive Spirit Alive After Nathan's Ban / MEGA While his absence from the Coney Island stage marked a major shift in the holiday tradition, the reigning eating champ has kept his competitive edge sharp with a full plate of high-profile appearances and new challenges. Advertisement This past Independence Day, Chestnut went head-to-head with U.S. soldiers during the annual 'Pop Goes the Fort' celebration at Fort Bliss, bringing his signature intensity and crowd-pleasing energy to the patriotic showdown. Earlier in the year, he made waves at the Third Annual Siegel's Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship in Las Vegas, adding yet another quirky food feat to his growing list of accomplishments. Now, the 16-time Nathan's champion is preparing for his next big challenge: popcorn. Joey Chestnut Teams Up With Rural King For Popcorn World Record Attempt Teaming up with Rural King, Chestnut will attempt to set a new world record by devouring as much popcorn as possible in just eight minutes. The event celebrates the brand's nostalgic tradition of offering free in-store popcorn to customers, this time, with a competitive twist. Advertisement And for those wondering what happens when he's not competing, Joey Chestnut admits he still craves some good Mexican food, a juicy steak, or, if he's been sticking to his diet, a hearty plate of pasta, especially carbonara. "I've learned that I don't have to be married to one food," he told The Blast. The Undisputed King Of Competitive Eating With 55+ World Records And 16 Nathan's Titles / MEGA Joey Chestnut currently holds more than 55 world records in competitive eating, making him the most decorated eater in the sport's history. Chestnut gained national attention in 2007 when he defeated six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, ending the Japanese competitor's reign and kicking off his own. Advertisement Since then, he's won the contest 16 times, setting and breaking his own records, most notably eating 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes in 2021. But his dominance doesn't stop there. Joey Chestnut's Record-Smashing Feats Prove He's More Than Just The Hot Dog King Chestnut has devoured 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in just 8 minutes, and 47 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes. He's also made waves with non-traditional challenges, like eating 32 servings of popcorn (each weighing 24 ounces) and smashing shrimp cocktail, bratwurst, and taco records. His unmatched ability to consume massive quantities of food across a wide range of categories has cemented his status as a living legend in the world of competitive eating.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United States Alternative Protein Ingredients Market Size , Share Analysis, Growth Trends and Forecasts Report 2025-2033
The US Alternative Protein Ingredients Market is projected to surge to USD 20.79 billion by 2033 from USD 7.11 billion in 2024, marking a CAGR of 12.72%. This robust growth is driven by a rising demand for plant-based and eco-friendly protein sources, coupled with technological advancements and increasing health consciousness. Innovations in alternative protein products enhance market expansion. Key players include Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and Tyson Foods. The report offers an in-depth analysis of sources, applications, and regional markets. U.S. Alternative Protein Ingredients Market Dublin, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "United States Alternative Protein Ingredients Market Size and Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" has been added to offering. The U.S. Alternative Protein Ingredients Market is projected to grow significantly, with expectations to reach USD 20.79 billion by 2033, up from USD 7.11 billion in 2024, reflecting a healthy CAGR of 12.72%. This growth is chiefly driven by an increased demand for sustainable protein sources, technological advancements in food production, and a heightened health consciousness among consumers. The country's rapidly evolving food landscape has seen a marked shift towards plant-based diets, pushing innovation in alternative protein products. Alternative protein ingredients, derived from plants, insects, algae, fungi, and cultured cells, are gaining traction due to their lower environmental impact compared to animal proteins. Sources such as soy, peas, chickpeas, and precision-fermented proteins are leading the way, offering essential nutrients while minimizing ecological footprints. As consumer awareness grows about health and environmental impacts, so does the adoption of vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian diets, spurring market demand. Industry players such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are pioneering product innovations and expanding their offerings in stores and restaurants. Coalescing efforts from various sectors, major food tech players are heavily investing in research and development to enhance the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of alternative proteins. Key market growth drivers include the rise in consumer preference for plant-based diets, motivated by health, sustainability, and ethical considerations. Major food chains and retailers continue enhancing accessibility with diversified plant-based offerings. Meanwhile, technological innovations like precision fermentation and cellular agriculture are vital in enhancing product appeal and spearheading market expansion. Environmental concerns related to traditional animal agriculture-such as climate change and high resource usage-heighten the allure of alternative proteins, with government policies further supporting sustainable food production. However, the market faces challenges. High production costs often render alternative proteins pricier than conventional ones, limiting broader consumer adoption. Furthermore, consumer acceptance varies due to taste preferences and cultural biases. The market is segmented by source type (plant-based, insect-based, microbial-based), application (food & beverage, animal feed, dietary supplements), and region (East, West, North, South). Growth is region-specific, with the West, particularly California, being at the forefront of innovation due to its tech-savvy environment and health-oriented demographics. Prominent players in the sector include Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill Inc., Roquette Freres, Tyson Foods, Ingredion Incorporated, Novozymes, Kerry Group, and DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences, all focusing on scaling production and diversifying product lines. The industry's outlook remains optimistic, driven by ongoing innovation, consumer trends towards eco-friendly diets, and regulatory support for sustainable food systems. The U.S. Alternative Protein Ingredients Market is poised for robust growth as it aligns with consumers' evolving preferences and environmental priorities. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2024 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $7.11 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $20.79 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.7% Regions Covered United States Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction2. Research & Methodology3. Executive Summary4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.2 Challenges5. United States Alternative Protein Ingredients Market6. Market Share6.1 By Source Type6.2 By Application6.3 By Region7. Source Type7.1 Plant-Based Proteins7.2 Insect-Based Proteins7.3 Microbial-Based Proteins8. Application8.1 Food & Beverage8.2 Animal Feed8.3 Dietary Supplements9. Region9.1 East9.2 West9.3 North9.4 South10. Porter's Five Analysis10.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers10.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers10.3 Degree of Rivalry10.4 Threat of New Entrants10.5 Threat of Substitutes11. SWOT Analysis11.1 Strength11.2 Weakness11.3 Opportunity11.4 Threat12. Company Analysis12.1 Beyond Meat12.2 Impossible Foods Inc.12.3 Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)12.4 Cargill Inc.12.5 Roquette Freres12.6 Tyson Foods Inc.12.7 Ingredion Incorporated12.8 Novozymes12.9 Kerry Group12.10 DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment U.S. Alternative Protein Ingredients Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
