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American Joey Chestnut won his 17th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in his return from a ban on Friday (July 4), officially eating 70.5 hot dogs and buns.
Patrick Bertoletti, who won the Nathan's contest in Chestnut's absence, finished second with 46 hot dogs and buns eaten. Last year, Nathan's said Chestnut, who won eight consecutive championships prior to the 2024 event, was banned from its annual Fourth of July contest due to his endorsement of Impossible Foods' vegan frankfurter.
Bertoletti ate 58 frankfurters and buns in 10 minutes in 2024, while Chestnut, who instead competed in the Fort Bliss July 4th Celebration, ate 57 frankfurters and buns in half the time.
"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 wrote in a thread of posts shared on his X account last June. "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.
"Sadly, this is the decision Nathan's and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment. To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you’ll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!"