Overview

• Negotiations are underway between Chestnut and Major League Eating over his potential return to the July 4th contest after he sat out in 2024 following a sponsorship dispute with Impossible Foods.
• Chestnut was barred from last year’s event because his deal with the plant-based hot dog brand conflicted with Nathan’s all-beef sponsorship requirements.
• Patrick Bertoletti won the 2024 Mustard Belt by consuming 58 hot dogs and has been training with packs of Nathan’s dogs several times a week ahead of this year’s competition.
• Chestnut holds Nathan’s record of 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes and set a broader competitive-eating mark of 83 franks at a separate event in 2024.
• Chestnut has said he would work with organizers to avoid sponsor conflicts if he returns to Coney Island.