Joey Chestnut stops beef with Natans and returns to compete

The world-renowned competitive eater has officially decided his dispute with Natan’s famous and confirmed that he will once again take the stage on the fourth of July Hot Dog competition.

Chestnut was previously banned from the 2024 competition after taking a deal with impossible foods, promoting their herbal sausage, something that Natans saw as a direct threat to their iconic product for all nuts and claimed to be a violation of their contract.

The action agreement led to major counterpart, with Natan’s attraction of contact on the long -term relationship just weeks before the annual event.

But now Joey Chestnut is back and with buns.

“I’m proud to return to Natan’s famous Fourth July -Hot Dog competition,” Chestnut said in a statement. “This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture and a huge part of my life.”

While Chestnut acknowledged his partnership with companies in the herbal food space, he made it clear that there was never any confusion in his mind about where his loyalty lies. “To be clear: Nathan’s is the only sausage company I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I am grateful that we have been able to find common foundation.”

The “common land” comes in the form of a completely new, three-year approval of Natans and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (Ifoce), which organizes the annual July 4 event.

“I’m happy to be back on the Coney Island scene, do what I live to do and celebrate the fourth of July with sausages in my hands! Keep you hungry!” Chestnut added.

He refused to reveal the financial details of the store but confirmed with USA Today Sports that he is still cooperating with impossible foods.

George Shea, the founder of Ifoce and announcement for Natan’s competition, confirmed the chestnut is clear to compete.

“We are very happy to have Joey back and we think this will be the best competition ever,” Shea told USA Today Sports.

For the record, while Chestnut was out in the competition last year, claimed Patrick Bertoletti Men’s title by eating 58 sausages and buns in 10 minutes and fell 18 cards from Chestnut’s record setting 76.

“If they came back with similar conditions that we talked about last year, I would definitely consider it,” he said at that time. “I would work with them to make sure there were no conflicts with other sponsors … but frankly, I don’t think they want to go down that way. And yes, it’s a stammer. I love that competition.”

Drama began last year when Major League Eating announced, “We are destroyed to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells herbal sausages rather than competing in 2024 Natan’s famous Fourth July-Hot Dog competition.”

Joey then patted back and set the record straight. “I don’t have a contract with MLE or Nathan and they want to change the rules from previous years when it comes to other partners I can work with,” Chestnut said at that time. “This is apparently the basis for which I am prohibited, and it does not affect July 4th competition.”