There’s a big conflict going on over fake beef.
As The Washington Post exclusively reported this week, champion eater Joey Chestnut won’t be able to devour a ton of hot dogs at the venerable Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th due to a new partnership with Impossible Foods.
“To set the record straight, I [Major League Eating] Or Nathan’s, they’re trying to change the rules that have been in place in terms of other partners that I can work with,” Chestnut revealed on Tuesday via X. “Apparently, this is the basis on which I was banned, and it doesn’t impact the Fourth of July event.”
Meanwhile, Major League Eating told the Post that it was “disappointed to learn that Joey Chestnut has been selected to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs.”
“For nearly two decades, we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity agreement,” the statement continued, “but it appears that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new affiliation with another brand over our longstanding relationship.”
Impossible Foods recently introduced the Impossible Beef hot dog, a plant-based hot dog that claims to have half the saturated fat of a traditional beef link and produce 84% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, use 77% fewer water, and use 83% fewer land than animal-based sausages.
So, nutritionally, how does the Impossible Foods hot dog compare to Nathan’s beef frank?
Keep in mind that Chestnut set a world record in 2021 by consuming 76 frankfurters and bread in 10 minutes.
Nathan’s Jumbo Restaurant Style Beef Franks vs. Impossible Beef Hot Dogs
- calorie: Nathan’s: 210 calories per hot dog; Impossible: 120 calories
- fat: Nathan’s: 20 grams, Impossible: 7 grams
- Saturated fats: Nathan’s: 8 grams, Impossible: 2.5 grams
- sodium: Nathan’s: 650 milligrams, Impossible: 430 milligrams
- Total Carbohydrates: Nathan’s: 2 grams, Impossible: 2 grams
- protein: Nathan’s: 8 grams, Impossible: 12 grams
While Impossible’s fake dogs have fewer calories and are lower in fat and sodium than their Nathan’s competitor, recent studies suggest that ultra-processed foods (UPF), including vegan meat substitutes, may increase the risk of heart disease and early death.
The researchers found that dietary increases in plant-based UPF were 12%. Deaths from heart disease are on the rise, undermining the notion that a processed, plant-based diet is healthier than other options.
But don’t praise traditional meat in a tube just yet.
Hot dogs have a terrible reputation in the health world.
In 2015, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified processed meats such as hot dogs, ham, sausage, corned beef, and beef jerky as “definitely carcinogenic to humans”, noting that “there is sufficient evidence from epidemiological studies that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer”.
The American Institute for Cancer Research suggests replacing processed meat products with fresh chicken and fish, while emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet rich in whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and whole grains.
But when it comes to the highly competitive hot dog wars, that advice can be hard to take.
