Nathan's Hot Dog Contest and Joey Chestnut have ended their partnership over a plant-based frank collaboration.

• Nathan's Famous will host the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest without Major League Eating's 16-time champion Joey Chestnut.
• After Chestnut opted to promote a competitor's plant-based hot dogs, the organization informed CNBC in a statement.
• Processed foods are increasingly being avoided by health-conscious consumers, leading to a decline in hot dog sales.

The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest will have one less dog this year.

Major League Eating has announced that it will not be renewing Joey "Jaws" Chestnut's contract for this year's competition, which is being hosted by.

A source close to the matter revealed that Chestnut was previously offered a $1.2 million, four-year contract with MLE to participate in the hot dog competition.

After Chestnut represented a competitor brand that sells plant-based hot dogs, the organization announced the end of their relationship. The New York Post reported that the brand was Impossible Foods, but the company denied any partnership with Chestnut.

The company claims that its plant-based hot dogs are healthier and more eco-friendly than traditional meat hot dogs, with half the saturated fat and 84% less greenhouse gas emissions generated.

For nearly two decades, contestants, including Chestnut, have been subject to the same "hot dog exclusivity provisions," the MLE stated in a statement.

Richard Shea, President of Major League Eating, expressed hope that Joey, a beloved champion and friend, would be present on July fourth to promote a veggie hot dog instead of theirs during the Independence Day celebration.

Nathan's accommodated Chestnut's requests, including allowing him to compete in a rival unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day to be streamed by an unnamed major platform, as per the MLE's decision.

In 2021, Joey Chestnut broke the Guinness World Record for consuming the most hot dogs in 10 minutes during the annual hot dog eating contest.

The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, is a Fourth of July tradition that is broadcast nationally on ESPN. This event is also a marketing strategy for Nathan's Famous, whose signature offering, the hot dog, is on a decline.

As consumers become more health-conscious and prioritize wellness, the sales of processed foods like hot dogs, including the American staple, have been declining.