On the Fourth of July, we come together as a nation to celebrate America. No brand understands this better than Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.
Since 1967, albeit with occasional breaks, the company has sponsored an eating contest either on or around Independence Day. The proceedings have changed, as have the prizes and the fame that follows the event. The premise remains the same: Whoever eats the most hot dogs wins.
Since Takeru Kobayashi’s incredible 2001 debut, that’s meant putting down at least 50 hot dogs and buns (HDBs) in a ludicrously short timeline (10 minutes, down from 12 after the 2007 contest).
But there’s a little more to the competition than showing up and chowing down. The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has some strict rules that must be followed to complete one dedicated gurgitator’s quest for the mustard yellow (or pink, in the case of the women’s competition) belt.
Here’s a breakdown of what they include.
1
All competitors must be under contract with the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE)
The most common question surrounding the annual event — at least the one not related to the bathroom aftermath following it — is: Why isn’t former champion Takeru Kobayashi competing? That’s because the IFOCE, the governing board of the competition and largest competitive eating circuit in the world, requires all gurgitators at Coney Island to be part of its roster.
Kobayashi, a six-time champ, reportedly demurred at the federation’s demand to sign an exclusive contract and hasn’t been part of the event since 2009.
2
Competitors have 10 minutes to consume as many hot dogs as possible -- buns and all
Pretty simple. No shortcuts. Just eat a bunch of dogs.
3
Competitors can add to their hot dogs, but not take anything away
This means condiments are legal, though rarely used. Beverages, on the other hand, are allowed not only to wash down the hot dogs but also to dunk the buns into to create a softer, more malleable texture for gurgitators to power through. Most of the time that’s water, but some competitors use fruit punch. Carbonated beverages appear to be few and far between.
4
Messy eating can draw a yellow card warning
Officials dot the dais as roughly 20 gurgitators chow down, watching closely to ensure each dog is eaten in full. Eat too sloppily and it could draw a warning. Like in soccer, two yellow card warnings result in ejection.
5
A "reversal of fortune" means immediate disqualification
Yep, that means vomiting. Don’t puke. For all of our sakes.
6
Any hot dog in a competitor's mouth at the end of 10 minutes counts toward their total (assuming they finish it)
The official count measures hot dogs and buns (HDBs) down to the eighth. Like when 2000 champion Kazutoyo Arai ate 25 1/8th HDBs.
7
A tie for first place is settled with a five-dog eat-off
Each competitor gets five hot dogs. First one to finish them gets the mustard yellow belt. This has happened only once in the modern era, when Joey Chestnut downed his five HBDs in 50 seconds to out-kick Kobayashi.
