Hotdog beef: will ‘greatest eater ever’ really miss Fourth of July contest?

Champion may be out as Nathan's of Coney Island find Joey Chestnut's deal with a plant-based rival hard to stomach

Competitive eating star Joey Jaws" Chestnut shocked the world of holiday gluttony this week, announcing through representatives that he would not compete at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hotdog eating contest on New York's Coney Island.

The move has not only upset longtime fans of competitive eating, but shone a light on a niche subset of gastronomy and the drama within it.