Happy 4th of July from Major League Eating!

America is celebrating the Fourth of July today!  Around the USA, families and friends are getting together to enjoy a little food and fun as we (hopefully) remember the founding of this great nation 247 years ago. Here in the hot and steamy US Southern states, most families will roll out their Fourth of July fun as the sun starts to set.  Grilling hot dogs and hamburgers on the 4th and enjoying an evening of fireworks remains a tradition for many. An equally excited mosquito population is planning to be a vital part of tonight’s festivities, too. On the East Coast in New York City, today marks the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest which is held at Coney Island in Brooklyn. According to one source, the first Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest was held on July 4, 1916 – the same year which Nathan’s opened its first location in New York City.  An Irish immigrant named Jim Mullen won the first event with an impressive total of 13 hot dogs and buns consumed in ten minutes. Every July 4, contestants vie for significant monetary prizes and the coveted Mustard Belt in both the men’s and women’s categories.  These brave souls have ten minutes to consume as many Nathan’s Hot Dogs and buns as possible. Winning for his 16th men’s hot dog title today was American eating legend, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut.  He devoured 62 hot dogs and buns this year to retain his title.  Chestnut’s world record of 76 hot dogs and buns consumed in 2021 will remain hard to eat. Oops! I meant “beat”. The women’s champion retained her title today as well.  Miki Sudo downed 39.5 hot dogs in ten minutes on the Fourth of July today to claim her ninth Nathan’s championship. In case you were wondering, each Nathan’s Hot Dog and bun is nearly 300 calories.  Most Americans should consume about 2,000 calories per day (depending on your size and age).  Today’s contestants surpassed that number after downing their seventh hot dog of the day! During his record-setting year in 2021, Joey Chestnut (then 37 years of age) consumed 22,800 calories in only ten minutes.  He ate the equivalent of 11 days of food in just ten minutes. Now, where did I put that Alka-Seltzer?<br /> The two winners of today’s Hot D