Stop Sponsoring Food Eating Contests
Companies who sponsor or support food eating contests don’t get enough bad PR.
Even associated deaths don’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm from sponsors (did you hear about the man dying from a cockroach eating contest?)
Here’s a past-time (sport?) where people eat disgusting amounts of food only to throw it up – while people are starving in the world; in America, in our own communities – and then are given a trophy and money for it! Does anyone else think there’s just something inherently wrong about this?
And yet, millions of dollars are spent by sponsors every year to support these events, because, well sadly, it’s good PR for the company.
“Major League Eating” is the world body that oversees all professional eating contests. The organization, which developed competitive eating and includes the sport’s governing body, the International Federation of Competitive Eating, helps sponsors to develop, publicize and execute world-class eating events in all varieties of food disciplines.
“The National Collegiate Competitive Eating Association” is the nation’s only recognized … The NCCEA Student Eaters compete for scholarships from our Sponsors.
Sigh.
Wondering who some of the big name brand sponsors are?
- Pizza Hut: Sponsors the Pizza Hut P’Zone Chow-lenge (which by the way aired on Spike television’s Guys’ Choice Awards TV show.)
- Heinz ketchup: Sponsor of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
- Wild Turkey: Wild Turkey Eating World Championship
- Coca-Cola and Smirnoff have even associated themselves with MLE competitions.
- Old Navy, Famiglia, Sirius, . . . the list goes on and on.
Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “putting your money where your mouth is” doesn’t it?
I say let’s hold our brands accountable for not only good products, but good social sponsorships as well – stop sponsoring food eating contests!
And special thanks to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Earns SICK Award) and Ryan Reynalds (Competitive Eating) for helping to spread a little bad PR on the subject.