No, this isn't from the CBS hit show, "Big Brother." This ones for real. A Chicago man ate 42 peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches in 10 minutes Last Wednesday to win a contest at Knott's Berry Farm that drew criticism for its possible negative health effects. The director of the Orange County Food Bank hoped the contest would increase awareness of hunger in Orange County. But it seems that some health professionals have nothing better to do than critcize this great mans ability to perform a task that not many of us would. Kind of like the hot dog eating champion, Joey Chestnut.
Because of the difficulty of swallowing peanut butter, the sandwiches used had a 2-1 ratio of jelly to peanut butter, according to Ryan Nerz, the media manager for Major League Eating, which bills itself as the world governing body for stomach-centric sports. Patrick Bertoletti, 22, received $1,500 for his victory in the inaugural Drum Corps International World Peanut Butter and Jelly Eating Championship, held in conjunction with the 2007 Drum Corps International Summer Music Games World Championships at the Rose Bowl tomorrow through Saturday.
"(My co-workers) always try to keep me eating all kinds of stuff," Bertoletti, a catering company cook, told The Orange County Register. "But I usually try to stay on a gnod diet to balance it." Competitors were allowed to dunk their sandwiches in liquid to make them easier to consume, Nerz said. As in all Major League Eating competitions, an emergency medical technician was present to provide aid in case of choking, he said.
A nutrition expert told the Register competitive eating contests can have long-lasting negative effects. "That much food can wreak havoc on your blood lipids," Robert Girandola, an associate professor of kinesiology at USC, told the Register. "We have a problem with people eating way too much food and the wrong kinds of food. I don't understand why people try to promote the concept that this is popular."
You must understand that Mr. Bertoletti is a professional. At 190 pounds, the International Federation of Competitive Eating (website) is so excited about the prospects of Patrick Bertoletti. Bertoletti brings the passion of youth, and a strong jaw, to every contest he enters. But he is always respectful of the elder eaters, quietly watching them to learn their secrets and the way of this world. In many respects he is an apprentice to veterans such as Rich LeFevre and Sonya Thomas, eaters who have seen it all. While the older eaters may have more titles, they do not have Bertoletti's energy. Since January of 2006, he has shown a tremendous surge in power on the circuit, and has enjoyed victories over nearly every other gurgitator. The only man he has yet to beat is the great Takeru Kobayashi of Japan. Look at this guys records:
16" Pizza: 19 Slices/Three Brothers Pizza / 10 Minutes/Aug. 12, 2006Chocolate: 1 lb, 15.5 oz Chicago Chocolate Hearts / 7 minutes/Feb. 13, 2006
Corned Beef & Cabbage: 10.63 lbs Corned Beef & Cabbage / 10 Minutes/ Mar. 16, 2007
Corned Beef Sandwiches: 11 8-ounce Corned Beef Sandwiches / 10 minutes/Jan. 11, 2006
Date Nut Bread: 29.5 Date Nut Bread and Cream Cheese Sandwiches / 8 minutes/December 20, 2006
Doughnuts, Cream-filled: 47 Glazed and Cream-filled Doughnuts/St. Pat's Day Chowdown / 5 minutes/March 17, 2007
Ice Cream, Short form: 1.75 Gallons Brooklyn Vanilla Ice Cream / 8 minutes/May 26, 2006
Jalapenos, Pickled: 177 Pickled Jalapeno Peppers/Sky City Casino / 15 Minutes/Aug. 26, 2006
Key Lime Pie: 10.8 pounds Key Lime Pie / 8 minutes/Mar. 21, 2006
Kolaches: 44 Cherry Kolaches/GoldenPalace.net at the Nebraska State Fair / 8 Minutes/Sept. 2, 2006
Posole: 9 lbs, 3 ounces Posole/ Sky City Casino / 12 Minutes/ Nov. 18, 2006
Shoo-Fly Pie: 11.1 Pounds Shoo-Fly Pie/ Rockvale Outlets / 8 Minutes/ June 23, 2007
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie: 7.9 lbs Strawberry Rhubarb Pie / 8 minutes/July 29, 2006
Strawberry Shortcake: 15.25 lbs Strawberry Shortcake / 8 Minutes/June 17, 2007
Whole Turkey: 4 pounds, 12.8 ounces roast turkey meat/Thanksgiving Invitational / 12 minutes/ Nov. 22, 2006
Hello? Doctor? This was a CONTEST! Not a lifestyle. Get your head out of the peanut butter and leave these events alone. They are for public amusement and if this guy want's to ravage his intestines, that's his choice. Your time would be better spent trying to solve a serious health issue, say, Lindsay Lohan?
