I'm not talking about tasting and critiquing, but about the ghastly contests where contestants cram as much food down as possible in a short amount of time. Here in the USA there is an annual hot dog eating contest, and the winner managed to eat (?) over 60 hot dogs. There are also contests for hot chilies eating. This is not a good thing. Food should be enjoyed. Chilies have their place in some cuisines, but shouldn't be gobbled up to the point where the palate is dead. I won't comment on hot dogs. Encouraging overeating, not tasting or enjoying food, and perhaps encountering the danger of choking--not good.
I scroll past those quickly if they're ever featured in the news. I've found them awful and unnessecary since I first learned it was an actual contest.
I can't understand the mentality of people who enter (or arrange) these contests. Have they no regard at all for their health?
No Eileen, neither sponsors nor participants have any regard for health or manners. A few years ago a newspaper sponsored a hot dog eating contest for children! There was a front page picture of a little girl, perhaps seven or eight, cramming food into her mouth. Several people pointed out (and I do mean pointed) that this was very dangerous for the children since the probability of choking was high. There hasn't been that contest since.
OMG what were her parents thinking by letting her enter?!! Thank goodness that the children's contest no longer takes place. They really should abandon the adult ones too.
Yes I completely agree with you too. It is disgusting and wasting good food. A new trend started by the Koreans is even worst and it is called "mukbang". Definition according to Google Dictionary box noun (especially in South Korea) a video, especially one that is live-streamed, that features a person eating a large quantity of food and addressing the audience. "she is eating two pounds of lobster in this mukbang" Ewe!!!