For Immediate Release:
July 2, 2026
Contact:
Andrew Grant 202-483-7382
Brooklyn, N.Y. –
On Saturday outside Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, a vegan bodybuilder in a star-spangled Speedo will give away 1,000 free vegan hot dogs to help spectators celebrate
America’s 250th birthday in an animal-friendly way and without clogging their arteries. This muscular man will show meat-eaters what a plant-powered body looks like and encourage everyone to swap cholesterol for compassion by choosing plant-based meals and snacks this Fourth of July and beyond.
“Nothing does a body better than a clean and cruelty-free diet,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is reminding people this Independence Day that anyone who wants to stay healthy and build serious muscle should ditch the meat and dairy.”
Where: Outside Nathan’s Famous, 1310 Surf Ave., Brooklyn (at the intersection of Surf and Stillwell Avenues)
When: Saturday, July 4, 12 noon
Why: The World Health Organization classifies processed meats—including hot dogs—as “carcinogenic to humans” and warns that consuming them increases the risk of colorectal cancer, while a review of 49 studies involving three million people found that animal-free eating safeguards against digestive system cancers. Meat and dairy products also contain cholesterol, which contributes to heart disease, whereas vegan foods contain zero cholesterol.
Cows develop friendships over time and mourn when a loved one dies or when they’re separated from each other, yet in the meat industry, they’re crammed into filthy feedlots and endure tail docking, castration, and dehorning—all without painkillers. Workers chop off pigs’ tails, clip their teeth with pliers, and castrate the males without any pain relief. At slaughterhouses, workers shoot animals in the head with a captive-bolt gun, hang them up by one leg, and cut their throats—often while they’re still conscious.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a cow is a dog is a boy. PETA’s free vegan starter kit can help anyone looking to make the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
