A food champ has been awarded a 'meat-eating world champion' belt after demolishing a 3lb 2oz steak in just four minutes and 50 seconds. Charity worker Max Stanford, better known in the eating competition world as Max vs Food, reigned victorious over runner-up Tunny vs Food, who completed the challenge in 10 minutes, more than double the time it took Max.
In joint third place was fellow contenders Kyle V Food and Food and the Beast, neither of whom were able to finish the mighty meat, chowing down approximately 30oz each.
35-year-old Max devoured the hefty 2,485-calorie steak at The George Pub & Grill in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and was left dripping in blood after his efforts. To put that into context, it's the equivalent of eating 12 quarter-pounder burgers, and falls just shy of a man's recommended daily intake of 2,500 calories.
This comes as Max appears to be enjoying something of a winning streak. The day before the contest, he gobbled down 102 Jaffa Cakes in three minutes, coming out on top, while the week before he ate 1kg of Frosties in just six minutes, emerging as the victor.
Max, from Brixton, southwest London, said: "Looking back at the video I looked a bit crazy and primitive, I just went into beast mode and tried to eat as much as I could.
"At the start, I had a knife and fork in my hand but then I just intuitively picked it up with my hands and started eating. I wasn't thinking about it too much, I was just thinking of attacking it."
He continued: "I was pretty worried ahead of it, especially as it was my first steak challenge and I didn't know how to handle it. I normally have better manners when I'm having my dinner at home."
According to the founder of the British Eating League Craig Harker, Max had set a brand new UK and European record, given that there isn't yet an established 50oz one in the UK.
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