Eating Champ Crashes Contest

I like the red ones

Sherman Oaks – Carol Starr Schneider, aka the SJG, arrested at a July Fourth M&M-eating event, was freed Monday after a night in jail, looking a little bloated and saying she was still hungry.  Starr Schneider, in a pink T-shirt bearing the message "Free SJG" in green letters, was freed by a Van Nuys judge after she pleaded not guilty. The petite and girlish 52-year-old said she consumed only a sandwich and some Diet Coke in jail.


A contract dispute had kept the SJG out of Sunday's annual Hershey's Backyard M&M Eating Contest, but she showed up anyway.  "For starters, the event was held in my own backyard.  I was there as a spectator, just to cheer on my competitors," she said, bitterly.  Fans chanted for her, and "in the heat of it, I jumped on the buffet table, hoping they would let me eat a few handfuls of M&M's.  I'm particularly fond of the red ones."

The SJG's attorney, Mark Dewey, of Dewey, Cheatem & Howe, said his client was waved up onto the table after her sons and husband began chanting, "Let her eat!" 
"Shortly after she got on the table, she was grabbed from behind by officers," Dewey said. "Where the officers came from, I have no idea.  They certainly weren't invited."

The SJG was charged with resisting arrest, trespassing on her own property ("What's up with that?" she asked) and disorderly conduct.  Starr Schneider had refused to sign a contract with Major League Noshing, the fressers' equivalent of the NFL. On her well-loved blog, she said she wanted to be free to enter noshing contests sanctioned by other groups.  But a few days ago, she told the Daily News, "I really want to compete in the Sherman Oaks event.  Think of all the hostess gifts I'll receive."

Julie "Jaws" Chestnut, of Tarzana, won by downing 54 "fun size" packs of M&M's (plain) in two minutes.  After witnessing the drama involving Starr Schneider, Chestnut said, "I feel bad for her.  But not that bad."

Chestnut claimed the rainbow colored champion's belt and a $20,000 Prada purse, but was disappointed with her own performance. The 49-year-old was aiming for a record 60 "fun size" packs in one minute.  Last year, she ate 59 "fun size" packs, four more than the SJG.