Madison's 2007 ""World's Largest Brat Fest"" raised an impressive amount of money for charity, but also packed a few pounds on patrons who ate a total of 157,665 bratwurst. Next year, the event should focus more on raising money than setting a world record for brat consumption.
Volunteers gave their $8-per-hour salary to charity, a commendable festival program. The city should feel proud about the money they raised for charity through these volunteers, plus brat sales and other carnival fares.
The city should not feel so proud, however, about the emphasis on mass consumption of brats. With roughly 30 grams of fat per bratwurst, the festival's goal of selling 200,000 bratwurst encouraged fest-goers to eat a total of more than 13,000 pounds of fat—all of these cooked on the world's largest grill, no less.
While the fest offered vegetarian Boca Brats as an alternative, encouraging over eating is not healthy, especially since non-vegetarian Wisconsinites don't fancy vegetarian brats and would opt for the fattier, more authentic version.
Future Brat Fests should leave a brat counter and an astronomical goal for brat consumption off the list of event features.
Although bratwurst are the centerpiece of the event, organizers can expand the menu and offer other food options that are healthier.
As for goals, perhaps the target should be an amount of money as opposed to an amount of food. While the event will certainly not break any world fundraising records, the charitable revenue will be welcomed.
