Celebrity chef Anthony Sedlak fires up the competition for second annual Canadian chili cook-off

--Canadians invited to bring the heat and enter their spiciest chili
    recipes in the ZANTAC(R) Chili Challenge--

TORONTO, Oct. 26 /CNW/ - There are few dishes that bring out as much pride and passion from Canadians as chili. With football season and plunging temperatures in full swing, there is no better time for chili enthusiasts to get back into the kitchen, perfect their chili recipes and put them to the ultimate test in the second annual ZANTAC(R) Chili Challenge.

Beginning today, Canadians can visit www.chilichallenge.ca to enter their best and original chili recipes for a chance to cook-off with Anthony Sedlak, host of The Food Network's The Main in Toronto in February.

"Chili is a dish that people really invest their time in making and last year's competition truly showed how inventive and spicy Canadians can get!" said Sedlak. "What makes chili so great is that there are so many different ways to create a bang up batch. I can't wait to see the recipes that Canadians submit this year."

Thousands of Canadians participated in the ZANTAC(R) Chili Challenge last year by submitting and voting for their favourite recipes. With original ingredients like home-roasted habaneros and whiskey, last year's winning recipe, Fire Roasted Hot Chili, stood out as a winning and fiery choice.

Anthony was so impressed with the creativity of last year's entries that they inspired him to up the ante and create a brand new, five-alarm signature recipe sure to satisfy the spiciest of palates and the most discerning chili connoisseurs.

"Canadians love to indulge in comfort foods, especially as winter fast approaches," said Stephanie Wong, Brand Manager, ZANTAC(R). "But many people shy away from spicy foods like chili because they are a common trigger for heartburn. We want to make sure Canadians continue to get fired up about chili and that they're able to enjoy it, worry free."

Two-thirds of Canadians suffer from heartburn(1), causing many to give up their favourite foods like chili. What many sufferers don't realize is that heartburn can be prevented by taking an over-the-counter medication like ZANTAC(R) before eating fatty and spicy foods.

More heartburn and chili facts are available on www.chilichallenge.ca as are all of the recipes, including Anthony Sedlak's signature creation. Visitors are able to view and vote on their favourites and the three finalists, who are determined by consumer votes, will participate in a live chili cook-off event to be held in Toronto in February. Hosted by Anthony, the cook-off will give finalists the opportunity to see if their recipe has what it takes to be named the 2010 ZANTAC(R) Chili Challenge winner.

The grand prize winner, selected by a panel of judges, will receive an all-inclusive trip for two to the Mayan Riviera. The last date for recipe submissions is December 1, 2009. The last day for voting is December 18, 2009.

For more information about the competition, Anthony Sedlak or ZANTAC(R) products, please visit www.chilichallenge.ca.

About ZANTAC(R)/McNeil Consumer Healthcare products

Taken before a meal, over-the-counter medications such as ZANTAC(R) heartburn reliever can be used to prevent heartburn symptoms from occurring. Using ZANTAC(R) 75(R) or Maximum Strength ZANTAC(R) 150(TM) will help heartburn sufferers stop worrying about what they eat. ZANTAC(R) 75(R) and Maximum Strength ZANTAC(R) 150(TM) are marketed by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, division of Johnson & Johnson Inc. McNeil Consumer Healthcare markets a broad range of well-known and trusted over-the-counter (OTC) products around the globe. McNeil Consumer Healthcare Canada markets products in the adult and pediatric pain relief, allergy, gastro-intestinal and nicotine-replacement categories.

References
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    (1) http://www.pfizer.ca/english/newsroom/press%20releases/default.asp?s=1&year=2001&releaseID=65

For further information: Julia Alter or David Kelly, Edelman Public Relations, [phone], [e-mail], [e-mail]; Tina Peyregatt, Senior Manager, Public Relations, Johnson & Johnson Inc., [phone], [e-mail]