CELEBRITY CHEF ANTHONY SEDLAK EMBARKS ON A CROSS COUNTRY QUEST TO FIND
CANADA'S BEST CHILI

--Canadians invited to bring the heat and enter their best chili recipes in the third annual
ZANTAC® Chili Challenge--

TORONTO, Nov. 15 /CNW/ - As the weather gets colder, so does the greater need for food that warms the soul. A traditional comfort food favourite for this time of year, homemade chili is definitely a dish for colder temperatures however, many avoid it for fear of heartburn.  Encouraging Canadians to enjoy the foods they love without the worry, for the third consecutive year, the ZANTAC® Chili Challenge is back- with a twist!  For the first time, the challenge is taking on a regional component, hosting mini cook-offs across Canada. The top three chili recipes from each will compete for the grand prize in the final cook-off in Toronto in February 2011.

It's time for chili enthusiasts across the country to gather their spiciest ingredients, get back into their kitchens and perfect their recipes for this year's ultimate test. Bringing something new to this year's competition, Food Network personality and longtime host of the ZANTAC® Chili Challenge Anthony Sedlak, will make stops across the country in a search for Canada's best! Chili lovers can visit www.chilichallenge.ca to enter their tastiest, original recipes beginning today.

On December 14, 2010, Canadians will be able to view all submitted entries and vote for their favourites. A new element to the challenge this year, the top three recipes with the most votes in each of Eastern, Central and Western Canada will be invited to a mini cook-off in their region, the week of January 17, 2011 where they will be judged by Anthony Sedlak. One winner from each competition will come to Toronto in February, 2011 where they will compete against two-year reigning and undefeated ZANTAC® Chili Challenge champion Mike Callaghan, in an attempt to take the title and win the grand prize trip for two to the Mayan Riviera.

"Canadians love their chili and from what we've seen in the past two years of the ZANTAC® Chili Challenge, they really bring the heat and create some great dishes," said Sedlak. "We've seen some unique cooking methods over the years and the use of some very interesting ingredients. I'm looking forward to this cross-Canada experience and seeing the creativity, flavour and fire this year's competitors bring to the table."

Thousands of Canadians submitted and voted for their favourite recipes in last year's ZANTAC® Chili Challenge and the winning recipe, Wiri Wiri Hot Chili, was a stand-out with unique ingredients like Wiri Wiri peppers, dark chocolate and bourbon. 

"Even though the cold winter months may inspire Canadians to indulge more in comfort foods like chili, many stay away from spicier food options because of a fear of heartburn," said Catalina Leiva-Blanco, Brand Manager, ZANTAC®.  "Each year, the ZANTAC® Chili Challenge shows Canadians that they can push themselves to the limit and still enjoy the foods they love, no matter how spicy, without having heartburn stand in their way."

Many Canadians suffer from heartburn, causing them to give up their favourite foods. What many sufferers don't realize is that heartburn can be prevented by taking an over-the-counter medication like ZANTAC® before eating fatty and spicy foods.

More heartburn and chilli facts are available on www.chilichallenge.ca as are all of the recipes, including Anthony Sedlak's signature chilli dish, created especially for this third year of competition.

The last date for recipe submissions to this year's ZANTAC® Chili Challenge is December 13, 2010. The last day for voting is December 29, 2010.

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

About ZANTAC®/McNeil Consumer Healthcare products
Taken before a meal, over-the-counter medications such as ZANTAC^® heartburn reliever can be used to prevent heartburn symptoms from occurring. Using ZANTAC^® 75^® or Maximum Strength ZANTAC^® 150^TM will help heartburn sufferers stop worrying about what they eat. ZANTAC^® 75^® and Maximum Strength ZANTAC^® 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.

For further information:

Michelle Elmaleh or Julia Alter
Edelman Public Relations
416-849-3590 / 416-849-2996
[email protected] /[email protected]

Tina Peyregatt
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Johnson & Johnson Inc.
905-968-2028
[email protected]