Abbott Announces Winners of "CFChef Challenge" Recipe Contest as Part of Online Nutrition Resource for People Affected by Cystic Fibrosis

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Nov. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the winners of the CFChef Challenge, a recipe contest to launch CFChef, an online resource developed to help meet the unique nutritional needs of people living with cystic fibrosis (CF).  Four winners were selected from a pool of original recipes and traditional recipes adapted for a CF-focused diet.  

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Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and pancreas of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States.  Many people living with CF are unable to properly digest food due to lack of digestive pancreatic enzymes, which may result in malnutrition.  To achieve proper nutrition, individuals with CF need to consume more calories than a person without the disease.

"Because many people living with CF are unable to properly absorb nutrients such as fat, carbohydrate, protein and vitamins, good nutrition is extremely important," explains Suzanne Michel, a registered dietitian at a leading children's CF center in Philadelphia.  "Each of the winning recipes from this year's contest provides innovative, but practical, options to help address the challenges of a CF-focused diet."

Winners include: Eleanor Delewski for "Banoffee Stuffed French Toast" (breakfast category); Erin Burns for "Quick and Colorful Chicken Salad" (lunch category); Damian Peterson for "The Deli-licious Burger" (dinner category); and Eric Marten for "No Bake Peanut Butter Bars" (snack category).

The winning recipes were selected based on nutritional value, ease of preparation, the "story" behind the recipe, and taste.  In addition to being named this year's "CFChef" in his or her category, each winner received a digital nutritional scale, and has his or her recipe featured in the CFChef Online Cookbook at www.Chef4CF.com.  Recipes were judged by a panel of experts, including: Boomer Esiason, CF advocacy leader; Suzanne Michel, CF expert dietitian; Michael Symon, a Food Network "Iron Chef"; and Ali Christensen, "America's Got Talent" contestant and CF patient.  

"Abbott is committed to providing support for the CF community in a variety of ways," said Jim Hynd, divisional vice president, Metabolics, GI Care and Dyslipidemia, Abbott.  "The CFChef Challenge and website are new nutrition-focused tools we have developed to help make living with CF more manageable."

About CFChef

CFChef is an Abbott-sponsored online resource to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families better understand the unique nutritional needs of people living with the disease.  In addition to serving as an educational resource, CFChef is a place where families, friends and caregivers of people with CF can share recipes.  Visit CFChef at www.Chef4CF.com.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.  The company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's website at www.abbott.com.

SOURCE Abbott Laboratories