Pepto-Bismol and Nick Cannon Heat Things up at this Year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest

CINCINNATI, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pepto-Bismol announced today that for the second year in a row, Independence Day is marked by red, white and … PINK? In an act of true gastro-patriotism, Pepto-Bismol has decided to be the stomach-remedy sponsor of the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest for the second year in a row.

To make this contest a celebration to remember, Pepto-Bismol has enlisted the help of grill master and celebrity Nick Cannon to serve up some franks and fun this year. On his 70-hot dog grill, Cannon will fire up the coals to cook hot dogs for the contest and will of course be there to serve contestants their dose of Pepto if they need it to keep the party going.

"You better believe I know my way around a grill, but my skills are so good, that sometimes my party guests eat a little too much," said Cannon. "That's why I keep Pepto on-hand at the house. I know it's got my guests covered, just like it has the contestants covered at Coney Island."

After Nick grills the hot dogs for the crowd, all eyes will turn to the main event, which will feature a new addition this year: the first-ever women's competition, of which Pepto-Bismol is an official sponsor. While women have historically competed in the general co-ed competition, this is the first time their talents will be showcased in a separate contest.

"Pepto-Bismol loves the new twist on the Nathan's contest and jumped at the chance to be a part of the event," said Kristen Stutz, assistant brand manager at Procter & Gamble. "Regardless of who is competing, Nathan's is the epitome of summer celebrations, and we want to make sure people know if they happen to eat one too many hot dogs or chicken wings at their summer events, Pepto has their backs."

It is only natural that competitive eaters may have an upset stomach after chowing down on an extraordinary amount of hot dogs in a matter of minutes. Pepto wants to make sure the eaters are covered should they experience any tummy troubles, so that they can have a good time and continue celebrating!

"We're thrilled to have Pepto-Bismol on board as a sponsor again this year," said George Shea, MLE president and emcee of the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. "Joey Chestnut has his Pepto at the ready after every contest, and we know he might very well need it again after defending his title this July fourth."  

The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual event that has become part of America's Fourth of July celebration. The event on Coney Island winds through many great American cities, with regional competitions occurring at a variety of Nathan's Famous retail locations. The champion of each qualifier event earns a coveted spot to compete at the original Nathan's Famous in Coney Island. Major League Eaters and aspiring underdogs will set the Coney Island table one 10-minute qualifier at a time.

For more information please visit www.facebook.com/peptobismol.  

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About Pepto

Pepto-Bismol is the only leading brand that can provide soothing relief for five different stomach symptoms: nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach and diarrhea. Manufactured and distributed by Procter & Gamble for adults and children 12 years of age and older, Pepto-Bismol is available in multiple forms (regular strength liquid, maximum strength liquid, chewables, and caplets) and flavors (Peppermint with InstaCool, Cherry, and Original wintergreen).

The brand also offers Children's Pepto Antacid for children under 12 years of age.

For additional information, please visit www.pepto-bismol.com.

About Procter and Gamble

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Dawn(R), Gain(R), Pringles(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella(R), Gillette(R), Braun(R) and Fusion(R). The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

About Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest

The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held at high noon every year since 1916, the year Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs opened on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, N.Y. The official 2010 Nathan's Famous Dot Dog Eating qualifying circuit visited more than 12 cities, including: Las Vegas, Nevada; San Jose, Calif., Foxboro, Mass.; Hartford, Ct.; Atlanta; Atlantic City, N.J.; Phoenix; Norfolk, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Fishkill, N.Y. Major League Eating, the governing body of all stomach-centric sport, sanctions the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Circuit and ensures the contests are judged professionally and that safety standards are in place at each event. For more information, please visit www.ifoce.com.

SOURCE P&G