Sweet Breath becomes first breath freshener to join "KISS OFF".

GILROY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 17, 1997--Sweet Breath, a liquid drop breath freshener distributed by Health-Tech Inc. of Totowa, N.J. has become the first entrant in The Great Gilroy Garlic KISS OFF, Ed Mauro, President of the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, announced today.

The KISS OFF, organized by The Garlic Festival to determine the single most effective breath freshener in the world, is scheduled July 15 in San Jose. A group of male panelists will consume a meal of garlic calamari and garlic french fries before partaking in separate breath freshening products and then kissing the official judge.

The female arbiter will then identify the panelist with the freshest kiss and the breath enhancing product that individual used.

Invitations have been issued to all breath freshening products including Binaca, Breath Asure, CareFree Gum, BreathSavers, Breatheaze, Tic Tac, Clorets, Dentyne, Mint-A-Burst, NU-BREATH, Crystal Breath, Altoids, Ice Drops, Liquid Cool and IceBreakers.

"In our conversations with representatives of Sweet Breath, they were ecstatic over the opportunity to resolve once and for all which breath freshener is the most effective," Mauro said. "Their response has been most gratifying in light of the fact we're after the same thing."

Mauro made three additional announcements pertaining to the KISS OFF:

-- Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery at 33 E. San Fernando Street in San Jose has been selected for the site of the KISS OFF, as much for the quality of the restaurant's garlic french fries as for its accessible location;

-- Holly Young, president of Events To Order in San Diego, Calif., has been retained as competition coordinator. Young has officiated numerous events throughout California including Big Wheel Races at County Fairs in San Diego, Lancaster, Antioch and Sacramento and was officiating crew chief at The Ladies Rolling Pin Throw World Championships in San Jose in 1994 and 1995; and

-- The KISS OFF committee is currently reviewing 47 applications for the female magistrate position.

The 19th annual Gilroy Garlic Festival is scheduled July 25-27, 1997 in Gilroy, a Central California community 30 miles south of San Jose off Highway 101.

CONTACT: Gilroy Garlic Festival

Peter Ciccarelli, 408/476-7275