Bayer® Aspirin Partners with Celebrity Chef Jeff Mauro for Immersive Dark Dining Experience This American Heart Month

Key Terms

cardiovascular disease (CVD) medical

A group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, such as heart attacks, strokes and chronic artery problems; think of the body’s circulation as a pump-and-pipe system where blockages or pump failures harm performance. Investors care because cardiovascular disease drives demand for drugs, devices, insurance and medical services, influences productivity and healthcare costs, and can affect the valuation, revenues and regulatory risk of companies in healthcare and related industries.

cardiovascular health medical

Cardiovascular health is the overall condition and functioning of the heart and blood vessels that circulate blood, including measures like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood flow. It matters to investors because demand for drugs, devices, tests and preventive services that affect heart and vessel health creates revenue opportunities and regulatory and clinical risks for companies; think of it like the engine and fuel system of a car, where how well it runs drives demand for repairs, upgrades and ongoing maintenance.

cardiologist medical

A cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels. Investors pay attention to cardiologists because their clinical judgments, participation in trials, and endorsements can shape whether new drugs, devices or procedures gain regulatory approval, clinical adoption and insurance coverage — much like a trusted mechanic whose sign-off determines whether a new car part reaches the market and sells well.

heart health risk assessment medical

A heart health risk assessment is a medical evaluation that estimates a person’s likelihood of developing heart disease or having a heart-related event by combining measurable factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, age, and lifestyle. For investors, these assessments matter because they influence demand for medical services, drugs, devices and insurance costs—similar to how a weather forecast guides plans, the assessment helps predict future healthcare needs and expenses that can affect company performance and market expectations.

This February, the brand continues its See Your Risks initiative by challenging denial and bringing unseen heart health risk factors into view.

WHIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- This American Heart Month, Bayer^® Aspirin continues its mission to help people uncover the heart health risk factors they may not see with the launch of the Heart to Heart Bistro presented by Bayer^® Aspirin. Created in partnership with Celebrity Chef, Jeff Mauro, the immersive dark dining experience invites Americans to confront one of the most dangerous and often overlooked barriers to heart health – denial – by bringing the unseen risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) into focus, starting with awareness.

Celebrity Chef, Jeff Mauro, Partners with Bayer Aspirin on Heart Health Awareness.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States, yet nearly half of heart attacks occur in people who were not previously considered high risk*. Many individuals dismiss their risk because they feel healthy, young, or assume a lack of symptoms means a clean bill of heart health. Bayer^® Aspirin aims to challenge these assumptions by helping people uncover the risk factors they may not see and empowering them to act.

At the center of this year’s campaign is the Heart to Heart Bistro, an immersive dark dining experience where guests are invited to come face to face with the realities of hidden heart risk. The experience intentionally places guests “in the dark,” via blindfolds, to mirror how cardiovascular risk factors often develop quietly, without symptoms, yet can still have serious, long-term consequences.

Guiding guests through the experience is Celebrity Chef and Bayer^® Aspirin Partner, Jeff Mauro, who, alongside another Bayer^® partner, a cardiologist, will provide insights throughout a three-course menu inspired by real-life heart health risk factors and the everyday excuses people use to stay in denial about their cardiovascular health. Each dish uses familiar flavors to highlight heart health risks—some we can change, some we can’t—and how small daily choices add up over time.

For Chef Mauro, the partnership is deeply personal. Heart disease has shaped his family’s history for generations – his great-grandfather and grandfather both passed away from heart disease, and his father later faced heart-related health challenges of his own. That lived experience brings added meaning to his collaboration with Bayer^® Aspirin, as he uses food – something deeply personal and familiar – to spark reflection, awareness, and conversation around heart health.

“Heart disease isn’t something I learned about in a textbook. My family has lived with it for generations,” said Jeff Mauro. “For a long time, the idea of risk felt invisible, until it suddenly wasn’t. When Bayer^® Aspirin shared this idea of using food and a dark dining experience to reflect how heart health risks can go unseen, it really resonated with me. This experience is about sparking honest conversations and reminding people that even when you feel fine, it’s worth taking a moment to understand your heart health, talk with your doctor and not stay in denial.”

Residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania are invited to enter the Dark Dining Experience Sweepstakes for a chance to win a reservation to dine at the Heart to Heart Bistro. To enter, individuals must take the first step toward addressing denial by completing the Bayer^® Aspirin Heart Health Risk Assessment**. The 2-minute online assessment helps bring personal risk factors into view—such as heart age—and provides insights consumers can use to guide informed discussions with their healthcare professionals. Residents outside of NY, NJ, CT and PA can take the Heart Health Risk Assessment at SeeYourRisks.com.

No purchase necessary. Offer valid Feb. 6 to Feb. 24 at 11pm ET. Must be at least 18 years old or age of majority to enter. Open to residents of NY, NJ, CT and PA only. All winners will be notified no later than Feb. 24. See official rules. Void where prohibited.

“For generations, Bayer^® Aspirin has been committed to advancing heart health education and helping people better understand their cardiovascular risk,” said Lisa Perez, General Manager and Vice President of Marketing at Bayer. “Heart disease often develops quietly, which is why education and awareness are so critical. Through initiatives like See Your Risks and experiences such as Heart to Heart Bistro, we’re continuing to lead with purpose – making heart health information more accessible and encouraging proactive, informed conversations between individuals and their healthcare professionals.”

As a trusted leader in heart health education for generations, Bayer^® Aspirin remains committed to helping people better understand their cardiovascular risk and encouraging proactive conversations between patients and healthcare professionals. By pairing education with an unforgettable sensory experience, the brand hopes to break cycles of denial that can delay life-saving action.

For more information on Bayer^® Aspirin Heart Health Month initiatives and to learn more about your cardiovascular risk factors, visit SeeYourRisks.com**. And follow along on Bayer^® Aspirin social channels (Instagram: @BayerAspirin_US; Facebook: @BayerAspirin).

*In a study of those who experienced a heart attack at ≤50 years.
**The Bayer^® Aspirin Heart Health Risk Assessment does not replace an assessment by a qualified healthcare professional. Always talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about your heart health.

About Bayer^® Aspirin

Bayer^® Aspirin is a trusted leader in providing heart health education. With a long-standing commitment to delivering health for all, Bayer^® Aspirin continues to lead the way in empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their cardiovascular well-being together with their healthcare providers.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260212317143/en/

Christin Miller

Director, Strategic Communications, Consumer Health

christin.miller@bayer.com

Source: Bayer