McLEAN, Va. -- Candy maker Mars Inc. is declaring its full support for a U.S. government proposal to include an added sugars declaration in the nutrition facts panel on product packaging.
"The chocolate and confectionery treats that we make contain sugar, an ingredient that contributes essential sweetness to the taste, but should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle," the company said.
The world’s leading health authorities—including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, and the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition—have recommended that people limit their intake their intake of sugars, particularly those added to foods, to no more than 10% of total energy/caloric intake.
Mars supports this recommendation, it said.
"One of the most important ways we can help is by giving consumers clear information about what’s in the products we manufacture so they can make informed dietary choices," the company added. "To make it easier for people to track the amount of added sugars in their diets, Mars is declaring its full support" for the labeling recommendation.
Click here for Mars' public comments.
Mars' commitment to help limit intake of added sugars to no more than 10% of total calorie intake, including its support for the new labeling proposal, builds on the steps it has taken over time to help consumers achieve their nutritional goals.
Mars currently:
- Has Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labeling on all of its chocolate, food and sugar confectionery products.
- Limits all its confectionery products to no more than 250 kilocalories (kcal) per serving.
- Offers sugar-free and low-sugar Wrigley gum.
- Has reformulated products to reduce trans fatty acids.
- Has reduced salt and saturated fats in its portfolio.
- Adheres to a strict marketing code that does not allow marketing communications to children under 12 for its food, chocolate, confections and gum products.
Going forward, Mars will:
- Support new labeling approaches (on pack and digital), where such approaches are supported by a coalition of science and nutrition experts, regulators, retailers, industry leaders and NGOs.
- Increase the number of its chocolate confections below 200 kcal per pack.
- Continue its efforts to improve and diversify the nutritional composition of our product portfolio.
- Promote the oral health benefits of sugar-free gum.
"We recognize that the health and nutritional challenges facing our society are daunting. As a business, we are hard at work developing an overall health and wellbeing strategy for our company and our diverse portfolio, and we are committed to being a part of the solution to this challenge," said Mars.
"We have a lot of work to do and we know we can’t do it alone. Supporting global public health efforts to limit society’s consumption of added sugars and labeling our products transparently are steps in the right direction for us and will benefit everyone who enjoys Mars products," it said.
Based in McLean, Va., Mars Inc. has net sales of more than $33 billion and six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience.
Mars brands include Petcare (Pedigree, Royal Canin, Whiskas, Kitekat, Banfield Pet Hospital and Nutro); Chocolate (M&M's, Snickers, Dove, Galaxy, Mars, Milky Way and Twix); Wrigley (Doublemint, Extra, Orbit and 5 chewing gums, Skittles and Starburst candies and Altoids and Lifesavers mints); Food (Uncle Ben's, Dolmio, Ebly, Masterfoods, Seeds of Change and Royco); Drinks (Alterra Coffee Roasters, The Bright Tea Co., Klix and Flavia); and Symbioscience (Cocoavia and Wisdom Panel).
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