For more than 20 years, I have had one of America’s sweetest jobs, working for the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer. Over this time, much has changed in and outside of the confectionery industry.
Even though our beloved M&M’S taste the same as they always have, the consumer eating them and retailer selling them have certainly evolved. Today’s consumers are busier than ever and, as a result, their lifestyles demand greater flexibility and transparency as they make purchase decisions for themselves and their families.
At the same time, health issues surrounding obesity continue to be a major concern of not only the medical community, but also the broader American public. With these two issues converging, the food industry is facing a significant challenge: satisfying demand for convenience and choice while tackling health concerns related to overconsumption of calories, fat and sugar.
At Mars, these are areas where we have already taken the step forward: We were first to prominently display calorie counts on the front of all packaging, the first to consciously not market our chocolate to children and the first to lower levels of saturated fat.
And we’re not stopping there. That’s why we recently shared our support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which recommend limiting added sugar to 10% of daily intake, while also supporting the need for greater transparency in added sugar labeling.
Our products are treats, not everyday snacks or meal replacements. We must continue to earn the right to be part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle by providing greater choice, options and transparency. Supporting added-sugar labeling is consistent with our belief that transparency is important; the more we can educate and inform consumers about what they’re eating, the better. We believe chocolate treats have a place in a healthy diet, and consumers need information in order to find that fit for themselves and their own nutritional goals.
Going a step further, while today all of our chocolate products are no more than 250 calories per serving, when we launch new products we will make the shift to providing more options of less than 200 calories per serving.
We’ve begun to make strides in this area: Our newest iterations of the classic M&M’S—M&M’S Crispy and M&M’S Pretzel—are both less than 200 calories per pack. We also recently launched goodness-knows Snack Squares, a delicious, wholesome and satisfying snack at 150 calories with no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.
It’s a perfect combination of permissible indulgence: a better-for-you snack option that truly tastes good.
What our consumers consistently tell us is that they do not want us to compromise on the great-tasting chocolate treats they’ve grown up with and love. So while we are committed to improving the nutritional content of our products, making them better for consumers wherever we can, we will not do anything that impacts the great taste or quality that our consumers demand.
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