U.S. Edition
Have you ever stood near the checkout of a grocery store and stared at the rack of chocolate bars, debating whether anyone would judge you for buying the king-size?
You know the regular size is enough to satisfy your craving, but the bigger candy bar is only 40 cents more and it just... Looks. So. Good.
Worry no more - Mars, Inc. is going taking that decision out of your hands. The company that produces M&Ms, 3 Musketeers, Snickers and Twix bars has vowed to stop shipping any Mars chocolate products that exceed 250 calories per portion by the end of 2013. Right now a regular Snickers bar has 280 calories and each Twix cookie bar has 130 calories (but let's be honest, who eats just one?).
Mars will most likely stop producing its king-sized candy bars all together since the large Snickers bar weighs in at 510 calories.
"We have a responsibility to help our consumers and the pets they love lead healthy lives," Mars said in a statement on its website. "We are committed to making sure the products we offer, and the ingredients they contain, can fit into a balanced diet."
Mars also produces Dove chocolate bars, multiple kinds of pet food, several gum brands and Uncle Ben's rice products.
This move is part of an agreement Mars signed with Michelle Obama's Partnership for a Healthier America. Mars is part of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, a group of 16 manufacturers who have pledged to reduce 1.5 trillion calories by the end of 2015 through lower-calorie options and reducing portion sizes.
"America's food and beverage companies have a strong track record of innovation and providing consumers with healthier products," said Lisa Gable, executive director of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation in a press release. "The Foundation's member companies are giving Americans tools to reduce calorie consumption."
Mars' statement goes on to note that the company has removed 97% of the trans fat in their chocolate products and plans to "reduce sodium levels in all Mars Food products globally by 25 percent by 2015."
Mars has not addressed the total number of fat grams in each product or the amount of sugar - factors most experts agree play a big role in weight gain, especially for children.
You can check out the nutrition info for Mars' products at www.marshealthyliving.com.
Mars has been planning on doing this since 2007, so not sure why Michelle Obama was even brought up.
http://www.inquisitr.com/195408/mars-slims-down-no-more-king-size-candy-bars/
This initiative has been on the books since at least 2007 when the company announced that it would stop buying advertising space if more than a quarter of the projected audience was likely to be under 12 years old. Mars has also said that it’s going to cut sodium out of its products by 25% before 2015
Been on the books since 2007 - my math says that 5 years - decision making at the slow pace.
Yes, they will make it smaller but the price will stay the same. Just wait and see.
Actually the cost will most likely go up as they will have to tweak production
you are just a curmudgeon cynic.
It's true. They're cutting costs under the guise of caring about our health.
Haha you're right. But people will still continue to buy and eat them.
If they REALLY wanted to help people live healthy lives, they should just call it quits and fold the company. Think of how many calories THAT would save people from consuming. What it REALLY is about is more money. They know people who want king size bars will probably just buy an extra bar anyway, so instead of only gaining an extra 40 cents for it, they'll get an extra $1.39 from the extra bar that is sold. They don't give a d@mn about people's health. Only the health of their wallets.
Some of us like to eat junk food, and we can do it in moderation. Relax, tiger.
"...people who want king size bars..." Keyword: Want. I had hoped my statement was simple enough for all to understand but I suppose there's always one for whom simple is still too complex.
Stop making snickers? Yeah, right what a wonderful idea.
Does anyone force you to purchase a product you don't want?
Ahh, People have the freedom to choose what to eat, don't they? Or is the freedom of choice which the brain-dead zombie leftards shout about so loudly nothing more than pure hypocrisy? Survey says: Leftards yearn for a total dictatorship, but for the right reasons, of course.
What an ass.She goes around and eats ribs on our tax dollar,with her big ass,and sermons US! Tell her to go out and play golf with Barry and lose some of that fat.He ain't doing anything else of value,except showing what he didn't learn in college,which we can't see his records.Oh yea;and we can't see a legal birth certicate. He adores abortion.Why didn't he abort his children?
You're an idiot
Dave..."sermons us" ???? ........Let me guess, you belong to the Klan, right? Don't worry, you will still be able to buy candy for your 600 pound wife, no one is taking away your "candy" rights. Pathetic loser.
Gtt help Dave. That much anger is not good for you...or those around you when you eventually go "postal"
You're a very pathetic individual.
you are an idiot Dave. You family must be terribly embarrassed to be with you. You no doubt make a fool of yourself on a daily basis.
Dave needs to just eat a snickers bar and cheer up!
What do you want to bet that Mars won't lower the price on their cheapened product? They'll cheat us out of the product we want but still demand the same or higher price. How about letting the customer decide what he/she wants to eat? More "nanny state" BS!
shut your mouth fool
Just another look good scam. Limit the calories, spend less to make but charge the same. Just another business scam. Watch, the price will not change. I love a good Snickers bar now and then but I'm cutting them out completely as well as any other Mars Bars.
Just another Price Increase disguise.
If i actuaaly cared about calories and all the other bull I wouldnt be buying a candy bar!
True.
Most real experts (like biochemists or doctors) agree that carbohydrates play the crucial role, not fats. It's easiest (and cheapest) to reduce caloric value of food by eliminating fats, but don't expect you children to be lean after eating these excessive carbos... Organism will convert carbos to fats in no time, in fact most of carbos are converted that way, and stored for later. Later, which may never come.
And more carbos will increase carving – due to insulin surge – so the children will buy two instead or one, then devour it and all that "reduction" will be for nothing. Well, not counting an increased income of some smart producers.
Exactly the sort of dumb move I would expect from a company who took their flagship product, the Mars Bar, and re-named it Snickers with Almonds as soon as the founder passed away. Jerks.
I used to work for the company. For many years, there were two Mars bars – the European version was like a Milky Way and the U.S. version had the nuts. They made the name change in the U.S. to try to standardize the brand. What bothers me is that a company like Mars is trying to hop on the healthy bandwagon with their snack brands. The whole point of a candy bar is that it's a treat that you don't have everyday. So frankly, I want them to leave their brands alone because they taste fine the way they are. Any time they've messed with their core brands, they've screwed up. Some years ago in the '90s, they started using a lower quality of chocolate in their M&M's. Consumers could tell and it hurt sales, almost killing the iconic brand. They went back to a better chocolate and launched their campaign with the M&M's characters which essentially saved the brand.
I'll but two of them and eat the second one as a toast to MOOOOchelle Obama.
I laughed so hard when I read your comment. I think I will probably do the same.
As long as they don't mess with my Peanut M&M's I'm good.
The peanut butter variety are the best. Pretzel ones are good, too.
This isn't about health, it's about increasing sales. If a smaller candy bar isn't enough, people will buy two. And guess what? That's right, folks. The candy bars will get smaller, but not the price.
Did MObama's sanctions include LOWERING THE PRICE for less product? It doesn't matter , I've eaten the last Mars product I'll ever eat,including the gum. Mars, you folded!
How about CHOICE?! Duh, we're all so stupid we cannot determine what's good for us, so let's have the Obamas tell us what to eat! Yep, we're finished as a country. No such thing as FREE WILL anymore!
This has been in the works with Mars sinced 2007. The Obamas have nothing to do with it.
Gee Whiz Thanks Mars! I didn't know that king sized candy bars are the reason too many Americans are overweight/obese!
I think the real reason is that as a society we eat way too much and move too little!
The box my granola bars comes in screams "25% less sugar!" THAT"S BECAUSE THEY ARE 25% SMALLER! Let's be realistic. They will cut down the size of the candy bar. We will pay more for it. I think Reese's peanut butter cups have shrunk as well. Greed. Just plain greed.
Keeping us healthy has squat to do with their decision. It will increase their profits because they will price a single bar so that two of them will cost significantly more than one of the old king-size bars.
Mars is trying to create a balanced diet with their candybars? That's pretty much impossible.
They should just sell candy bars. It is not their responsibility to make any decision regarding my diet. That is my responsibility and I must face the consequences for my decision. If their candy starts to taste like crap, or simply gets to expensive for what your purchasing, then I will just buy another product that isn't trying to run a scam under the guise of making decision for me about my diet.
LOL. Yeah, right! Like limiting the size of candy bars is going to stop fat people from eating chocolate.
When is this Nanny State crap going to end???
Pretty portion of content. I simply stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to say that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment or even I achievement you get right of entry to persistently fast.
I've learn a few good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you put to make this sort of great informative website.
Howdy! I'm really enjoying the design of your blog. It's very easy on the eyes, which makes it much more preferable to come here and visit more often. Did you hire a acknowledged designer? Outstanding job! Try to check-out my blog too.
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did youu make this website yourself or did yyou hire someone to do it for you?
Plz respond as I'm llooking to construct my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thank you
CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.