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    Mars to make all candy bars 250 calories or less

    Associated Press – Thu, Feb 16, 2012

    NEW YORK (AP) — Snickers bars may soon satisfy you a bit less.

    Mars Inc., the makers of popular candy brands including M&M's and Twix, will stop making chocolate products that exceed 250 calories by the end of next year.

    That means king-sized versions of the company's chocolate bars will disappear from candy aisles. The privately-held company also makes Milky Way, 3Musketeers, Bounty and Kudos bars.

    Mars may not have to make radical changes to reach its goal, however; a standard Snickers bar currently has 280 calories. A package of Twix and a bag of peanut M&M's each clock in at 250 calories.

    The company first posted the goal on its website in September of last year, but the plans got renewed attention after media organizations reported on it this week.

    Representatives from Mars declined to provide further details Thursday, noting that it has not yet finalized how it will reach its caloric goals. But the company said in an emailed statement that it has shown a "broad -based commitment to health and nutrition" in recent years.

    In 2007, for example, Mars said it would no longer buy advertising space or time if more than a quarter of the audience was likely to be younger than 12. The company also noted that it has introduced several new products that are less than 200 calories.

    And by 2015, the company plans to reduce sodium levels in all its food products by 25 percent.

    Mars, based in McLean, Va., also owns Uncle Ben's, Seeds of Change and Whiskas pet food.

     

    12 comments

    • commentator
      commentator  •  3 mths ago
      Shrink the size, double the price ... then you have to eat 2-3 to be satisfied. Another corporate screw-job!
    • VincentA
      VincentA  •  Allentown, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      They will just be making the bars smaller...again. By the way, the price won't go down. Way to increase profits and get the consumer to tank you for shelling over more money for less stuff...
    • polly
      polly  •  New York, New York  •  3 mths ago
      As many people have already pointed out -- the only thing this accomplishes is smaller candy bars (with less chocolate and more corn syrup) for the same or greater price. If Mars really gave a #$%$ about public health, they would quietly just go out of business.
    • get with the program
      get with the program  •  3 mths ago
      Mars is not interested in public health, more like rising sugar prices.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  San Antonio, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      Nothing is sacred. That makes one more American product for which I can no longer justify paying too much. I guess I'll go completely over to Cadbury bars now. Sad.
    • Wendy Simmons
      Wendy Simmons  •  Tulsa, Oklahoma  •  3 mths ago
      Big deal! They're reducing the sizes. They already sell bite-sized candy for those who want it. They might as well go out of business altogether, then, if they want to be health-consious.
    • John H
      John H  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      What's a candy bar? I have a vague memory of something of that sort that I used to get for a nickle.
    • keann
      keann  •  Flint, Michigan  •  3 mths ago
      don't be messing with my chocolate
    • Phalanx
      Phalanx  •  3 mths ago
      Looks like Michelle Obama was throwing back a few to many Mars bars.
      Have you seen her lately? Lay off the fried food too dear.
    • frankk
      frankk  •  3 mths ago
      Thank heavens! Now I'll be able to consume a Snickers bar without that uneasy feeling that I've eaten something with an unhealthy calorie count. Did Michelle O have anything to do with this?
      • Wendy Simmons
        Wendy Simmons 3 mths ago
        They already sell bite-sized portions. Why don't you just eat one of those?
    • LL
      LL  •  Millersville, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      You guys are a riot. This crazy need to get more bang for your buck when it comes to food (and cheap, crappy food at that) is what contributes to Americans being so FAT!!! I read the same type of comments about the articles regarding restaurants and half portions. Who gives a sh** if they're not half priced - the restaurant still needs to make a profit. Stop shoving your faces and learn to eat normal portions and maybe you'll SAVE money in the long run with decreased health care costs.
    • James
      James  •  3 mths ago
      Sweet!.....?
     Post a comment
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