Posted on 02/19/2012 8:47:22 PM PST by sybilll
Will drop any portion exceeding 250 calories Updated: Friday, 17 Feb 2012, 6:41 AM EST Published : Thursday, 16 Feb 2012, 7:29 PM EST
Jacque Wilson (CNN) - 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 .
“We have a responsibility to help our consumers and the pets they love lead healthy lives,”
........what?
Commie Candy Company CEO is Michelle 0bama...and all your chocolates belong to her...
Gadzooks when are the companies and CEOS of the nation going to stand up to this thugery?
I have a responsibility to my country not to support any company who caves into nanny government this way.
Less calories as long as they can charge the same price!
Word to michelle obama:
Can you say “WIDE LOAD”!!!
She has no room to talk.
The government has no say what so ever as to what I eat, period.
SO now they will buy two, Mars sells more, consumer spends more to get the previous amount of calories .. the size change doesnt alter the addiction ....
I would bet that this move is more related to the ongoing food inflation that we're seeing everywhere, and less related to Her Majesty.
It was a deal Mars couldn’t refuse.
Ahhh, a convenient spin to tell people when the dog food bag went from 20lb to 14lb.
Precisely why that JagAzz obama will see obamacare repealed....and anything silly that his wife is working on. Complete waste of time. It means nothing. We ain't buying it. Period.
Now it will cost much more to buy 2 whereas the big size was only 40 cents more. Forget saving money by having your kids split one. But why should Micelle Obama understand economies of scale?
Ahhhhh the nanny state, all brought to you by Michelle Obama, who herself looks like a beached whale..maybe SHE should try stuffing her face less and leave us all the hell alone
I still remember when we had a free country.
All right, children can you say opportunistic? Gotta help the bottom line.
I lost 50 lbs. I run about 30 miles a week. I eat at least 1 snickers bar a week. I don’t need a mommy from DC telling me what I can and can’t do.
How about an immediate boycott on Mars products, from this day forward?
Remember the garden she was planting at the White House for the kids?
She was told it was built on top of fill from the Potomac that could be toxic. You never heard of any fruit or anything from that garden.
What a hippo.
Oh good God.
-John Adams
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