Mars Inc is reportedly weighing up whether to remove some of its confectionery products from desserts sold by US foodservice chains including McDonald’s and Burger King.
Citing an unnamed source, Reuters said today (15 June) Mars had had talks with McDonald’s over the use of M&M’s in the fast-food giant’s McFlurry dessert.
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By GlobalDataThe news agency said Mars had also had talks with other foodservice operators. M&M’s are used in a Blizzard line sold in Dairy Queen outlets. Burger King’s dessert range in the US also includes a product called Snickers Pie.
According to Reuters, Mars is concerned some desserts that feature its products exceed the amount of sugar consumers are recommended to eat under US guidelines.
Mars would not comment directly on branded products sold in the foodservice chain. However, the company reiterated its commitment to limiting the added sugars in our products to less than 10% of total energy or caloric intake. It added: “This commitment, which we announced last year, applies to all Mars branded products. We are now working alongside our suppliers and customers to bring this commitment to life.”
In recent months, Mars has made a series of announcements either supporting efforts in the US to tackle obesity or outlining the measures it is taking to make its own products healthier.
Earlier this month, Mars announced its support for the US Food and Drug Administration’s move to draft voluntary targets on the amount of sodium used in food.
In April, Mars announced plans to reduce the sodium in its non-confectionery food products. The move is part of a wider programme to make products like Uncle Ben’s rice and Dolmio sauces healthier. The programme also includes plans to label its non-confectionery food products as “everyday” or “occasional” in a bid to “promote healthier food choices”.
The company has also been an advocate for information on added sugars to be included on the Nutrition Facts labels used on food products sold in US grocery stores. Late last month, the FDA said the Nutrition Facts labels would include details on “added sugars” in grams and in percentage form. The information separates out the sugar suppliers have put in food from the overall amount of the ingredients, which has been welcomed by campaigners.
