Last updated on May 13th, 2015 at 03:14 pm
Mars Inc. is supporting two recommendations designed to help consumers limit their intake of added sugars and achieve healthier, more balanced diets.
The company has endorsed a recommendation by the world’s leading health authorities—including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and the U.K. Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition—that people should limit their intake of added sugars to no more than 10 percent of total calorie intake.
Mars has signaled its support for a new U.S. government proposal to include an “added sugars” declaration on the Nutrition Facts panel on all food packaging. “Added sugars” are sugars and syrups added to foods to improve sweetness, structure, texture and shelf life. These are distinct from sugars that are “intrinsic” to foods, such as lactose in dairy, or fructose and glucose in bananas.
“We want people to enjoy Mars brands as part of a well-balanced diet,” said Dave Crean, global head of research and development at Mars. “With this in mind, we support the recommendation of global health experts that consumers limit their intake of added sugars to 10 percent of their calorie intake. In the U.S., we have a further opportunity to help people achieve their dietary goals by supporting the government’s proposal to include added sugars in the Nutrition Facts panel. It just makes good sense.”
