As a leading global food company, Mars is committed to addressing health and wellness issues and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Healthy Weight Commitment

Launched in 2009, the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) brings together food and retail industry leaders, including Mars, to reduce obesity by 2015. Mars and other members of the HWCF are promoting health and wellness programs in the places where consumers spend most of their time and make decisions that impact their lifestyle: schools, the workplace and the marketplace. As part of Mars’ commitment to the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, the company has outlined the following goals:

• Providing easy to read, front-of-pack GDA (guideline daily amount) nutrition information across our chocolate, confections and other food brands.
• Ensuring responsible marketing and consumption of our brands, and continuing to enforce the global Mars Marketing Code, which specifies that Mars will not market its products to children under the age of 12.
• Promoting a healthy lifestyle in communities and the workplace. In fact, the National Business Group on Health in the U.S. honored the Wrigley subsidiary of Mars with a “2009 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” award for its commitment to promote a healthy work environment and supporting Associates and their families in making informed choices about their own health and well-being.
• Supporting a national nutritional standard for all food sold in schools and is working to develop healthier food options that meet the 35-10-35 standard for snack food supported by many childhood nutrition advocates – no more than 35 percent of calories from fat, 10 percent from saturated fat, and less than 35 percent sugar by weight.
• Continuing our partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG) to offer healthier snack choices in schools to promote balanced eating by children during the school day. Mars was one of the first five initial food companies to commit to this important school initiative, and the only company to develop an entirely new line of snackfoods that meet the stringent school nutrition standards. These Generation Max™ Snacks are offered to schools across the country today.