Mars bars are slimming down and getting fruit snuck in, as the confectionary giant behind the nation’s favourite sweet treat launches a healthier variety to dodge new junk food rules.
The ‘Triple Treat’ version contains date paste, nuts and raisins, making it 75 per cent ‘fruit and nut’.
The new 40g bar has 173 calories. For comparison, the traditional bar — which will still be on shelves — contains 228, but is slightly larger (51g).
It also has 30 per cent less sugar.
Despite being smaller, the Triple Treat will cost more. Tesco — the only retailer who will stock them when they are rolled out in June — will charge 80p. Customers only pay 60p for the original bar.
Skinnier versions of Bounty, Snickers and Galaxy bars, which brag about being ‘high in fibre’, will also hit shelves next month.
The ‘Triple Treat’ version contains date paste, nuts and raisins, making it 75 per cent ‘fruit and nut’. The new 40g bar has 173 calories. For comparison, the traditional bar — which will still be on shelves — contains 228, but is slightly larger (51g). Skinnier versions of Bounty, Snickers and Galaxy bars, which brag about being ‘high in fibre’, will also hit shelves next month
Mars is the first major confectionery business to launch high in fat, sugar and salt-compliant products ahead of the new junk food rules, with more sweet-makers expected to follow
Mars also owns the Twix and M&Ms but there has been no word yet on whether new versions of the well-loved treats will also be available.
The new bars — which the confectionary giant has worked on for 18 months — still contain a ‘hearty dose’ of the iconic chocolate blend.
Except the soft filling of the Mars bar will no longer be completely encased. Instead, only its base will be coated.
Kerry Cavanaugh, the marketing director at Mars Wrigley UK said: ‘Triple Treat does exactly what it says on the tin.
More than 42million adults in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2040, according to new projections by Cancer Research UK
Obesity costs the NHS an estimated £6.5billion per year. By 2030 the number of obese individuals will have surpassed those of a healthy weight, equaling around 42million people
‘It’s packed with a knockout trio of fruit, nuts and our iconic chocolate, and is delightfully delicious to boot.
‘We’re thrilled Brits can now enjoy a great tasting – and HFSS compliant — Galaxy, Mars, Snickers and Bounty treat. It’s tasty reinvented.’
The move is aimed at complying with the Government’s crackdown on the obesity crisis.
Foods high in salt, far or sugar — like the traditional Mars bar — will be banned from checkouts and store entrances from October.
Boris Johnson’s Government has, however, U-turned on separate rules which would have banned BOGOF and other multi-buy junk food deals. Free refills of sugary soft drinks will also be allowed for another year, despite plans to axe them.
The Prime Minister two years ago announced a crackdown on obesity after his near-fatal bout of Covid, which he attributed to being overweight.
More than a quarter of children in primary school are now fat. Meanwhile, two-thirds of adults are overweight, costing the health service £6billion a year.
Mars is the first major confectionery business to launch HFSS-compliant products ahead of the new junk food rules, with more sweet-makers expected to follow.
Cadbury owner Mondelez International, the world’s second largest confectionery firm behind Mars, launched a skinny Dairy Milk range in 2019 with 30 per cent less sugar but found it still fell afoul of the rules.
The Government’s sugar tax also forced some manufacturers to change recipes to make them less sweet.
Ministers will provide local authorities with the option of issuing civil penalties for non-compliance with the new rules.
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