Chocolate and Candy Giants Announce Clearer Calorie Labels and Smaller Portions Targets

18 May 2017 --- The leading global confectionery companies have pledged to advance consumer choices through greater transparency and education about chocolate and candy in a new initiative that sets calorie reduction and portion control targets for the years ahead.

Larry Soler, president and CEO of the Partnership for a Healthier America, and John Downs, president and CEO of the National Confectioners Association, discuss the commitment to a new industry-led initiative involving Mars Chocolate, Wrigley, Nestlé USA, Ferrero, Lindt, Ghirardelli, Russell Stover, and Ferrara Candy Company, in a commentary published earlier this week.

Through the initiative “Always A Treat”, America’s leading chocolate and candy companies are coming together to provide consumers with information, options, and support as they enjoy their favorite treats.

These include putting clear calorie labels on the front of  packaging, providing consumers with more choices in smaller packaging as part of portion-control measures and supporting people to make informed choices. 

“It’s an exciting leadership moment for five leading global confectionery companies. These leading members of the National Confectioners Association are making an important commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) to provide consumers with products with fewer calories and transparency on their labels,” says the joint commentary by Soler and Downs.

“Consumers have told us they want more options in smaller pack sizes with clear calorie labels, as they continue to manage their sugar intake in their day-to-day lives. And with this new initiative, these companies are helping consumers make informed choices.”

The pair say that the chocolate and candy companies are redoubling their efforts to create more options in innovative packaging and to educate consumers. The idea is for candy and chocolate to always be perceived as a treat, and the steps in the new initiative are focused on helping consumers enjoy products in moderation. 

“PHA ensures that commitments are kept by working with unbiased, third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress of its partners. This also will include working with the nonpartisan policy research organization Hudson Institute,” adds the commentary.

It also says that, due to this partnership, new innovations in chocolate and candy will continue apace, including more smaller-size options. 

“Right now, more than 60 percent of the participating companies’ individually wrapped products contain less than 250 calories per pack. By 2022, half of their individually wrapped products will be available in sizes that contain 200 calories or less per pack. The bottom line is that this initiative will reduce the amount of calories and sugar that people consume from chocolate and candy, which we expect to be significant and we will quantify this as we report on the progress of the partnership,” adds the commentary.