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I grew up on Snickers, and have always eaten them under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” principle, wherein I work to not scrutinize the nutrition labeling. Now the makers of Snickers (Masterfoods, a part of Mars Inc.) have made it no longer possible for me to ignore the truth. That’s real honesty, and good for them doing it.

What Snickers has done is part of a broad trend to greater attention to health and nutrition. More producers are labeling their products for nutrition, more accurately. They are responding to regulatory requirements but are also acting voluntarily. In looking into this I foundthat Mars has launched Mars Healthy Living (www.marshealthyliving.com) to educate consumers on nutrition, including for its products. It has designed its own, very-visible GDA (guideline daily amount) label for its products, and it certainly caught my eye. Their site says “All Mars Snack and food brands, including Skittles, M&Ms, Snickers and Uncle Ben’s will carry GDA labels by the end of 2010.”
What other big producers will follow? It will be interesting to see.
Seems very similar to what General Mills (and others?) do on their cereal boxes (for example: http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/brands/product_image.aspx?catID=23550&itemID=810). Of course, a lot more (calories, anyway) in a lot less (packaging, bites, etc).