New life in Mars
Lower-calorie version out in June
A MARS a day helps you work rest and play... and soon you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier version.
A new “naked” version of the bestselling bar is being launched amid new junk food laws.
Mars Triple Treat is made with date paste, nuts and raisins. It will be sold alongside the traditional bars, but will be more prominent on shelves.
Its stablemates Snickers, Bounty and Galaxy have also been revamped with similar ingredients following a Government crackdown on in-store promotion of food high in fat, salt and sugar.
Mars said it had “spent thousands of hours working on every minute detail, from the chewy caramel in the maltinfused Triple Treat, to the crunchy roasted nuts on the Snickers variant”. The reimagined range hits shelves next month, with the new 40g Mars having 173 calories compared to the regular 51g version’s 228.
Instead of being totally encased in chocolate, only the base is coated with it. But the date and nut topping is also drizzled with a chocolate treat. And Triple Treat Bounty, which has 169 calories compared to 278 calories in a normal Bounty, is decorated on top with a dusting of desiccated coconut.
But at around 80p a pop, the new bars are also noticeably pricier than the originals’ typical 65p. Mars said the higher price was because of the “very premium ingredients” it used. Kerry Cavanaugh, of Mars Wrigley UK, said: “Triple Treat does exactly what is says on the tin. It’s packed with a knockout trio of fruit, nuts and our iconic chocolate, and is delightfully delicious.”
The HFSS measures mean more calorific treats will be barred from prominent supermarket placement. They are aimed at curbing the obesity crisis which is now costing the NHS £6billion a year.