November 18/Hackettstown, NJ/Business Wire -- Mars Snackfood U.S. announced plans to redesign its snackfood packaging to provide consumers with comprehensive, easy-to-understand Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) nutrition information prominently displayed on BOTH the front and back of its products. Mars claims it is the first confectionary company in the U.S to implement this new labeling. The GDA labeling system is a scientifically based, international standard for the average person's daily intake of calories and other nutrients.

The new labels feature the number of calories, as well as the percentage daily value for adults, in large type on the front of the products and more detailed information on saturated fat, total fat, total sugars and sodium, in an easier to read box on the back of the product. The new labels will begin appearing in December and are designed to help consumers make informed choices about their diet. In addition, Mars has also launched a new educational website, www.marshealthyliving.com, which provides additional nutrition information about Mars products.

From the November 24, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash