Studies find major confectionery brands make headway in US on portion control and labelling
candies with jelly and sugar. colorful array of different childs sweets and treats
A key report from the Partnership for Healthier America (PHA) and National Confectioners Association (NCA) has found that major US brands including Mars Wrigley, Ferrero and Lindt had main gains in portion control options and transparency for consumers, writes Neill Barston.
The study, which also evaluated other notable chocolate and candy companies such as Ferrara, Ghirardelli and Russell Stover, found that the companies had met or exceeded metrics linked to a five-year commitment to voluntarily increase guidance on pack sizes and enhancing the percentage of ranges with front-of-pack calorie labels.
Among its key findings were that half of the individually wrapped products made by the participating companies are available in sizes that contain 200 calories or less per pack. This is up from 38.3% in the 2016 benchmark year. Furthermore, 94.8% of confectionery products have front-of-pack calorie labels – which is up from 53.7% in the 2016 benchmark year. While there were clear gains in portion control, goals targeting direct reduction of sugar levels at formulation level within confectionery ranges were not believed to have been part of the study.
However, there was positive news within retail checkouts, with 98% of chocolate and candy packaging found at the front of the store have calorie labels printed on the front of the pack. As the report noted, the partnership has empowered consumers to make informed choices and has driven directional alignment within the broader confectionery industry. In fact, 85% of chocolate and candy sold today comes in packaging that contains 200 calories or less per pack – whether that’s individually wrapped products or multipacks that contain smaller packages inside.
“The results of this commitment show that companies have the opportunity to impact change while still maintaining their business models and keeping consumers front and centre,” said Nancy E. Roman, President and CEO of PHA. “We applaud these companies for stepping up and helping consumers manage their sugar intake through innovation, transparency, and education.”
As the team behind the report added, back in 2017, Mars Wrigley, Ferrero, Ferrara Candy Company, Lindt, Ghirardelli Chocolate, and Russell Stover Chocolates joined forces in a landmark commitment to Partnership for a Healthier America.
These companies set an ambitious goal to provide more transparency, create more portion guidance options in innovative packaging, and educate consumers about how unique products like chocolate and candy can be an occasional treat in a balanced lifestyle. The 2017 commitment outlined that by 2022: Half of the individually wrapped products made by the participating companies would be available in sizes that contain 200 calories or less per pack ● Ninety percent of the best-selling treats made by these companies would have calorie information printed on the front of the pack ● AlwaysATreat.com would evolve into a digital resource full of easy-to-use information for consumers to better understand the unique role that confections play in a happy, balanced lifestyle.
“The scale of these major global competitors and their ability to collaborate and drive meaningful change related to offering more transparency, portion guidance options, and educational tools for consumers seeking to manage their sugar intake is unmatched,” said John Downs, president & CEO of the National Confectioners Association.
“We are proud of the results of our commitment to PHA; and our industry is continuing to focus on innovation in packaging and products to meet our consumers and retail partners’ needs and desires for great-tasting treats.”
The results from the study were verified by a third party and are publicly reported in PHA’s annual progress report. This commitment was monitored and reported by verifiers with Georgetown University.
“The data tells the story of an industry that has stepped up and done the right thing for the consumer without losing sight of where they want their business to go in the future,” said Hank Cardello, executive director of Leadership Solutions for Health + Prosperity at Georgetown University’s Business for Impact Centre. “This proactive action by the companies to support consumers is a win-win, showing that the confectionery industry can do well by doing good.”