Belgian food company Mars Food has introduced a new global healthy eating strategy in order to develop and promote healthier food choices.
To be carried out over the next five years, the Health and Wellbeing Ambition also encourages consumers to cook, as well as share healthier meals with others.
The initiative focuses on five major areas that include motivating consumers to eat and share healthy meals with friends and family, enhancing nutritional content, and exploring new opportunities to offer affordable products in more places.
It will also provide consumers with better knowledge on nutrition in order to help them make balanced choices, as well as Mars Food Associates with opportunities to improve living conditions through nutrition education, healthier food options and better cooking facilities.
Mars food, drinks and multisales global president Fiona Dawson said: "I'm delighted that Mars Food is helping to provide healthy solutions through our famous brands.
"Our nutrition criteria sets a very high standard for our products, and we also want to help our consumers understand the difference between 'everyday' and 'occasional' products within a balanced diet."
Through the initiative, Mars Food also intends to inform its consumers through their website or on-pack how often a particular product can be consumed, thereby guiding them on a balanced diet.
The UK-based food company will also improve the nutritional value across its global product portfolio by reducing the content of added sugar and sodium, as well as by adding vegetables and whole grains.
It aims to decrease sodium content by an average of 20% by 2021, and added sugar in certain sauces and light meals by 2018.
Mars Food will increase its multigrain options so that half of all rice products include whole grains or legumes, while ensuring that all tomato-based jar products include at least one serving of vegetables.
The company also supports government efforts in order to guide the food industry regarding reduction of sodium in foods.
The everyday meal recipes of the food company on packaging and online will meet the Mars Food nutrition criteria that will encourage the consumption of more whole grains, vegetables and lean proteins.
Additionally, all Mars Food Associates will be able to learn cooking affordable, easy and nutritious recipes, and in turn share them with others with an aim to promote a culture of healthy cooking and eating.
The primary aim of the Health and Wellbeing Ambition is to reformulate the current products, as well as develop new products with more nutritional values at affordable prices.
