Mars has produced a new pack for three of its candies which come in the portion which is just 100 calories. These candies are 3 Musketeers, Twix and Milk Chocolate M&Ms. These candies have identical in ingredients to their full sized counterparts, just that their packing has been reduced to much smaller size. In US, for a total of 5 ounces of these 100-calorie candies packaging, you need to pay about $2.50.
People may like these 100-pack candies because of this reason – having smaller pack make them eat less often. Say, they buy a 100-calories pack, once they finish it, they seldom will drive back to the store and get another one. Imagine if they bought a 60-serving pack, they may eat non-stop until they finish it. So, in their mind, they will say small pack will help their self-control.
Mun’s Comment:
- People are actually paying premium for these pre-portioned M&Ms. Probably because of the additional packaging, more packaging material is required. But, I believe that the company is taking advantage of people’s perception that this 100-calories is “healthier”.
- The normal package of Twix actually has 80 calories. So, when the company has 100-calories package, it actually has additional 20 calories.
- Apart from that, 100-calorie packaging may encourage people to eat junk food because in a way, it is telling people that it is acceptable to eat as long as it is 100 calories. Junk food is still junk food, regardless 50 or 100 calories of M&M.
M&M is not the first and it will not be the last candy having 100 calorie packaging. We will see more similar creative gimmick coming.
Over long term, people who eat 100-calorie candy may be poorer (because of the premium they pay) and fatter (because they may still eat the same amount of candy). In short, 100 calories is just another marketing gimmick.
Category: Fitness News 
Email This Post
If you like this or other articles in this blog, Subscribe to MunFitnessBlog.com today. It is free.
Related Posts
- Will You Pay More For Food with Less Calories?
- What Are Empty Calories Food?
- Is Diet Coke Plus a Marketing Gimmick from Coca Cola?
- Beer Mug That Shows How Much Calories You Have Drunk
Scroll down to leave a comment. I really want to know what you think.
Found what you were looking for? If not, try searching for it below.
Subscribe in a reader
Tom Parker // Dec 14, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Totally agree Mun. It is a clever marketing gimic but ultimately it is just encouraging people to eat more junk food. A banana or an apple is less than 100 calories and has much more nutritional vale.
Kelly // Dec 15, 2008 at 9:15 AM
No I will not! Sugar is very addictive for me and I’d probably scarf down the whole box then go back out for some ice-cream. But, hey, that’s me. :)
Angie Tan // Dec 15, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Marketing mumbo-jumbo… Don’t be fooled by this!!
People tend to feel less guilt by buying “healthier” but in fact, a whole new mindset is required in order to be healthier, i.e. yes, if you want to eat candy, go ahead but in smaller and controlled portions.
Better to change the mind to eat healthier such as fruits and vegetables than to fall for this mumbo-jumbo. ;-)