Mars
Open Food Facts brand roll-up for Mars, current as of September 2026. Screening averages and flag shares live in the short-answer band below. This hero only situates the catalog slice.
The short answer
Mars averages 47.8/100 across the 50 of 89 tracked products that carry an ingredient list, and 58.0% of those contain at least one separately flagged ingredient. The figure summarizes Open Food Facts labels cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI; it does not establish recall status, allergy suitability, or the composition of products outside this snapshot.
- 47.8/100
- average ingredient-screening score across 50 scored products
- 89
- tracked products in this brand roll-up
- 58.0%
- scored products with at least one flagged ingredient
- 100%
- of NOVA-classified products that are ultra-processed (Group 4)
Source snapshot current as of September 2026; open individual products before making a product-specific decision.
Portfolio reading
Use the distribution, then open the outliers
With 89 tracked products, the useful signal is the shape of the portfolio rather than one headline score. The current concern-sorted list begins Original bite size candies, original; Mm's chocolate candies; Chocolate candies; 58.0% of records contain at least one flagged ingredient while the overall mean is 47.8/100. Open those outliers first, then compare neighboring formulations. The aggregate does not establish recall status, allergen suitability, or the composition of an item outside this snapshot.
Catalog evidence
Ingredient-list coverage comes before the score
Only 50 of 89 tracked Mars records (56.2%) include an ingredient list. The remaining 39 cannot be screened, so the 47.8/100 mean describes the labelled subset rather than the whole brand.
Next check: use the product rows below to verify the labelled subset, then compare the current package for any unscored item.
What the Data Says About Mars
Mars: 89 products tracked, 50 with an ingredient list, avg safety score 47.8/100, 58.0% of those scored products has at least one flagged ingredient.
Because ingredient lists cover only 56.2% of tracked records, this average is a description of the labelled subset, not a brand-wide tier. The coverage gap is the dominant limitation. Scoring methodology + dye-pledge context →
Among the 804 brands with 50+ products (the typical brand in that group flags 18% of its catalog), Mars's 58.0% flagged share is 40 points above that cohort median.
Processing mix (NOVA)
Mars processing intensity
Mars's NOVA-classified set is 49 products: 100% ultra-processed (Group 4, 49 items) with Group 4 (ultra-processed) largest at 49. That ultra-processed share sits 21.7 points above the 78.3% median for 1,323 brands with 50+ products. NOVA is processing intensity, not additive safety.
- G1
- 0
- G2
- 0
- G3
- 0
- G4 ultra
- 49 (100%)
Shelf mix
Where Mars shows up in Open Food Facts
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Mars concentrates in Snacks (46, 98% of this top-five); Pills (1).
- Snacks 46
- Pills 1
Cohort context
Flagged-ingredient share among large brands
Mars's 58.0% flagged share is measured across 50 scored products. The chart places that rate against the 50 brands with 50+ scored products in this snapshot, the same qualifying cohort used on the rankings page.
Mars flagged share vs large-brand cohort
58.0% of scored products carry at least one flagged ingredient
58% 0th percentile is at or above the flagged share of 0% of the 50 qualifying brands we track
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more qualifying brands. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Distribution as text
- 0%–10%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 10%–20%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 20%–30%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 30%–40%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 40%–50%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 50%–60%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 60%–70%
- 0 qualifying brands (0%)
- 70%–80%
- 3 qualifying brands (6%)
- 80%–90%
- 25 qualifying brands (50%)
- 90% and above
- 22 qualifying brands (44%)
Source Open Food Facts × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Portfolio shape
How scores cluster inside this brand
The brand average (47.8/100) summarizes 50 scored products. This distribution shows whether that mean sits on a tight cluster or a wide spread, a few low-scoring SKUs can matter even when the headline average looks strong.
Mars product score distribution
Brand average 47.8/100 across 50 scored products
48 50th percentile sits above 50% of the 50 scored products we track
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more scored products. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Distribution as text
- 0–10
- 24 scored products (48%)
- 20–30
- 1 scored products (2%)
- 50–60
- 2 scored products (4%)
- 70–80
- 1 scored products (2%)
- 90–100
- 1 scored products (2%)
- 100 and above
- 21 scored products (42%)
Source Open Food Facts product labels × FDA SAFFA × CSPI · September 2026
Mars relies most on Red 40, an industry staple
Across the 50 Mars products scored here, Red 40 appears in 27. It is used by 2,397 other brands in this database (6.8% of them), so its presence says more about the category than about this brand. A flag records that a named source raised a concern about an ingredient. It is not a finding that a product is unsafe to eat.
| Flagged ingredient | Mars products | Why it is flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Red 40 | 27 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 1 | 26 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 6 | 25 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Yellow 5 | 24 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Blue 2 | 18 | FDA voluntary phase-out target 2027-12-31 (a request, not a ban) · Restricted: California (schools) |
| Titanium Dioxide | 2 | Restricted: EU (banned); California (under review) |
| Acesulfame Potassium | 1 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
| Carrageenan | 1 | Concern recorded by a review body; no ban cited |
Counts are products in this database whose ingredient list names the flagged ingredient. Flags come from FDA enforcement actions, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings and US state ingredient laws; see the methodology for how each source is applied.
Visible product sample
Label complexity does not determine the screening result
Each point is one of the 50 concern-sorted Mars records shown below. Horizontal position is the number of resolved ingredients on that product's stored label; vertical position is its source-derived screening score. The dashed medians (25 ingredients and 37.5/100) divide this displayed sample only. A longer label is not automatically worse: open a specific product to inspect its flagged rows and source coverage.
- Shown records
- 50
- Median label
- 25 ingredients
- Median score
- 37.5/100
The outlined point is Original bite size candies, original, the displayed record with the most flagged ingredients (10). Bubble size represents flagged ingredient count plus one, so zero-flagged products remain visible. The score is derived from FDA SAFFA and CSPI fields; this chart does not establish recall status, dietary suitability, or a health outcome.
Read the plotted values
- Original bite size candies, original: 20 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 10 flagged.
- Mm's chocolate candies: 35 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Chocolate candies: 33 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- M&m's, peanut: 26 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Peanut butter chocolate candies, peanut butter: 35 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- M &M'S Mint - M &M'S à La Menthe Et Chocolat Noir: 30 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Minis Milk Chocolate Candies: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Chocolate candies, milk chocolate: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- M&m's, chocolate candies, mint: 29 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Chocolate candies: 32 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Milk chocolate candy fun size ounce: 26 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Mm's chocolate candies: 42 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Mms mega peanut chocolate candies sharing size: 28 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Chocolate Candies: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Fun size milk chocolate candies, milk chocolate: 26 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- CABREW CHOCOLATE CANDIES 190 M&Ms m NET WT 1.41 02: 29 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- Caramel Cold Brew: 29 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- M &M'S Peanut Butter Share Size: 33 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 9 flagged.
- starburst jelly beans: 17 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 5 flagged.
- Caramel chocolate candies, caramel: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- White chocolate peanut chocolate candies, white chocolate peanut: 21 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Caramel chocolate candies: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Caramel chocolate candies, caramel: 25 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Starburst, Original: 21 resolved ingredients, 0/100, 4 flagged.
- Jelly bean tropical fruit ouncebag two bundle: 13 resolved ingredients, 25/100, 3 flagged.
- m&m's MiNis - milk chocolate: 13 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- White chocolate pretzel snowballs: 27 resolved ingredients, 50/100, 2 flagged.
- Altoids Arctic Wintergreen Mints: 5 resolved ingredients, 70/100, 2 flagged.
- ice cream: 21 resolved ingredients, 95/100, 1 flagged.
- Starburst Swirlers original: 10 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Almond dark chocolate promises: 12 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- 3 Musketeers: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Snickers Fun Size: 14 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Simply caramel fun size bars total fun size bars: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Fun Size Milk Way Bars: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- 3 Musketeers: 14 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Chocolate minis size candy bars ounce: 16 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Family size minis favorites chocolate: 33 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Snack Size Twix: 26 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Milky Way: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- 3 Musketeers Share Size: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- bens origi al ready rice roasted chicken: 2 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Orbit Mega: 13 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mars duo, milk chocolate with soft nougat and caramel centre bar: 19 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Twix: 26 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Celebratations: 28 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Mars Ice Cream: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Celebration: 25 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- caramel collection: 15 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
- Surge Max: 3 resolved ingredients, 100/100, 0 flagged.
Products by Mars
Showing 50 display-quality records, sorted by concern level (most flagged first); 39 tracked records with unusable upstream names remain in the aggregate but are not shown.
Nationwide brands with similar catalog profiles
Two PlainFoodSafe-derived peer sets for Mars: closest on tracked product count (89 here) and closest on average ingredient screening score (47.8/100 here). Rows stay link-disjoint so each axis is a distinct neighborhood, not a largest-catalog strip.
Similar product count
Nearest other brands by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Similar average screening score
Nearest other brands by average ingredient screening score (floored at ≥50 scored products), distinct from the count row.
Counts and averages from Open Food Facts labels screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine; neither axis is a health outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mars food safe? ▼
Mars has an average safety score of 48/100 across the 50 of 89 tracked products that carry an ingredient list. 58.0% of those contain flagged ingredients.
How many Mars products are tracked? ▼
Our database tracks 89 Mars products. 50 include an ingredient list and can be screened against FDA SAFFA and CSPI data; 39 cannot be scored from this snapshot.
How processed is the Mars catalog? ▼
Mars has 49 NOVA-classified products; 100% are ultra-processed (Group 4, 49 items) and Group 4 is the largest slice. NOVA describes processing intensity, not whether additives on a label are flagged.
Which shelves dominate the Mars catalog? ▼
In Open Food Facts shelf labels, Mars concentrates in Snacks (46, 98% of this top-five); Pills (1).
Does Mars use artificial dyes? ▼
Open the individual product pages below to see which Mars items list a synthetic dye on their label. For whether the company has committed to removing dyes, the FDA and CSPI both publish corporate-commitment trackers; we no longer restate those commitments here.
What to do with this Mars profile
Use this roll-up as orientation, then verify the specific package you hold against its ingredient panel and the named official sources.
- Start with Original bite size candies, original, the displayed product with the most flagged ingredients (10) in this sample. Open the outlier product
- Red 40 appears in 27 scored Mars products, review why each source flags it before treating the brand average as uniform. Review flagged ingredient counts
- Compare Mars's 47.8/100 average and 58.0% flagged share against other brands before treating either figure as a recall or clearance signal. Brand safety rankings
- Cross-check any additive concern against FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine rather than relying on this derived index alone. Scoring methodology
A flagged ingredient records a source concern, not a recall, ban, or medical clearance. Always verify the current package label and consult official sources for product-specific decisions.
Citation & disclaimer notes
Brand scores aggregate ingredient-level FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings across Open Food Facts product data. See our methodology. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe.Disclaimer: Informational purposes only; not professional advice. A flagged ingredient is not a recall or a ban. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainFoodSafe is rendered directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no number is typed in by an editor. Brand figures are computed directly from OpenFoodFacts and FDA data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 2026.
