Mars Changing Up Chocolate Products, Candy Lovers React

Mars, Incorporated, the maker of popular sweets such as Snickers, Skittles, Starburst, and Twix, is taking their chocolate products in a healthier direction and will stop making those that contain more than 250 calories by the end of 2013, according to a Reuters report.

Fan reactions to the news have been mixed.

NOOOOOOOO!!! tweeted radio host Michael Graham.

One man wrote the following on a Mars Facebook page: I guess I'll have to find another way to satisfy my hunger now that the king size snickers bar is getting downsized.

Some customers expressed delight that Mars was aiming to deliver healthier goods.

I love your product, and it's great to see you focus on health over profit! one man wrote on the Facebook page.

Indeed, the hullabaloo could end up being over nothing, as the company is going to try and keep it healthier without compromising the flavor.

Our intent is not to change the taste of the bar, company spokeswoman Marlene Machut wrote in an email. We are still evaluating exactly how to deliver this.

This isn't the company's only attempt to deliver healthier goods.

Machut pointed out that the company already sells products with less calories: And we also have introduced a number of new products that are less than 200 calories per portion.

The company also cut out trans fat from chocolate products and decreased saturated fat in Mars, Milky Way, Snickers and Topic bars, according to their Health and Nutrition Web site.

Mars has a broad-based commitment to health and nutrition, and this includes a number of global initiatives, the company said in a statement.