Our allergen labeling policy consists of two parts

Allergens

At Mars, we take food allergies very seriously because they affect our consumers. We have an extensive allergen management program which includes staff training, evaluating our ingredients and validating our cleaning procedures.

In order to avoid an allergic reaction to food, we know you must avoid the allergen. To do so, you count on the ingredient statements on food labels to be truthful and accurate. We want you to be able to trust the information on our labels. At Mars, our goal is to provide safe, high quality food products for our consumers. Therefore, we have developed strict rules about the labeling of allergens on our products.

Our allergen labeling policy consists of two parts:

I. Labeling of allergens that are part of the recipe:

1. 
   We will always declare the presence of any of the priority allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites whenever they are part of the recipe. 
   

Priority Allergen’s

(a) almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios or walnuts; (b) peanuts; (c) sesame seeds; (d) wheat or triticale; (e) eggs; Gluten Source’s (i) barley, (ii) oats, (iii) rye, (iv) triticale, (v) wheat.

(f) milk; (g) soybeans; (h) crustaceans; (i) shellfish; (j) fish; or (k) mustard seeds.

2. 
   We label these allergens in commonly understood terms at least once within the ingredient listing (e.g., casein (milk)
   

II. Use of “May Contain ” labeling: It is our company policy that if the protein from any one of the top allergens* were to be unintentionally transferred from one product/ingredient to another then we would clearly indicate this in a statement just below the ingredient declaration.  To be clear, we use the “May Contain ” statement when:

1. 
   We have used all reasonable means to eliminate the allergen cross contact; and
   
2. 
   We have documented proof that, despite our best cleaning efforts, allergen cross contact still exists.
   

Position of Allergen Advisory Labeling Statements:

The primary source of information for consumers about the allergen status of our products is the wrapper in which the product is sold. Our company guidelines state that when an allergen advisory statement is required it will:

1. 
   Appear below/adjacent to the ingredient declaration
   
2. 
   Not be obscured by the package (e.g., folds, label overlap, crimps)
   
3. 
   Be clearly legible