Latest news with #M&Ms
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mars phases out controversial colour additive in Skittles
Skittles in the US are no longer being made with titanium dioxide, a colour additive that was banned in the European Union in 2022 over possible health risks. Sweets giant Mars said it had stopped using the ingredient in its US Skittles portfolio at the end of last year. The move follows years of criticism about the presence of titanium dioxide in the candy and comes as US President Donald Trump's elevation of Robert F Kennedy Jr to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has pushed concerns about processed foods to the front of public health debates. Mars had said in 2016 that it would stop using "all artificial colours" in its foods, citing evolving consumer preferences. The company did not comment on whether consumers would notice any difference. Mars and other firms have disputed claims of health risks associated with consumption of titanium dioxide, a white pigment that is used in bakery products, sweets, cosmetics and other products such as paint. It is allowed in many countries, including the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. In the US, a high-profile 2023 effort in California to ban the ingredient was defeated, but efforts in other states continue to bubble. The White House's Make America Healthy Again report published earlier this month also spotlighted titanium dioxide and other food additives as a key concern. Mars, which also makes M&Ms, Snickers and Kind snack bars, did not explain why it had made the decision, which was first reported by Bloomberg. The company did not respond when asked whether the change would apply to Skittles sold outside the US. "Our commitment to quality is what has enabled Mars to be enjoyed by consumers for over a century, and nothing is more important than the safety of our products," a spokesperson said in a statement. "All our products are safe to enjoy and meet the high standards and applicable regulations set by food safety authorities around the world, and that's something we will never compromise on." Skittles, which have ranked among the world's most popular chewy candies, were invented in the UK. They have been made in the US since 1981. Mars' Wrigley division bought the brand in 2009. In 2022, the company faced a class-action lawsuit over titanium dioxide in Skittles, which was dismissed.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Skittles-maker Mars phases out controversial colour additive
Skittles in the US are no longer being made with titanium dioxide, a colour additive that was banned in the European Union in 2022 over possible health giant Mars said it had stopped using the ingredient in its US Skittles portfolio at the end of last move follows years of criticism about the presence of titanium dioxide in the candy and comes as US President Donald Trump's elevation of Robert F Kennedy Jr to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has pushed concerns about processed foods to the front of public health debates. Mars had said in 2016 that it would stop using "all artificial colours" in its foods, citing evolving consumer preferences. Mars and other firms have disputed claims of health risks associated with consumption of titanium dioxide, a white pigment that is used in bakery products, sweets, cosmetics and other products such as is allowed in many countries, including the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. In the US, a high-profile 2023 effort in California to ban the ingredient was defeated, but efforts in other states continue to White House's Make America Healthy Again report published earlier this month also spotlighted titanium dioxide and other food additives as a concern. Mars, which also makes M&Ms, Snickers and Kind snack bars, did not explain why it had made the decision, which was first reported by Bloomberg. The company did not respond when asked whether the change would apply to Skittles sold outside the US. "Our commitment to quality is what has enabled Mars to be enjoyed by consumers for over a century, and nothing is more important than the safety of our products," a spokesperson said in a statement. "All our products are safe to enjoy and meet the high standards and applicable regulations set by food safety authorities around the world, and that's something we will never compromise on." Skittles, which have ranked among the world's most popular chewy candies, were invented in the UK. They have been made in the US since 1981. Mars' Wrigley division bought the brand in 2022, the company faced a class-action lawsuit over titanium dioxide in Skittles, which was dismissed.
The Spinoff
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
Echo Chamber, Budget 2025 edition: Who is Mr Bo-Jandals?
It may not have been a lolly scramble budget, but there were plenty of lollies in parliament during the debate – plus a curious new nickname for one MP. Our Budget 2025 coverage is thanks to The Spinoff Members. The Spinoff is not backed by billion-dollar budgets or billionaires, we're backed by you. To meet our current goal, we need 500 new members by the end of June. Please donate now. The debate in parliament on budget day usually hits the same beats. The finance minister gives a long, dry speech listing everything they want to emphasise from their budget and patting themselves on the back for being so clever. The leader of the opposition pre-writes half of their attack lines before the budget comes out. The prime minister delivers a smug self-congratulation. Then, the leaders of the minor parties have their turn, which can be raucously entertaining or veer way off topic. When it's a controversial budget, it can be the best debate of the year. When it's a so-so budget, like this one, it can be a bit underwhelming. Nicola Willis laid out her budget soberly, the only identifiable joke a reheated line about 'defunding da police' ('woop woop' sang Tim van de Molen, who is apparently not tired of this yet). She gave a shoutout to her kids in the public gallery, and got a kiss on the cheek from Chris Luxon as she finished. For his response, Chris Hipkins dialled his outrage as high as he could muster, lashing the government's pay equity change. It was 'the budget that left women out', he said. 'The country that was first to allow women the vote has nothing to be proud of today when it comes to advancing the cause of women.' Carmel Sepuloni, Megan Woods and Barbara Edmonds formed a chorus of 'shame', 'shocking', and 'that's right' after every second sentence. 'You don't even know what a woman is,' Winston Peters heckled. Hipkins claimed an 18-year-old would be $66,000 worse off by retirement due to the government's KiwiSaver changes. 'Boring,' Shane Jones moaned. 'Yeah, you're boring,' Katie Nimon echoed.'I thought he was finished, he's still talking,' David Seymour said. Mark Mitchell had a packet of M&Ms on his desk and looked very pleased about it. He ate them methodically, one at a time, every three seconds, like a pendulum of candy-coated chocolate. He offered them to Todd McClay and Scott Simpson, each time with a cheeky grin as if to say 'haha, look at me, I'm eating M&Ms in parliament'. Andy Foster and Jamie Arbuckle shared some Mackintosh's Toffees (an on-brand lolly for New Zealand First). Winston Peters scrolled through a group chat that seemed to be entirely people sending context-free GIFs. As Luxon stood, Tama Potaka pumped his fist and whooped, 'leshgo'. Luxon was in full attack dog mode; he was so preoccupied with Labour that it took him 22 minutes to mention any positives about his government's budget. He was particularly proud of a new nickname he'd invented for Hipkins: 'Mr Bo-Jandals', which he repeated four times throughout his speech. It meant absolutely nothing to me, but it is apparently a mashup of Mr Bojangles, a song about a travelling entertainer who hides their true identity (it peaked at number two on the New Zealand Music charts in 1971) and the word 'jandals', alternatively known as flip-flops. It was a convoluted way to call Hipkins a flip-flopper who hasn't taken a clear position on some key issues. It might not make the annals of political attack lines, but Simeon Brown loved it. Every mediocre joke from his leader's mouth looked like it might kill him with laughter. After Luxon said Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori 'couldn't run a pub', Brown slapped his desk and repeated the line to himself. 'Can't run a pub,' he muttered, shaking his head as if it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. The writing left much to be desired, but Luxon's delivery was impassioned, and his MPs responded to his energy. He finished with the same line he used last year – 'Get New Zealand back on track' – and the government benches erupted in applause. Chlöe Swarbrick had had a few too many Weetbix and was feeling extra excitable and/or frustrated. She started yelling into her microphone, causing government MPs to moan 'shut up' and 'too loud'. Winston Peters walked out of the chambers, plugging his ears with his fingers. She dubbed it the 'let them eat cake budget' and called the decision to cut jobseeker benefits for 18 and 19-year-olds 'a cruel and callous decision to punch down on young people'. Chris Penk wandered around the back benches until he found a container of Fruit Bursts in an empty desk. He picked out three grape ones and ate them with his head down, like he was trying to hide. I saw you, Chris, and I'm going to tell your F45 instructor. David Seymour spent half of his speech attacking the opposition, and half promoting the Regulatory Standards Bill. 'You know, you can always tell when a politician's speechwriter doesn't like her very much, and that was certainly one of those circumstances,' he began, following Swarbrick. 'She wrote it herself,' James Meager said. 'That's not very nice,' Seymour replied, deadpan. He hit Labour with the same attack line as Luxon but landed a much better joke: 'Their whole electoral strategy is kind of the opposite of the Kama Sutra; they don't have a position on anything.' Shane Jones was a last-minute call-up to give New Zealand First's speech. For unknown reasons, Winston Peters subbed his deputy in with 45 minutes' notice. In typical Jones fashion, he delivered a soliloquy to fossil fuels, praising the $200m in new funding for new gas fields. He held up a small bottle of Māui-1 crude oil, 1969. 'I'd like to take the lid off and invite the Green Party to sniff it,' he said. 'We don't want your mung bean, pronoun version.' Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngārewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi were notably absent for the entire debate. In fact, no one stuck around long. Both Labour and National's front benches cleared out after their leaders' speeches. Tākuta Ferris rounded out the debate on his leaders' behalf with a sermon about how no budget had ever given an appropriate proportion of funding or focus to Māori and a history lesson about the harms of colonisation. It was a generic Te Pāti Māori budget response, almost identical to Waititi's speech last year, and it didn't seem like his heart was really in it. Certainly, no one else in the chamber was paying much attention. Three hours of debate ended with a whimper, and Chris Bishop moved to enter urgency for the first reading of the Regulatory Standards Bill. The wheels of parliament keep on turning, and MPs keep on snacking.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Exact date of White Maltesers' comeback as iconic treat makes 'triumphant return'
Mark your calendars, as this beloved treat it about to make a comeback after 11 years. It's the moment white Maltesers fans have been calling for. The beloved treat, which has been off shelves for the past 11 years, is just about to make a comeback - and we know the exact date they'll be back. The white chocolate version of these airy and crunchy chocolate bites was first launched in 2003. Instantly becoming a fan favourite, they were sadly discontinued in 2014, causing many fans to be left distraught. Over the past few years, there has been a surge in public demand for the treat to make a comeback, with some shoppers saying "bring back white Maltesers", while others have said, "will never understand why they stopped doing white Maltesers they were 10/10." Well, it looks like prayers have been answered, as Mars Wrigley has officially confirmed that its beloved treat will officially be making a comeback, with White Maltesers returning to large and independent stores from June 16, 2025. The confectionary giant, which also owns other beloved snacks such as Galaxy, M&Ms and Twix, has said that its popular snack will be back in single and sharing formats, although the price has yet to be confirmed. White Maltesers mixes the iconic crunchy centre that consumers know and love, but instead of the classic milk chocolate, the classic bite-size treats are covered in a layer of white chocolate. Some fans who have heard the news of the beloved snack's return have taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their enthusiasm at the grand return, as one wrote: "This had better be true. White Maltesers making a comeback June/July time." Another delighted shopper said: "I hope they are not messing with me… WHITE CHOCOLATE MALTESERS they were my fave and been dreaming of this day." While another delighted fan wrote: "If white Maltesers are really coming back then I'm going to cry with joy." Speaking on the return of the treat, a spokesperson from Mars Wrigley said: "We're delighted to bring Maltesers White Chocolate back for the passionate fans who have been anticipating their return for years! "Maltesers is all about encouraging people to look on the light side of life and so definitely try them if you've not done so before." If the imminent return of white Malteasers has chocoholics counting down the days, then picking up the classic version of the treat might help satisfy their cravings. Right now on Amazon, a case of 40 bags (37g) of Malteasers is £32.98. That works out at just 82p per bag for the fan favourite snack. White Malteasers are not the only iconic treat to make a comeback this year, after Mars Wrigley also brought back the nostalgic Milky Way Crispy Rolls in February. A beloved staple by many, the chocolate snack went on a long three year hiatus, leading to many fans to sign a petition demanding their return - and they officially came back in early February with two new flavours. A Mars Wrigley spokesperson said at the time: 'We never anticipated just how passionate the response would be when Milky Way Crispy Rolls were discontinued. It became clear that this iconic treat holds a special place in people's hearts, and we knew we had to bring it back!' Meanwhile, the White Maltesers will make their comeback to shelves from June 16.
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Newsweek
Hotel Guest Stunned by How Staff Responds to Outlandish Request
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A post about a hotel staff member's unexpected response to a guest's "crazy" request has gone viral on Reddit. The post, shared by John Patton (u/JBPII), has amassed more than 35,000 upvotes since it was uploaded on May 21. Patton works for a commercial aircraft spare parts supplier and dismantle company of a small town in central Ohio around 45 minutes north of Columbus. He was staying at the Residence Inn Kansas City Airport hotel in Missouri during the surprise moment described in the post. "I was on a business trip for one night, and the hotel was arranged by my company based out of Kansas City," Patton told Newsweek. In a caption shared with the post, Patton noted: "I checked in to my hotel and joked with the check-in lady that as long as my room had a bowl of M&Ms [candy-coated chocolates] with all the blue ones removed, everything would be great. She laughed and told me about some other crazy guest request." Twenty minutes later, Patton was surprised to get a knock on his hotel room door from the staff member who "handed me this." His Reddit post features an image of a bowl of M&Ms, notably missing the blue-colored ones, with a card that reads "You won't have 'the blues' while stay with us. Enjoy." Patton told Newsweek that he had checked into the hotel around 12 noon on a Wednesday and there was no one else around in the lobby. "The lady at the desk was super nice and I made the joke about M&Ms because I had heard of a famous singer demanding that in their contract," he noted. Patton said: "I thought it was an over-the-top unreasonable demand, and that's why I joked with her. She laughed and replied back with several stories from her own experience that were worse than that. It was very funny." Hotels in the United States continue to face staffing shortages. A December 2024 survey found that 64.9 percent of hotels are still dealing with staffing challenges since fallout at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020, according to the 2025 State of the Industry report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). The AHLA report in 2024 found that guests ranked "staff interactions" among the top three reasons they would leave a positive review for the hotel. This year's report said that "cleanliness continues to be a top factor influencing hotel selection (beyond price and location), and is the top driver of positive experiences and reviews." This year, hotels are expected to employ over 2.17 million people, increasing total wages, salaries, and compensation by 2.13 percent, surpassing $128.47 billion, according to the 2025 AHLA report. "Even though hotels are expected to add more than 14,000 direct employees in 2025, employment levels will still fall short of 2018 and 2019 levels," the report said. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
