FARE Calls for Boycott of Mars, Inc. Products

FARE Calls For Boycott Of Mars, Inc. Products

On July 23, 2024, FARE, the national organization that advocates for the 33 million Americans living with life-threatening food allergies, called for a boycott of all Mars, Inc. products. This past April, Mars released their “Hungry Skies” campaign, which promotes Snickers being brought onto airplanes. This concerns FARE on behalf of the millions of Americans with peanut allergies. For the past 10 years, airlines began to remove peanut-containing snacks from their airplanes. This was done for the safety of those with peanut allergies. With the release of this new campaign, Mars, Inc. would be reversing these years of work and advocacy by FARE. Now FARE calls for a boycott of Mars products, relying on the food allergy community to influence Mars’ decisions regarding this campaign.

View Statement by FARE’s CEO, Sung Poblete Here: https://www.foodallergy.org/media-room/statement-sung-poblete-phd-rn-ceo-fare-calling-boycott-mars-inc

Mars, Inc.

Mars Incorporated, a multibillion dollar global company, is the producer of brands like Skittles, M&M’s and Kind. So not surprisingly, Mars is a Fortune 500 company with multiple brands that include not only snacking, but healthcare, food & nutrition.

Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE)

FARE, a national non-profit organization dedicated to making the lives of those living with food allergies safer decided to take a stand against Mars, Inc. The organization focuses on advocacy, research, and education to achieve health equity the realm of food allergy. FARE continuously fights for people with food allergies everywhere, and also has a focus on writing and passing bills aimed to support and create a safer future.

“Hungry Skies” Campaign

The “Hungry Skies” Campaign is an ad campaign advertising Snickers, as an “essential travel snack” in airports and airplanes. These advertisements are set to be released globally in over 30 countries beginning early next year (2025).

Here is the announcement on Mars, Inc. Website about this campaign: https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/snickers-hungry-skies-new-campaign

FARE Responds

After the announcement of the “Hungry Skies” Campaign in April, FARE jumped into action, asking Mars, Inc. to abandon their campaign for “undoing years of advocacy work to make the unique environment of a plane safer for those with a peanut allergy.” The Communication Team at Mars, Inc. listened but only offered half measures, which would continue to endanger those with peanut allergies. FARE released a video, renaming the “Hungry Skies” Campaign, “Deadly Skies”. FARE has asked to speak with the CEO, Poul Weihrauch, and the leadership team, sending them a letter, but has not received a response.

Read Letter to Mars, Inc. Here: https://www.foodallergy.org/media-room/statement-sung-poblete-phd-rn-ceo-fare-calling-boycott-mars-inc 

My Opinion – FARE Calls for Boycott

What a shame. Stated on their website, Mars, Inc. declares themselves a “family owned business” that prioritizes inclusivity, but apparently this does not include the food allergy community. The “Hungry Skies” campaign endangers the lives of millions of people around the world living with peanut allergies. It is not a fun experience being stuck on an airplane, with a peanut allergy when the passenger next to you is munching on a Snickers Bar, spilling crumbs into your lap. Trust me, I would know.

For branding themselves “inclusive”, it is their responsibility to be aware of the challenges for consumers especially when it comes to something as personal as food allergies. Not only will this cause issues with customers, but it will also cause issues with airlines, reversing their efforts to make airplanes safer for all. The “Hungry Skies” campaign is contradictory to their overall brand message and what should be their priority, the customers. Mars, Inc. should have been more educated and attentive about which brand they wanted to promote on airplanes.

What You Can Do To Help

Spread the word. Post on social media, tag Mars, Inc. and show them that we will not stand for this campaign. We do not want to go back in time and endanger each other, 30,000 feet in the air. Boycott Mars’ products and brands. Together we can make the change we want to see and Mars will listen.

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