McLEAN, Va. – Mars Incorporated announced this week that it will remove all artificial colors from its human food products as part of a commitment to meet evolving consumer preferences.

Though many of the company's products are already free of artificial colors, by expanding the scope of the effort to its entire human food portfolio, Mars is making a commitment of significant depth and breadth. Products across the range of the company's chocolate, gum, confection, food and drink businesses will be affected by the change, which will take place incrementally over the next five years.

Artificial colors pose no known risks to human health or safety, but consumers today are calling on food manufacturers to use more natural ingredients in their products.

"We're in the business of satisfying and delighting the people who love our products," said Grant F. Reid, president and CEO of Mars. "Eliminating all artificial colors from our human food portfolio is a massive undertaking, and one that will take time and hard work to accomplish. Our consumers are the boss and we hear them. If it's the right thing to do for them, it's the right thing to do for Mars."

Removing all artificial colors from a human food portfolio that features more than 50 brands is a complex challenge. The company believes the process of developing alternative colors, ensuring their safety and quality, obtaining regulatory approval and introducing the new ingredients across the entirety of its human food portfolio around the world will take about five years.