Although most people know Mars, Incorporated as a candy and petfood company, it is really much more than that.
We have our well-known businesses which produce some of the world’s most recognized brands, including, M&M’S®, MARS®, SNICKERS®, MILKY WAY® snackfood products; PEDIGREE® food for dogs and WHISKAS® food for cats; UNCLE BEN’S® food products; and drinks, under the FLAVIA® and KLIX® brands.
We also have some lesser-known businesses which research and develop pharmaceutical and therapeutic products and ingredients and water treatments. These are Symbioscience and Mars Fishcare.
Since these businesses are diverse, our policy covers two distinct areas.
Snackfood, Food, Petcare and Drinks
In the development of our snackfood and human food and drink products, as well as our products for dogs, cats, birds and horses, we do not undertake, support or sponsor research that harms animals.
In fact, over decades, Mars has established an unparalleled history in pet care and in developing standards for animal wellbeing, environmental enrichment, and nutritional requirements. We have pioneered the investigations into the benefits of pets to the people who care for them. This rich past is reflected in our pet care brands, our pet-loving associates and in our premier pet care facility, the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. The Centre is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility dedicated to the wellbeing of dogs and cats. Here, we use caring science to understand our pets’ unique environmental and nutritional needs so that they can live long, happy, healthy lives. To read more about the Centre, please visit our home site at www.waltham.com.
When necessary, we conduct human clinical studies to substantiate the health benefits claimed on our snackfood, food and drink products.
Symbioscience and Fishcare
As described above, some of our lesser known businesses research and develop pharmaceutical and therapeutic products and water treatments. These businesses conduct limited animal research to show that the products and ingredients are safe and effective or when necessary considering legal and regulatory requirements.
We only conduct such animal research when non-animal alternatives are not feasible. The Symbioscience research involves rats and mice and the work at Mars Fishcare involves small fish and aquatic species. We ensure these animals do not suffer and apply the highest ethical standards for research involving animals, which must comply with local, state and national legal and regulatory requirements regarding the humane treatment of animals. Mars also actively applies the widely accepted “3R” principles of replacement, reduction and refinement to the design of animal research studies: as a result, we replace animal studies with non-animal alternatives wherever possible, reduce the numbers of animals involved, and refine animal care to provide enhanced welfare.
Symbioscience is a Mars business unit which is, among other things, dedicated to pioneering new products to improve human health. It is developing pharmaceutical and therapeutic ingredients and products that have the potential to contribute significantly to human health. For example, Symbioscience is researching the therapeutic effects of flavanol compounds on heart health, vascular health, cognitive health, the treatment of diabetes and certain forms of cancer.
In addition, Mars Fishcare develops products for optimizing the health of fish and other small aquatic species living in ornamental aquaria and ponds, through the application of, for example, pharmaceuticals and water treatments.
University Philanthropy
Mars believes in and has provided gifts to support educational initiatives in universities in line with our policy. When requested, we may also provide researchers with materials to assist in their research.
Ensuring Compliance with Our Policy
Mars has an Animal Research Review Board including both internal and external experts. The Board ensures that our research is in compliance with this policy. In a health and safety emergency, this Board may also approve exceptions to this policy.
All research and donations made since November 2006 are subject to this policy. This policy is a living document and we will continually strive to improve it.