Are we ready for responsible chocolates?

We may or may not think about calories when we devour a chocolate bar, but how many of us worry enough to, say, just eat half a chocolate bar, and keep the other half for the next day?
But hey, if you’re a chocolate lover, who’s counting, you ask? But Mars Inc are. They are set to put a ‘calorie cap’ on their chocolates like Snickers and Twix by next year, across the world.The US-based chocolate major has decided to limit the calorie count of its chocolate bars to 250, with an aim to promote “responsible snacking.” Any chocolate that exceeds 250 calories “will not be shipped,” the company has said. Is it time to say goodbye to the king-sized bar?
Will Indian chocolates limit their size?
What does that mean for us? Usually, people don’t even bother to look at food labels to check calories in any product, forget chocolates. When we asked chocolate giant Cadbury if they have any such plan, they refused to comment. “We don’t comment on calories and products unless the findings are based on a research that was commissioned by us,” an official told us from Mumbai .
Parle Food Products, which make Chox, are keener on expanding their share in the chocolate market in the country, rather than thinking about reducing calories. Pravin Kulkarnii, general manager, marketing, said, “We are hoping to increase our customer base for Chox in the rural areas. But in terms of putting a calorie-cap on our product, we have no plans.”
We tried to check with Nestle and Amul too, but repeated queries elicited no response. They remained tightlipped, claiming that these are classified business policies, but officials from both the companies told us off the record that there are no plans to put a calorie-cap on their chocolates. “In the future, we may think about it, if we see that it’s a good business prospect,” said an official from Nestle. A representative from Amul, who did not wish to be named, said that the idea of limiting portion size is a “good idea”, but that “it depends on the consumer, if they want such a product.” “Be it chocolate or sweets, the idea is to indulge. Not many believe in counting calories when it comes to these. A health-conscious consumer will always check the food label, but those who don’t care, just don’t. So putting a cap doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Chocoholics speak
Sucharita Sen, 22, a DU student, feels that the “limited portion” offering is a boon. “I can’t deny that I’d love to have chocolates all the time. If you know that your chocolate has this specific amount of calories, you’ll think twice before grabbing another one,” she says. Altaf Hussain, 27, an advertising professional, thinks the move by Mars Inc is “brave”. “Chocolate can be good or bad, depending entirely on how much you eat. So, if a company is down-sizing a chocolate bar, they are trying to be responsible. And what’s interesting is that they’ve decided not to manufacture bars that have more than 250 calories. They might lose business, but they are building a consumer base of health-conscious people,” he says.
However, MA student Smita Mishra, 25, says, “Chocolates make you feel good. When I’m low, the best way to lift my mood is chocolate. I don’t eat it everyday, so why should I even care for the calorie count?” For software professional Harpeet Kaur, 26, the idea of limiting sizes is useless. “Everyone knows chocolates have a lot of calories, but you’ll never see people not buying them. So cutting down on calories doesn't make sense. I can always have two if the chocolate bar is small.” But for media professional Avantika Gaur, 29, it’s a blessing. “I put on weight easily. There are times when I just crave for something sweet. So, if there is a specific calorie-count, it will make me aware about my calorie intake. I might not eat another bar,” she says.