Mars controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Food and beverage companies filed 239 legal challenges against public health labeling policies (2010-2025)
Lawsuit filed
An investigation by Lighthouse Reports found that food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mars, filed 239 legal challenges from 2010 through 2025 to block or delay public health policies, particularly labeling requirements for ultraprocessed foods and sugary drinks. Cases were cataloged in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Britain, and India, with a third of the lawsuits coming from just nine parent companies.
Source excerpt
Food giants like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Mars have filed 239 legal challenges from 2010 through 2025 to defeat health policies aimed at informing consumers about the products they consume.
A large share of the litigation targeted labeling requirements for food products, especially rules requiring ingredients and nutrition information on packaging.
The analysis cataloged cases in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Britain, and India.
2020
Earth Island Institute sues companies over plastic packaging pollution in California
Lawsuit filed
Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit in a California court against Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle USA, Procter & Gamble and other companies, seeking unspecified damages and an order requiring them to clean up plastic waste. The group alleges that plastic packaging from the companies is fouling California waters and says their products contributed to a global pollution crisis; these are allegations in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Stated objective. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an order for the companies to clean up plastic waste.
Source excerpt
The Earth Island Institute asked for unspecified damages and an order for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle USA, Procter & Gamble and six other companies to clean up plastic waste that the group says has created a global pollution crisis.
Escalating a campaign to make corporations responsible for the waste they produce, an environmental group filed suit Wednesday against some of the world’s biggest food, beverage and consumer goods companies in a California court, arguing they should be held responsible for plastic packaging that is fouling the state's oceans, rivers and streams.
The suit names those companies, along with Nestle USA, Crystal Geyser Water, Clorox, Mars and Danone North America.