Gumby Institute of Candy Controversies
Milky Way® = Mars® Bar?
("Mars® Bar" is a registered trademark of the Mars, Inc.)

U.S. Milky Way Bar Wrapper
Fig. 2: U.S. Milky Way Bar Wrapper		 Canadian Mars Bar Wrapper
Fig. 1: Canadian Mars Bar Wrapper

Abstract: The apparent similarity between the Canadian Mars Bar and the United States Milky Way was theorized after examination between the two Countries' Mars Bars reveiled that both were of a different species. The U.S. Milky Way Bar does indeed display an amazing similarity to the Northern Mars Bar. And like the Canadian bars, the Milky Way Bars also include the warning: "May Contain Peanuts." Why the big "cover-up" is anyone's guess.

U.S. Milky Way Bar Cross Section
Fig. 3: Sample MW1010US		 Canadian Mars Bar Cross Section
Fig. 4: Sample MB1010CA

The samples analylized here, (Figures 3 & 4 above), are of the small "Halloween Handout" varieties, available in both countries around the time of the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. However, unlike the Mars Bars, the "Fun Size" Milky Ways have been observed on store shelves during the Celtic festivals of Oester and Yule as well. The size of the Milky Way, like the U.S. Mars Bar, dwarfs its Canadian counterpart. The ingredients, while not identical, are indeed of a similar make-up, (see table below).

Country: Weight: Ingredients:
United States 20 grams
.8 ounce		 Milk Chocolate, (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Lactose, Skim Milk, Milkfat, Soy Lechithin, Artificial Flavor), Corn Syrup, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Skim Milk, Less than 2% - Milkfat, Cocoa Powder Processed with Alkali, Lactose, Malted Barley, Wheat Flour, Salt, Egg-Whites, Artifical Flavor, Soy Protein
Canada 17 grams
.5 ounce		 Sugar, Corn Syrup. Milk Ingredients: Hydrogenated Soybean & Palm Oil, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Mass. Modified Milk Ingredients: Malted Milk Powder, Malted Barley Wheat Flour, Sodium Bicarbonate. Cocoa, Soy Lechithin, Salt, Dried Egg-White, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Artifical Flavour

The initial conclusion is that the Milky Way Bar sold in the United States is indeed of the same species as the Canadian Mars Bar. The differences being a slightly lighter color of the Milky Way, no doubt fostered to keep with the implied "lightness" of the name.

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