Snickers maker criticizes industry-funded paper on sugar

Mars Inc., the maker of Skittles and M&M's, is breaking ranks with other food companies. It's denouncing an industry-funded paper that says recommendations on limiting sugar are based on weak science.

The paper drew criticism this week because it was paid for by a group whose members include Coca-Cola, Hershey and Red Bull.

Mars — also a member of the group, the International Life Sciences Institute — said the paper undermines the work of public health officials and makes all industry-funded research look bad.

The group said the paper disclosed how it was funded and said the authors "wrote the protocol and conducted the study independently." The journal published a corrected version of the disclosure Wednesday after The Associated Press provided emails showing the group had input on the proposal.