M&M's unveils new packaging but it sparked controversies and here’s why

M&M chocolate brand released its new packaging last week, and although it features its famous characters, the candy pack caused a stir. The wrappers show all-female chocolate characters in the shades of green, brown, and purple, which is the newest color addition.

M&M said that this limited edition packaging is a way of making a statement ahead of International Women's Day. It was designed to acknowledge and celebrate women everywhere “who are inspiring moments of everyday happiness…all while they flip the status quo.”

According to CNN Business, Mars announced the limited edition M&M in an all-female packaging design. The three characters are pictured upside-down on the pack, and these are on sale already. However, it seems that while the candy maker has good intentions, this move has also angered some people and sparked controversies.

The all-female M&M packs were said to have started "culture wars" both on social media and right-wing news networks. For instance, an anchor of One Fox News commented that the “feminist” packing only emboldens China. Furthermore, the show reportedly called the new chocolate wrappers “candy woke.”

"If this is what you need for validation, an M&M that is the color that you think is associated with feminism, then I'm worried about you," Martha MacCallum of Fox News channel stated earlier this week. "I think that makes China say, 'Oh, good, keep focusing on that. Keep focusing on giving people their own color M&M'S while we take over all of the mineral deposits in the entire world.'"

At any rate, the new purple character was described as a purple peanut M&M that is also the “spokescandy” in the bunch. Mars said she is a singer who swapped high heels for lace-up boots. She is confident and has an off-the-wall personality.

"The M&M'S brand is on a mission to use the power of fun to create purposeful connections, as we work to create a world where everyone feels they belong," Mars Wrigley North America’s chief marketing officer, Gabrielle Wesley, said in a press release. "Women all over the world are flipping how they define success and happiness while challenging the status quo, so we're thrilled to be able to recognize and celebrate them – and who better to help us on that mission than our own powerhouse spokescandies Green, Brown and Purple?"

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