# Mars Bars vs. Milky Ways **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963 "2000-09-21T04:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![csbford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba9def/32.png) [@csbford](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/csbford)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/1 "2000-09-21T04:56:43Z")
I and few friends of mine are in Australia for a few weeks supporting the Olympics. Recently, we have found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands and one particular topic has been the issues of many hours of debate. (This may seem strange, but we have been quite bored) One of my associates is an English guy who says that what he knows as a Mars bar is known as a Milky Way bar to those of us who grew up in America. I say that the Milky Way bar is filled with a homogeneous gooey stuff. My friend says that the US Milky Way Bar has a layer of Caramel in it. The question that needs to be answered is: “Is a Mars Candy Bar bought in England or Australia the same candy bar as a Milky Way bar bought in the United States?” As this debate has been raging for quite a while it is appreciated if someone could settle this for us quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/2 "2000-09-21T05:09:40Z")
As someone who has just moved to the U.S: Yes. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/3 "2000-09-21T05:54:21Z")
Try a _Violet Crumble_ ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/4 "2000-09-21T06:21:04Z")
Or a Cherry Ripe. then decide whether they really do use pumpkin in them ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/5 "2000-09-21T12:56:08Z")
drat - I thought this was some kind of astronomy-candy connection thread 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/6 "2000-09-21T14:05:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by csbford \* > \*\* > I say that the Milky Way bar is filled with a homogeneous gooey stuff. \*\* In America, this is called a Three Musketeers candy bar. ---
**Author:** ![MattTheCroc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/7 "2000-09-21T14:30:07Z")
Well, I know nothing of US confectionary, but Aus Milky ways are little bars, smaller than usual, with that gooey stuff inside of 'em. No caramel. Mars Bars are around regular size, with the caramel. Milky Ways are a treat that won’t spoil your appetite, or something of that ilk, while a Mars bar will help you Work, Rest and Play… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/8 "2000-09-21T14:55:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought this was some kind of astronomy-candy connection thread If I ever invent a candy bar, I think I’ll call it “Horsehead Nebula”. That’ll make people buy it, right? ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/9 "2000-09-21T17:02:35Z")
> [@](#): > > My friend says that the US Milky Way Bar has a layer of Caramel in it. Having just bitten one in half for the purpose of research, I feel qualified to say he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/10 "2000-09-21T17:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > In America, this is called a Three Musketeers candy bar. The Three Musketeer bar is not the same as a Milky Way bar. The Milky way has a layer of caramel, and the Three Musketeers is just nougat covered by chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/11 "2000-09-21T17:28:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fear Itself \* > \*\*The Three Musketeer bar is not the same as a Milky Way bar. The Milky way has a layer of caramel, and the Three Musketeers is just nougat covered by chocolate. \*\* **csbford** made the comment that: **"I say that the Milky Way bar is filled with a homogeneous gooey stuff."** I was referring to that. While the exact definition of nougat escapes me at the moment (i think of it as having a crunch, I may be wrong), the Three Musketeer bars that I have encountered have had light brown “homogenous gooey stuff” encased in chocolate, without any caramel. Thus, what csbford was calling a Milky Way was (in America) a Three Musketeers… ---
**Author:** ![craiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@craiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/craiger)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/12 "2000-09-21T17:31:56Z")
is there a better bar out there than Dark ChocOlate Milky Way? ---
**Author:** ![jamesglewisf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a5b964/32.png) [@jamesglewisf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamesglewisf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/13 "2000-09-21T17:58:32Z")
I just got back from Bermuda! Ha. It’s the same as it was 10 years ago when I backpacked across Europe. The Mars Bar is the same as the Milky Way. The Three Musketeer is not even related. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/14 "2000-09-21T18:07:02Z")
In Britain, a Mars Bar is the one with the caramel stuff, and a Milky Way has the greyish-white gunk. But in case I am a wee bit out of date, I promise to go out and do some serious research on this soon, just to be helpful, you understand. ---
**Author:** ![Voorvie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/22d042/32.png) [@Voorvie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voorvie)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/15 "2000-09-21T18:07:05Z")
I am the expert at chocolate bars. Here goes: Mars: Short bar. Nougat, Caramel and Almonds in milk chocolate Milky Way: Regular sized bar. Nougat, Caramel in milk choccolate (unless you get the Dark chocolate version) Three Muskateers: Slightly larger than regular sized. Nougat only, covered in milk chocolate (supposedly less fat than other candy bars. Gee, really? Could it be because it doesn’t have nuts or caramel?) I believe all three are produced by Hershey. Happy snacking! (and now I’m mad because I’m craving a Milky Way. Haven’t had one in forever…where’s my change? Which way to the vending machine?) ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/16 "2000-09-21T18:15:09Z")
Here’s a visual comparison: (I couldn’t find Australian pictures, but I’m going to assume that English versions are close enough) British Mars Bar: [http://totl.net/VisibleMars/mars-uk.html](http://totl.net/VisibleMars/mars-uk.html) American Mars Bar: [http://totl.net/VisibleMars/mars-us.html](http://totl.net/VisibleMars/mars-us.html) And a side-by-side comparison of the two: [http://totl.net/VisibleMars/science.html](http://totl.net/VisibleMars/science.html) Anyway, you can see that the Mars bar in america does have caramel, as does the American Milky Way. So, again, as far as I know, the only candy bar that has a homogenous gooey center without caramel or nuts is the Three Musketeers. ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/17 "2000-09-21T18:21:59Z")
And here’s a picture of an American Milky Way: [http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/B/Jeffrey.W.Brogden-1/MW/mw.html](http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/B/Jeffrey.W.Brogden-1/MW/mw.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/18 "2000-09-21T18:22:25Z")
I just walked up to the corner store, so I could get a fresh perspective on this. It seems the folks at Mars are wizards at brand extensions. Here goes. They call the white homogenous stuff “vanilla nougat.” You can decide whether it’s really “nougat” for yourself. Three Musketeers = nougat covered with milk chocolate Milky Way = nougat and caramel covered with milk chocolate Milky Way Midnight (in my youth, it was called Forever Yours) = nougat and caramel covered with dark chocolate Snickers = Milky Way with peanuts (I think there’s also a dark choclate version) Mars Bar = Milky Way with almonds ---
**Author:** ![LazarusLong42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/19 "2000-09-21T19:03:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Voorvie \* > **I believe all three are produced by Hershey** Bzzt. They are manufactured by, strangely enough, the Mars Corporation (or M&M/Mars). LL ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2000, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963/20 "2000-09-21T20:12:14Z")
I have a chocolate jones so bad right now, but oddly enough for a Butterfinger or Zagnut (Wasn’t he a villan in _Flesh Gordon_?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mars-bars-vs-milky-ways/33963.md?page=2)