Walmart Launches Effort to Provide Healthier Food Choices

Walmart has unveiled a plan to provide healthier food choices at reduced
prices, setting specific targets for lowering sodium, trans fats and added
sugars in thousands of packaged foods by 2015. Joined by first lady Michelle
Obama at an event in Washington, D.C., the major grocer outlined key
elements of the initiative that built on her “Let’s Move” campaign to make
healthy choices more convenient and affordable.

The initiative includes (i) reducing sodium by 25 percent in grain products,
luncheon meats, salad dressings, and frozen entrees; (ii) reducing added
sugars by 10 percent in dairy items, sauces and fruit drinks; (iii) removing “all
remaining industrially produced trans fats” in packaged foods; (iv) making
healthier choices more affordable through a “variety of sourcing, pricing
and transportation and logistics initiatives”; (v) developing “strong criteria
for a simple front-of-package seal” to identify “truly healthier food options”; (vi) “providing solutions to address food deserts by building stores in
underserved communities”; and (vii) “increasing charitable support through
nutrition programs.”

“With more than 140 million customer visits each week, Walmart is uniquely
positioned to make a difference by making food healthier and more affordable
to everyone,” Walmart U.S. President and Chief Executive Officer Bill
Simon said in a statement. “We are committed to working with suppliers,
government and non-governmental organizations to provide solutions that
help Americans eat healthier and live a better life.” See Walmart Press Release,
January 20, 2011.