Walmart launches healthy foods initiative to reduce salt, sugar and fats

Ran across this article earlier in the week and thought I would pass it along.

Walmart is getting on Michelle Obama's bandwagon, announcing Thursday that it will start selling healthier foods.

The four-year plan, which company officials announced in Washington with the First Lady, includes reducing salt and sugar as well as eliminating trans fats in packaged foods. Officials for the world's largest retail chain also plan to cut the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables — and will build stores in low-income neighborhoods where consumers have few choices to buy food beyond gas stations and convenience stores.

"No family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them and food they can afford," said Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. "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."

Walmart has more than 140 million customer visits each week. In outlining the changes, officials said they plan to reformulate thousands of packaged foods by 2015. Their goals include reducing sodium by 25 percent and added sugars by 10 percent, and removing all remaining industrially produced trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils.

Company officials said they will work with suppliers to improve the nutritional quality of both their Great Value brand and national food brands.

Walmart officials also said they will reduce prices on some healthy foods, such as products with reduced sodium, sugar or fat. The company plans to design a logo to help consumers identify healthier food options, such as whole grain cereal, whole wheat pasta and unsweetened canned fruit.

"Our customers often ask us why whole wheat pasta sometimes costs more than regular pasta made by the same manufacturer," said Andrea Thomas, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart. "We will use our size and scale to reduce the price premium on these types of products whenever possible, because customers shouldn't have to pay more to eat healthier."

In addition, Walmart announced that it will increase charitable support for nutrition programs that educate consumers about healthier food solutions and choices.

The changes could be significant in Florida, where Walmart is the second-largest grocer in terms of market share. Publix leads the state, and Winn-Dixie is third, according to 2009 data from the Shelby Report.

The Arkansas-based chain is rapidly expanding in South Florida, where it has eight new stores in the works.

In Washington, consumer advocates praised the news. "I applaud Walmart for using its marketplace muscle to move the food industry in a healthier direction," said Michael Jacobsen, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

"This announcement will virtually eliminate artificial trans fat in packaged foods and help spur food manufacturers to cut the sodium in their products over the next several years," he added. "Those two moves by Walmart ultimately should save thousands of lives each year that might otherwise be lost to heart disease or stroke."

Walmart already has begun a push into urban markets. In October, the retail giant announced it would open 30 to 40 smaller- format stores by January 2012, including outlets in urban areas. And in November, the retailer said it will open four locations in Washington, D.C., in 2012. The company has also started an advertising campaign to gain support for putting a store in New York City, where it likely will face opposition from politicians and labor unions