Walmart Makes Another Move on Healthy Food Front

Walmart made big news today.  The nation’s retail giant announced a plan to reduce salt, fat and sugar in the packaged food sold under the company’s house brand, Great Value. It will also lower prices on fruits and vegetables, without asking farmers to reduce theirs.  Walmart hopes to make up for lower profits by selling more of the lower-priced fruits and veggies, according to an article in today’s New York Times.

The reduction in salt, fat and sugar in the house brand packaged food will be phased in over five years.  The plan is to reduce salt and added sugars by 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively, and completely eliminate trans fats — all by 2015.

At the urging of First Lady Michelle Obama, who endorsed Walmart’s announcement, the company will issue public progress reports, which the Partnership for a Healthier America will monitor.

The announcement comes three months after news of the company’s initiative to work with small- and medium-sized farmers.