Despite my personal qualms with Wal-Mart, I have to give them props for this new initiative to cut produce costs this year – equating to a 1 billion $ loss in revenue over each year – as well as cutting sodium, fat, added sugar and trans-fat from their name brand products by 2015. This will also mean that major name brands who sell products in Wal-Mart will be pushed to make similar changes in their products as well. This is all in part due to Michelle Obama’s Healthy Living Campaign.
Michelle Obama and Wal-Mart CEO
The great thing about this initiative is that Wal-Mart serves the population of people who are most at risk of developing our nation’s most deadly diseases – Heart Disease, Diabetes and Obesity. Food cost of produce has always been the main factor in why people say that they don’t eat fresh produce. Why buy fresh green beans for $2.99 when you can have green beans in a can for $.99? Cutting costs might make the fresher – and healthier – option much more appealing. But even if people are able to buy more produce they most likely won’t give up processed foods. That is why reducing sodium, fat, added sugars and completely eliminating trans-fat in common food products will be key to improving the health of thousands of Americans.
Will we really see a change in the way people eat? I think we are a long way off from seeing results. But hopefully this first step will be a catalyst for deeper change in the Food Industry.
Take a look at this article by nwi.com that recounts the official announcement made by Michelle Obama and Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon.
