Walmart and Michelle

Walmart is the largest grocery chain in the US. So it's not a big surprise they could get the First Lady onstage while announcing their new nutrition initiative. Here are the 5 main points discussed:

1. Walmart will be reformulating thousands of everyday packaged food item by 2015, reducing sodium, sugar, and trans-fat.--Good idea, but a processed product with less sugar or fat is still a processed product.
2. Making healthier choices more affordable, especially in regards to fresh produce.--They plan on eliminating inefficiencies and unnecessary costs in the produce supply chain while working with local farmers. We'll see how that works...
3. Developing strong criteria for simple front-of-package seal. --Last time the industry tried to tell consumers what's healthy we got fruit loops as a "smart choice".
4. Providing solutions to address food deserts by building stores in urban areas.--Does the NYC area really need a Walmart?
5. Increasing charitable support for nutrition programs.--PR move.

These ideas sound good, but ultimately I don't think such a behemoth of a corporation will pull it off. It's hard to get nutritious, real food (i.e. minimal ingredients on a label and they all can be pronounced) at cheaper prices, especially for the 140 million people who shop at Walmart every week.

You get that cheese girl!