TRIP

Walmart to label healthier food as "Great For You"

Reuters Health News, 2012

Mon, Jan 30 2012 Wed, Jan 25 2012 Tue, Jan 24 2012 Fri, Jan 20 2012 Fri, Jan 20 2012
The Wal-Mart logo is pictured on cash registers at a new store in Chicago, January 24, 2012.
Eggs are among the foods getting a new "Great For You" icon from the world's largest retailer as it tries to convince shoppers that they can make healthy, low-cost choices when picking out food at its U.S.
arm of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, said that it would look for ways to improve the nutritional value of the food it sells and make healthier fare less expensive.
Walmart is the largest seller of food in the United States, and food accounts for more than half of the chain's annual sales, so any changes it makes in its food aisles can have a ripple effect on chains such as Kroger Co, Supervalu Inc and Safeway Inc.
"There are no candy bars," said Andrea Thomas, the company's senior vice president of sustainability.
The company spoke with food and nutrition experts, health organizations, government entities and others to decide on its criteria.
While some people felt that eggs should not be on the list because of the cholesterol they contain, she said, others argued that they are a good, low-cost source of protein.
Food and Drug Administration has not yet introduced a standardized seal to show foods that meet certain health criteria.
"At the point in time that there is a standardized label that comes out from the FDA then we'll be happy to make a switch," said Thomas.
"At this point we feel like our customers need help right now; we don't know how long that's going to take." At first, Walmart's green and white "Great For You" icon will appear on signs for fresh fruits and vegetables and then pop up on packages of about 20 percent to 25 percent of the company's Great Value brand food and on some of its Marketside items.