As a part of the initiative to build a healthy America, retail-major Walmart Stores (WMT) has decided to label the foods that meet its health standards. So Americans have an easier way of finding the healthy foods, as Walmart will label those foods with a bright green label that reads: ‘Great for You.’
Walmart’s decision to label its foods follows the company’s announcement of trying to look for ways to improve the nutritional value of the food it sells. The company also said it wanted to make its healthy foods more easily available by making them less expensive.
Walmart management has revealed that during the initial phase, it’s own Great Value and Marketside food items along with fresh and packaged fruits and vegetables sold at its stores, will be tagged by the new bright green label. These labels will be posted on the food items by the coming spring.
The label depicts the stylized outline of a human figure with its arms spread toward the sky. It signifies the company’s endeavor to promote healthier products and fight childhood obesity.
The initiative helps health conscious people to choose what is good for them and also encourages consumers to eat more fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts and seeds, as well as lean meats, while limiting the amount of total, trans and saturated fats, sodium and added sugars in products such as granola bars and frozen meals. Eggs have been included in the list of healthy foods; although it increases cholesterol, it is a cheap source of protein.
Walmart claims that the criteria which has been set for marking a food ‘healthy’ has been decided by experts and nutritionists, and they were pretty strict. The retail major has also been collaborating with suppliers of national brands and private label products and designed 165 food items that contain lesser amounts of sodium, added sugar and trans fats.
Walmart’s initiative comes at a time when America is on an anti-obesity spree. In America, obesity among children has spread like an epidemic. Nearly 57% of New Yorkers are overweight or obese, and about 10% of the obese children have been told they have Type 2 diabetes. The health officials reported that many obese children are under treatment in the city hospitals and need knee replacements, among other things.
First Lady Michele Obama has also patronized a keep fit campaign ‘Let’s Move,’ which was launched nearly two years back for protecting children against obesity. The campaign – which is causing worry for some food giants – suggests the inclusion of more vegetables and fruits and less of meat and fats in US school meals. The processed meat producers are among the worried lot, as this definitely means lesser consumption of their products.
Walmart’s close competitors in the foods business like General Mills (GIS) has already undertaken an initiative to make its products more nutritional by reducing harmful ingredients like fat and sugar and increasing elements like fiber, calcium and Vitamin D. The Kroger Co. (KR), one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains, has also launched a new, cholesterol reducing, fat-free milk available in its stores.
Currently we hold a Zacks#2 Rank for Walmart implying a short term buy rating.
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