Jack & Jill Politics

from The Washington Post.com

With praise from Michelle Obama, Wal-Mart announces healthy food campaign
By Debbi Wilgoren and Ylan Q. Mui
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, January 20, 2011; 1:49 PM

First lady Michelle Obama joined Wal-Mart executives at a Southeast Washington community center Thursday morning to announce a campaign by the low-priced retail giant to offer more healthful foods and push its suppliers to do the same.

In a glowing endorsement of the type that first ladies have rarely, if ever, made of major corporations, Obama called Wal-Mart’s effort “a huge victory for folks all across this country” and said it has the “potential to transform the marketplace.”

“When I see a company like Wal-Mart launch an initiative like this, I feel more hopeful than ever before,” said Obama, who has made fighting childhood obesity and increasing nutritious food options in poor neighborhoods a top priority. “We can improve how we make and sell food in this country.”

Wal-Mart, which recently announced plans to open its first stores in the District, unveiled the healthful food initiative at THEARC, a community center that offers a nutritious eating program to residents from surrounding neighborhoods.

Officials said Walmart will make thousands of the packaged food items that it sells more healthful and affordable by 2015; build more stores in underserved areas and increase its charitable donations to nutrition programs. The plan includes reducing sodium and sugar in some foods, lowering prices on produce and developing a logo so customers can more easily identify healthful items.

US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks as she joins business leaders from Walmart, an American public multinational corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores and a chain of warehouse stores, for an announcement impacting food formulation, availability and affordability in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2011.
—-JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

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U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama hugs a girl after she participated at the Walmart announcement initiative to make food healthier and more affordable in Washington, January 20, 2011.
—-REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama greets children after she participated at the Walmart announcement initiative to make food healthier and more affordable in Washington, January 20, 2011.
—-REUTERS/Yuri Gripas