Wal-Mart finally made public its 5-Year Health Plan. It is in line with US First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity. Michelle had called for measures to reduce obesity among children and provide food that can be bought by all. According to a report in the New York Times, Wal-Mart is keen to bring down the prices of foods that are sold in all its stores in the US.

As part of its 5-Year Health Plan, Wal-Mart will bring down sugar, salt and fat content in all the food products sold under its popular brand, Great Value.

Earlier, ConAgra, a major food company, implemented an initiative that plans a 20% reduction of sodium content in its food by the year 2015. New York City also set forth a similar measure.

As part of Wal-Mart’s health plan, the company may urge all its big suppliers to implement the same initiative. Kraft, a well know food corporation, is one of Wal-Mart’s biggest suppliers.

The report indicated that Wal-Mart’s 5-Year Health Plan includes to remove trans-fats added in its products. By 2015, the 5 year health plan wants to reduce the sugar and sodium levels by 10 and 25 per cent, respectively.

Wal-Mart’s health plan wants the company to be known as a provider of “healthy” foods. “All its products will have a label that tells a customer that the food is “healthy”.

Wal-Mart is highly inspired by Michelle’s crusade against childhood obesity. According to Bill Simons, Wal-Mart’s President and CEO, all people in the US should have access to food that is healthy. Price difference should never be a reason for family to make a choice between healthy and other foods.

Wal-Mart is aimed at bringing down the prices of healthy foods and provide a good range of healthy produce.  The company also plans to set up new stores in places where healthy food is not easily available.

The progress of Wal-Mart’s 5-Year Health Plan will be monitored by the not-for-profit Partnership for a Healthier America. This organization is part of Michelle’s Let’s Move campaign.

Wal-Mart’s 5-Year Health Plan may force other food producers to follow a similar move. Many experts believe that Wal-Mart’s health plan may soon have better range of affordable healthy food options.

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