The Financial Times reports that Walmart is introducing a labeling initiative called ‘Great For You” that will put a seal with those words on private brand products that “meet nutrition criteria on protein, fibre, fat, sugar and sodium content.” According to the story, Walmart said that “its effort had been devised in consultation with food experts and was informed by the latest nutrition science as well as public sector dietary guidelines.”
Andrea Thomas, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart, said in a statement: “Walmart moms are telling us they want to make healthier choices for their families, but need help deciphering all the claims and information already displayed on products.” And Leslie Dach, executive vice president of corporate affairs, said, “We have the opportunity to address an issue many feel is too complicated or too hard to tackle and to demonstrate that it doesn’t have to be.”
The story says that Walmart’s labeling system “highlights fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats as well as varieties of products such as snack bars, frozen meals and yoghurt that have low levels of fat, sodium and sugar.” It also says that Walmart has pledged to move to national standards if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is able to come up with them.
Andrea Thomas, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart, said in a statement: “Walmart moms are telling us they want to make healthier choices for their families, but need help deciphering all the claims and information already displayed on products.” And Leslie Dach, executive vice president of corporate affairs, said, “We have the opportunity to address an issue many feel is too complicated or too hard to tackle and to demonstrate that it doesn’t have to be.”
The story says that Walmart’s labeling system “highlights fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats as well as varieties of products such as snack bars, frozen meals and yoghurt that have low levels of fat, sodium and sugar.” It also says that Walmart has pledged to move to national standards if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is able to come up with them.
- KC's View:
-
Folks at Walmart told me several years ago that they were looking to come up with a nutritional labeling program that would be along the same lines of Delhaize’s Guiding Stars initiative, and, to a lesser extent, the NuVal nutritional labeling system.
I’m a big fan of these kinds of programs, but this effort just strikes me as kind of timid ... especially because it only applies to private brands, and also because it seems to have been so many years in the planning.
