Why Does Walmart Need 5 Years to Roll Out Its Healthy Food Initiative?

I completely agree! This is exactly what I was complaining about when I first heard. I may sound like skeptic but it seems like this is a TOTAL PR move. In 5 years, this "get healthy" trend might be over and they may not even have to make good on these promises. But they'll get credit for trying.

I think this is exactly the point. When you are struggling and the store brand item is 30 cents cheaper than the name brand, and you buy 50 items a week, that's $15 - $120 a month.

I agree that choices factor in as well. You can buy lentils and rice instead of pasta, and not choose a sugary store brand cereal.

This change in formulation might be for PR, it might be altruism, but what matters is that they just do it.

Marianne at Mealmixer ( http://www.mealmixer.com )

Because they have 5 years worth of that stuff to get rid of?

Marianne at Mealmixer ( http://www.mealmixer.com )

I totally agree with you in theory, but I think when it comes to practice that's where the problems come in.

For many American's it's about how much they can get with not a lot of money...and that's all the unhealthy foods. That's why if Walmart took it upon themselves to make the unhealthy foods a bit more healthy and the healthy foods a bit more affordable, it could go a long way to help the problem of obesity (and the diseases associated with it). Of course, that's just one part of the pie, and I think educating people to make healthier choices is another part of the pie...It's just not going to be one action that makes the problem better, but we really need to start somewhere.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Hi Melissa. I agree, I question the need for the fanfare (especially since they are plainly saying it's just in the "consideration" phase). I'm disappointed, but not the least bit surprised.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

From some people. I don't think it's Walmart's job (or any other company for that matter) to be all that concerned for my health. That's my job. I think that healthy food should be affordable. I also think that nutritional information needs to be readily available. I think they need to honest about what's in the food. When it comes down to the wire though, I really am the only who decides what food I eat. They can offer bad choices, and they can offer them cheaply, but I'm the one that picks it up off the shelf, puts it in the cart and takes it home. If I don't make good choices that's on me, not on them.

Contributing Editor Karen Ballum also blogs at Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca ).

I'm generally skeptical whenever stores or companies make an announcement like this. Because the other side is that they could just do it without a big fanfare and tell us after it's done. Telling us beforehand is there to protect sales for 5 years.

Melissa writes Stirrup Queens ( http://stirrup-queens.com ) and Lost and Found ( http://lostandfoundandconnectionsabound.blogspot.c... ). Her novel about blogging is Life from Scratch ( http://www.life-from-scratch.com/ ).

I like the "buy local" idea, but for a lot of people that's just not possible (due to cost and/or location).

Thanks for commenting.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

I know what your saying...But I think in the long run they really just want time to make sure their bottom line isn't affected, and (sadly) I don't think they have any "real" concern for the health of their customers.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Thanks for your comment, I totally agree...I guess I'm just hoping they might actually do the right thing this time (but I'm not really expecting them to).

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Yardavore

Somehow Walmart has managed to include itself at some pretty significant conferences, including the Clinton Initiative to discuss their intention to become a greener and more conscientious business model. They will be at the Lohas Conference in June. Surprising, if not shocking is the fact that they have actually become the largest organic linen retailers in the world in the last few years. Organic textiles will and should get more attention in the next decade just as organic food (which is a zillion dollar business now) has in the last decade. There is not a single body of water in the entire planet that doesn't contain the pesticides used on commercial cotton. As the world's biggest retailer and apparently the main outlet for lots of rural areas it's important that they consider Mrs Obama's request seriously. But I agree, 5 years is too long. Plus I suggest that you just skip them all together and buy local products that keep the money in the community.

Of why it will take a few years for some of those things. Changing all the products in a line takes time and they have a lot of products in their Great Value line. I hope that when they say that they have a five year plan that it means everything will be done within the five years but people will start seeing some of the changes sooner.

Contributing Editor Karen Ballum also blogs at Sassymonkey ( http://sassymonkey.ca ) and Sassymonkey Reads ( http://sassymonkeyreads.ca ).

Remember when they used to sell products made in the USA? Then, come to find out just the tag was sewn on in the USA? Then, people continued to buy it knowing it was made elsewhere, such as in China, even after some documentaries showing sweatshop conditions? And people continue to, while knowing that local Mom & Pop shops were being driven out of business? And when it was shown that Walmart was/is charging more per unit pricing on the larger packages vs the smaller packages like everyone else? And people knew they were being tricked, it was even on the news? I don't see this being an honest "Care about the customer & their health" type of move, but rather a PR move. I don't pretend to know why Mrs. Obama supports it, either. It doesn't take 5 years to do something like this (btw, they can take out more sugar than that). But I don't see their sales dropping. When I say anything negative about this store, I can really nasty comments from their fans with cursing (which doesn't surprise me). I probably will for this comment, as well.