First Lady Michelle Obama called on more businesses to join in the fight against childhood obesity during the second and final day of her Let’s Move! tour, an initiative she began three years ago. Mrs. Obama’s trip to a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Springfield served as a tribute to the company’s commitment to creating and selling healthy products.
The First Lady says American businesses such as Walmart are helping to disprove the notion that healthy food doesn’t sell. She thanked the company for taking the risk in offering these services to its customers.
“You didn’t just dip your toe into the water, instead you went all in. You transformed the way you did business to bring your customers healthy products at prices they can afford,” Obama said.
The world’s largest retailer says that during the first two years of their healthier food initiative, they saved consumers $2.3 billion on fresh fruits and vegetables, launched a front-of-package icon to appear on 1,300 products, reduced salt and sugars in its private and national food brands, and opened 86 stores serving neighborhoods without access to fresh, affordable groceries.
Mrs. Obama cited a study by the Edelman public relations firm that shows 82% of consumers feel it’s important for companies to offer healthy products that fit family budgets. She added that companies who follow these food demands are providing a significantly larger return for their shareholders.
“I say this time and time again; it’s not about government telling companies what to sell or telling people what to buy,” Obama said. “It’s about businesses like Walmart stepping up and giving people the information they need to make the healthy choices that are right for them.”
Earlier Thursday Mrs. Obama was in Chicago where she launched Let’s Move! Active Schools, geared toward more physical activity. Her goal within the first five years is to engage 50,000 schools who will create active environments where students get 60 minutes of physical activity before, during and after the school day. On Wednesday, the First Lady was in Mississippi where she congratulated the state for reducing its child obesity rate by 13%.
