Michelle Obama, Wal-Mart team up for healthy food campaign

London, Jan 21 (ANI): Retail giant Wal-Mart is collaborating with US First Lady Michelle Obama to launch an extensive five-year plan to make its food healthier and more affordable.

The move is part of her signature campaign to fight childhood obesity, and Wal-Mart has pledged to slash prices on fruits and veggies and make thousands of its packaged foods lower in fats and sugars, reports the Telegraph.

Michelle described the company's new initiative as '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. We can improve how we make and sell food in this country," she said.

As part of its initiative, Wal-Mart will make thousands of its packaged foods healthier and cheaper by 2015, build more stores in poor areas and increase its donations to nutrition programmes.

Sodium and sugar will be reduced in some Wal-Mart foods and the price of fresh produce lowered.

"No family should have to choose between food that is healthier for them and food they can afford," said Bill Simon, Wal-Mart's president, in a statement.

"With more than 140 million customers each week, Wal-Mart is uniquely positioned to make a difference by making food healthier and more affordable to everyone," he said.

Healthy eating and tackling childhood is the centrepiece of Michelle's agenda as First Lady and it is the first time that she has given her approval to the work of a single company. (ANI)