Walmart, the nation's largest grocer, says it will reformulate thousands of products to make them healthier and push its suppliers to do the same, joining first lady Michelle Obama's effort to combat childhood obesity.

The first lady accompanied WalMart executives Thursday as they
announced the effort in Washington. The company plans to reduce
sodium and added sugars in some items, build stores in poor areas
that don't already have grocery stores, reduce prices on produce
and develop a logo for healthier items.

"No family should have to choose between food that is healthier
for them and food they can afford," said Bill Simon, president and
CEO of Walmart's U.S. division.

As the largest grocer in the United States, Walmart's size
gives it unique power to shape what people eat. The grocery
business is nearly twice the size of No. 2 competitor Kroger. The
company also has massive influence on products made by other
manufacturers and sold at the store.

Mrs. Obama said the announcement has "the potential to
transform the marketplace and help Americans put healthier foods on
their tables every single day."

"We are really gaining some momentum on this issue, we're
beginning to see things move," she said.

The nation's largest retailer plans to reduce sodium by a
quarter and cut added sugars in some of its private label products
by 2015. It also plans to remove remaining industrially produced
trans fats. The foods Walmart will concentrate on our products
like lunch meats, fruit juices and salad dressings, items that
contain high levels of sugar or sodium that consumers don't know
they're ingesting.

A number of food makers have made similar moves, lowering sodium in their products based on shopper demand and increasing scrutiny by health groups. Bumble Bee Foods, General Mills Inc., Campbell Soup Co., PepsiCo Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc. all announced sodium reductions to their products last year.

During the press conference Wednesday, Andrea Thomas, Walmart's senior vice president of sustainability acknowledged those industry efforts but said,"Our goal is not to supplant these efforts, but
to encourage their widespread adoption. We see our role as a
convener and a catalyst. "

Food makers say they are trying to reduce sodium gradually,
making it a more palatable change to its customers and giving the
industry time to reformulate products. Most said they support
efforts to curb sodium in American's diets but are waiting to see
if the Food and Drug Administration decides to mandate a reduction.

Walmart said it would reduce prices on fruits and vegetables by
$1 billion a year by attempting to cut unnecessary costs from the
supply chain. The company also said it would work to reduce price
premiums on healthier items made with more expensive ingredients.

"Our customers often ask us why whole wheat pasta sometimes
costs more than regular pasta made by the same manufacturer," said
Thomas.
Mrs. Obama has a history of working with Walmart. She once
served on the board of Westchester, Ill.-based TreeHouse Foods
Inc., a food supplier for the store, but resigned in 2007 while her
husband was campaigning for the presidency. Barack Obama had
criticized the store over wages and benefits it pays employees.
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AP Retail Writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to
this report.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)