Jenny Hapgood LeBank, Product Management Director & Steve Winter, Content Writer:

A number of food policy, cultural, and dietary experts have weighed in on Walmart’s shift to promote healthier foods. The responses have been mostly positive. And rightly so. This shift appears to be a big step in the right direction.

Over the next five years, the retail giant will lower the levels of sugar, sodium, and trans fat in its house brand, Great Value. It will also drop the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables.

As the nation’s largest buyer and seller of foods, this decision is bound to ripple throughout the food industry and could well improve food quality worldwide.

Walmart buys 16% of Kraft’s products and has many other suppliers that will need to come in line with the changes. As Kraft and the other big food manufacturers improve the nutritional make-up of the foods they supply to Walmart, why wouldn’t these foods become widely available beyond Walmart? Sam’s Club and Costco could be next!

Shopping these days can be such an overwhelming experience that it’s no wonder people rarely stop to scrutinize nutrition labels on the foods and beverages they’re buying. By improving the nutritional content of their products, Walmart makes it easier for people to make the right and healthy choice. Today’s consumers want to eat healthy, but won’t go too far out of their way to do so. Will Walmart’s shift result in more awareness of healthy foods and better diets? Or, will it just be easier than ever for consumers to rely on what the superstores offer?

One thing is sure: due to Walmart’s vast reach through more than 8,000 stores, millions of more people will have access to healthier foods. Additionally, Walmart shoppers are expected to save over $1 billion from the lower prices.

From a public health perspective, these are very positive developments.

It all sounds pretty good. Too good to be true? Walmart may have earned a bit of skepticism by its past actions, but the motivation behind this campaign seems earnest.

Walmart says it will not ask suppliers to eat the extra production costs associated with producing whole grain foods, nor will it ask farmers to accept less money for their goods. Rather, Walmart expects to cut into its own profits at first but to make up for the losses through an increase in products sold. In a move you don’t often hear from the private sector, Walmart has even agreed to have its progress monitored by the nonprofit, Partnership for a Healthier America.

The criticism to the policy change has been minor. Some experts say the initiative is not enough, others believe the changes need to be accompanied by massive public health programming, and others want the change to come from the federal government. But what’s important here is that Walmart is actually moving forward with change. They have made a commitment to their customers and they’re doing it for their customers. According to Walmart, customer demand drove its decision.

So, let us be mindful that as consumers our voices and our wallets influence the products available to us. This is a good reminder that our decisions, whether we buy the fresh produce or the processed meal in a box, do matter, for ourselves and for others. And, sometimes, even the biggest companies are listening.