Starting Oct. 15, more than 1 million members of Humana's healthy rewards program will start getting a 5 percent credit on about 1,300 healthy food items at all U.S. Walmart stores starting, the companies have jointly announced. If that weren't good enough news, reports Reuters, the credit can be used against future Walmart purchases.Walmart, the largest U.S. food retailer, has taken note that "one of the biggest barriers to healthy nutrition is cost," said Dr. John Agwunobi, president of health and wellness at Walmart. His company, he said, is trying an overall approach 0to improve the nutritional value of the food it sells. And because food accounts for more than half of Walmart's annual sales, and since it has tremendous clout in the U.S. market, the hope is that changes at its stores can influence other supermarket chains to do more about healthy eating.
The Walmart's products eligible for the credit include fresh fruits, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, skim milk, brown rice and packaged goods, the company told Reuters. The program works with a HumanaVitality card provided to members of Humana's rewards unit who receive points for meeting health goals. (Read more)
