Healthy Corner Stores Network

Convenience Store News, May 23, 2012.

The Shawnee County Health Agency in Topeka, Kansas, is working with convenience stores to reduce the community’s salt intake. In October 2012, the CDC awarded the state of Kansas a Sodium Reduction in Communities grant to work with Shawnee county. Grants were also awarded to New York City; Los Angeles; the state of California, to work with Shasta County; and the state of New York, to work with Broome and Schenectady counties. A Shawnee county public health educator said many convenience stores were resistant to participating at first, saying that customers don’t usually ask for low-sodium foods. But the stores that were interested in participating have been very enthusiastic about the process. Now, more than a dozen stores are participating in the project. The stores feature a stand-alone rack filled with healthy, low-sodium snack options near the front of the store. The organizers of the project will provide the racks, promotional signs, technical assistance, and advertising.