Kroger’s $3M taxpayer-funded grant questioned by food group

“As part of President [Donald] Trump and Secretary [Edward] Kennedy’s Eat Real Food initiative and the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, HHS is putting this agenda into action by bringing practical nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to communities across the country, so far in 28 states,” Jamison said. “This initiative will give families the tools to make healthy, affordable meals and put real food back at the center of the American diet.”

The goal is to encourage people to eat healthier, whole food options. Kroger has agreed to provide discounts on those kinds of food.

But Taylor Warren, president of the nonprofit Center for Responsible Food Business, said the grant is more about increasing sales at Kroger.

“Families are already getting squeezed at Kroger's checkout,” he told The Center Square. “Now this multibillion-dollar corporation is taking $3 million in our taxpayer money to help boost its sales, with its own customer-surveillance subsidiary measuring the results. Taxpayers shouldn’t have to bankroll Kroger’s marketing and data operation under the banner of public health.”

Kroger did not respond to repeated requests by The Center Square for Comment.

Center for Responsible Food Business has launched a public campaign called Kroger Hurts Families, which is pushing Kroger to address what the group sees as predatory pricing practices, the surveillance of customers and other business practices. Warren said.

Kroger is one of the nation’s largest grocery store chains and retailers, with 2,697 stores, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The grant was awarded after a publicly advertised opportunity open to eligible applicants and will help pay for 7,000 cooking demonstrations, Jamison said.