WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — Michelle Obama has co-founded a company aimed at making and selling healthier food and drinks for kids, with a focus that includes lower sugar content.

The former first lady's work with PLEZi Nutrition complements her efforts to improve child nutrition when she was in the White House. The announcement came during a keynote address she gave in New York.

As co-founder and strategic partner of PLEZi Nutrition, Mrs. Obama will work behind the scenes on its educational and philanthropic efforts, but will not be a spokesperson or public face of the company.

During her time as first lady, Mrs. Obama led a White House initiative called “Let's Move” to improve the health of U.S. children by encouraging physical activity and healthier food. She encouraged improve nutrition standards for school lunches and asked for commitments from food companies and restaurant chains to cut calories, salt, sugar and trans fats in their meals.

Kids are still are not getting the recommended levels of nutrients and are eating and drinking too much added sugar, she said Wednesday.

PLEZi Nutrition, based in the District of Columbia, is a public benefit corporation, meaning that the for-profit company will balance its profit needs with its mission to help improve child nutrition. Those steps include contributing 10% of its profits toward the cause.

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