Northern grocers who get federal subsidies to lower the cost of food items will soon have to detail the savings on all their sales receipts to customers.

It is part of changes to the Nutrition North program which go into effect next April.

The $60-million program provides the subsidies to help offset the high transportation costs of food to remote northern Canadian communities, including three in Saskatchewan.

Partial subsidies are available in Stony Rapids, Black Lake and Fond du Lac.

Meantime, the federal NDP is pushing the government to expand the program to include an additional 46 communities, including five in northern Saskatchewan.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt says the changes ensure transparency.

Retailers are also on side, saying many will begin including the additional information before the April 1 deadline.