The Department of Agriculture is being urged by Consumer Reports to exclude Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program due to excessive levels of lead, sodium, and cadmium in the kits. The advocacy group is concerned about the health implications of these findings. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images is credited for the photo illustration of a pack of Lunchables in San Anselmo, Calif.
Consumer Reports is specifically calling for the removal of Lunchables from the national school lunch program, citing high sodium content and elevated heavy metal levels. Brian Ronholm, the director of food policy at Consumer Reports, emphasized the importance of addressing these issues promptly. The keyphrase “Consumer Reports Lunchables” is central to their concerns.
Consumer Reports urged the USDA to eliminate Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program, citing concerns about their health impact on children. According to Ronholm, the meal kits contain high levels of sodium and harmful chemicals that could lead to long-term health issues. The call was made to ensure that healthier options are available to school kids.
In its findings, Consumer Reports highlighted the excessive sodium levels in Lunchables, as well as the presence of lead, cadmium, and phthalates, which can affect reproductive and hormonal health. The organization emphasized the need for removing Lunchables from school lunches to promote better nutrition.
While the USDA clarified that it does not approve or disapprove individual food items, it does establish nutritional guidelines for meals served daily or weekly. Therefore, any Lunchables included in school lunches must adhere to these nutritional standards.
Response from Kraft Heinz Regarding Lunchables Safety and Quality
A Kraft Heinz spokesperson emphasized that all Lunchables products adhere to stringent safety regulations, noting that trace amounts of lead and cadmium, which are naturally present in the environment, may be detected in food at minimal levels.
Expressing pride in Lunchables, the spokesperson affirmed the brand’s commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and integrity throughout the production process.
Enhancements to Lunchables Nutritional Value
Furthermore, Kraft Heinz has recently enhanced the nutritional profile of Lunchables by incorporating fresh fruit and reducing sodium content in its crackers, as stated by the spokesperson.
Consumer Reports has identified two Lunchables varieties, Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers, and Extra Cheesy Pizza, as currently included in school lunch programs.
Consumer Reports Findings on Lunchables Ingredients
Consumer Reports conducted tests on store-bought versions of various Lunchables varieties, revealing that they contained 74% and 69% of California’s lead maximum, respectively. The decision to use California’s lead threshold for testing was based on its superior protection compared to the federal limit.
Out of the 12 meal kits tested, which included Lunchables and other brands, every kit except the Extra Cheesy Pizza variant was found to contain at least one type of phthalate.
Higher Sodium Levels in Lunchables for Schools
In addition to the above findings, Consumer Reports highlighted that Lunchables designed for school distribution, featuring whole grains in the crackers and extra protein, exhibited elevated sodium levels compared to their retail counterparts.
The lunchables reviewed by Consumer Reports show that the turkey-and-cheese option served in schools contains 930 mg of sodium, higher than the 740 mg in commercially available kits. In terms of sodium content, the pizza variety offered in schools has 700 mg, whereas the store-bought alternative has 510 mg.
The turkey-and-cheese Lunchables option contains almost half the sodium recommended daily by the federal guidelines. In comparison, the pizza Lunchables have 34% of the daily sodium recommendation and exceed 50% of California’s cadmium limit, as discovered by the group. Consumer Reports initiated a petition urging the USDA to eliminate Lunchables from schools, garnering over 14,000 signatures by Wednesday afternoon.
