Lunchables were introduced in 1988 and have since become one of the most popular meals for children to bring to school. However, a consumer watchdog's recent report has startled parents nationwide with an eye-raising claim: Lunchables kits are not as healthy for kids as previously thought.Â
What did the study find? For the report released on April 9, Consumer Reports tested 12 store-bought lunch kits, including products from Lunchables, Armour, Oscar Mayer and Target store brand Good & Gather. It was found that all of these products contained high levels of lead, but the three Lunchables kits tested had by far the most. The Lunchables Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers kit contained 74% of the maximum allowable dose level of lead, the Pizza with Pepperoni kit contained 73%, and the Extra Cheesy Pizza kit contained 69%.Â
Even in small amounts, metals like lead can "cause developmental problems in children, as well as hypertension, kidney damage and other health problems in adults," Consumer Reports said, and "no safe blood lead level in children has been identified," said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Â
How could this affect school lunches? Consumer Reports is urging the USDA to ban Lunchables and similar meal kits from school lunch menus, with its website allowing users to sign a petition to "do better for our kids' health!" Lunchables are "not a healthy option for kids and shouldn't be allowed on the menu as part of the National School Lunch Program," Brian Ronholm, the director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said in a press release.Â
The kits are a "good source of protein, offering nutrients through meats and cheeses," Kraft Heinz, the company that manufactures Lunchables, said in a statement to USA Today. All of its food products "meet strict safety standards that we happily feed to our own families," the company said. In addition, the two Lunchables kits that Kraft Heinz manufactures specifically for school lunch menus use a "specialized recipe that incorporates more protein and whole grains to keep kids powered throughout the day." |