Schoolchildren may no longer find the beloved Lunchables kits in their lunches, as they have been removed from the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) due to insufficient demand, according to Kraft Heinz, the brand’s owner.

Kraft Heinz explained to YSL News, “This occurs from time to time across our extensive range of products, especially as we look into new sales avenues.”

On Monday, Kraft Heinz announced that it would discontinue Lunchables from the NSLP, a decision made just over a year after these lunch kits were included in the program, citing low demand.

At retail locations, various Lunchables assortments are available, featuring plastic trays filled with crackers, cheese, and meats; mini pizzas that can be assembled at home; nachos accompanied by cheese dip and salsa; along with juice pouches and treats such as gummy worms or Oreos.

In the school system, the FDA had approved two Lunchables varieties for sale, as noted by Consumer Reports:

• Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers
• Extra Cheesy Pizza meals

“Last year, we introduced two NSLP-compliant Lunchables options to schools with enhanced protein content,” the company stated. “Despite some enthusiasm from school officials, actual demand fell short of expectations.”

The segment represented less than 1% of Lunchables’ overall sales, and Kraft Heinz mentioned that the impact on their business is minimal.

Controversial school lunch

The inclusion of these kits had raised concerns, as they contained higher sodium levels than the versions sold in stores, according to Consumer Reports. The organization praised the decision to withdraw them and urged the USDA to impose stricter standards for eligibility in the program.

“Lunchables and similar lunch kits containing high sodium and harmful ingredients shouldn’t be part of the school lunch menu,” stated Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports. “We are pleased that Kraft Heinz has removed Lunchables from the school lunch program following inadequate demand from school districts nationwide.”

This decision comes in response to renewed calls from Consumer Reports and More Perfect Union, which emphasized the need to stop selling these products in schools, where low-income students receiving subsidized meals could access them. In September, they submitted a petition to the Department of Agriculture with nearly 50,000 signatures, according to a press statement from Consumer Reports on Monday.

“The USDA should enforce stricter standards for school lunch programs to ensure that the millions of children relying on them receive healthier options,” remarked Ronholm.

What is the National School Lunch Program?

Defined as a “federally assisted meal initiative operating in public and non-profit private educational establishments and childcare facilities,” the program aims to provide “nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free meals” to students, while also encouraging healthy eating and physical activity at school, as detailed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

However, Consumer Reports maintains that Lunchables do not satisfy those nutritional criteria.

High levels of lead and sodium

In April, Consumer Reports issued warnings regarding elevated lead and sodium levels found in Lunchables after testing 12 different varieties and comparing them to similar products from other brands.

“We believe no one should regularly consume these products, and they certainly shouldn’t be regarded as a healthy school lunch option,” stated Eric Boring, a chemist at Consumer Reports who oversaw the testing.

Whilst none of the lunch kits surpassed any legal restrictions, the analysis revealed “notably high amounts of lead, cadmium, and sodium” present in the Lunchables, according to Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports.

However, Kraft Heinz argued that the study conducted by Consumer Reports is “misleading.”

“We are deeply disappointed by the reporting from Consumer Reports and believe Kraft Heinz previously addressed concerns raised by a recent study, stating, “The findings are misleading and contribute to unnecessary worries about our products’ safety,” as reported to YSL News. “It’s important to note that all Lunchables adhere to strict safety regulations established by government bodies. Consumer Reports acknowledges that none of the foods they analyzed surpassed any legal or regulatory limits, yet they chose not to highlight this fact.”

According to Kraft Heinz, the results of Consumer Reports’ study regarding metals relied on California’s maximum allowable exposure for heavy metals.

The company claims that all of Kraft Heinz’s products, including Lunchables, “were well under the safe limits.”

Understanding Cadmium

Cadmium is categorized as a human carcinogen and has been associated with various health issues such as kidney and bone diseases, along with cancer, as per the World Health Organization. Since cadmium is a naturally occurring element found in soil, it cannot be entirely eliminated from the environment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has pointed out that there is no safe level of lead consumption for children.

Additionally, just one of the Lunchables kits, the Extra Cheesy Pizza, was free from harmful phthalates. These substances, often referred to as “everywhere chemicals,” are commonly found in plastics and have been linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Compliance with Meal Program Standards

The USDA has stated that while it does not specifically permit or ban individual food items, it does have standards to “manage the overall composition of meals” on either a daily or weekly basis.

This means that Lunchables must be served alongside fruits, vegetables, and milk, with schools required to monitor the frequency of serving high-sodium meals, as per the agency’s guidance.

“This is why we are proposing a new rule that aims to align our programs with current nutritional science and modernize our services to best support children,” the USDA stated. “Enhancing the nutritional quality of school meals stems from a shared goal: ensuring children’s health.”

To comply with the federally supported school meal program monitored by the USDA, Kraft Heinz has enhanced the nutrition of its school Lunchable kits by adding more whole grains to the crackers and elevating the protein content, as reported by Consumer Reports.

Kraft Heinz also mentioned in a statement to YSL News that the company is making efforts to improve the nutritional value of Lunchables by incorporating fresh fruits into select kits and decreasing the overall sodium content by as much as 26%.

“Our Lunchables products are a solid source of protein, providing essential nutrients through meats and cheeses,” the statement declared. “All our foods adhere to stringent safety standards that we are proud to serve to our own families. We take pride in Lunchables and stand by the quality and integrity behind their production.”