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Advocates want USDA to take a bite out of Lunchables on school menu

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Consumer Reports is requesting the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program, which serves nearly 30 million students. The organization said that its testing shows the products are unhealthy for both adults and children.

“Lunchables are not a healthy option for kids and should not be included on the menu as part of the National School Lunch Program,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, said.

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The nonprofit organization conducted tests on Lunchables kits provided to children through the National School Lunch Program and those purchased in stores. Results revealed that all of the kits had “relatively high levels” of lead and cadmium. Additionally, all but one kit showed the presence of a chemical found in plastic, reportedly linked to reproductive issues, diabetes and certain cancers.

While none of the Lunchables exceeded federal limits, lead and cadmium can cause developmental problems in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sodium levels in the tested Lunchables exceeded nearly a quarter of a child’s recommended daily intake, with even higher amounts found in the school lunch program’s versions.

The highest sodium levels were detected in the Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers Lunchables. Medical experts warn that eating foods high in sodium can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.

Currently, the USDA permits two Lunchables kits — Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Extra Cheesy Pizza — under the program. To meet program requirements, Kraft, the producer of Lunchables, has reportedly increased whole grains in crackers and protein in the kits.

Consumer Reports is circulating a petition demanding the USDA eliminate Lunchables from the school lunch program and replace them with healthier options, garnering nearly 15,000 signatures as of April 10.

The USDA stated that it has rules in place to address the overall content of meals, requiring Lunchables to be paired with fruits, vegetables and milk.

Kraft maintains that it has “taken great steps to improve the nutrition profile of Lunchables,” including reducing sodium by 26%.

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[LAUREN TAYLOR]

BEFORE YOU PACK THOSE LUNCHES, CHEW ON THIS.

CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS NO AMERICAN SHOULD BE EATING LUNCHABLES “REGULARLY.” 

CR SAYS IT HAS THE TESTING TO PROVE LUNCHABLES ARE BAD FOR ANYONE’S HEALTH, ESPECIALLY KIDS.

THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE SAYS:

“LUNCHABLES ARE NOT A HEALTHY OPTION FOR KIDS AND SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED ON THE MENU AS PART OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.”

THE ORGANIZATION TESTED KITS SERVED TO KIDS THROUGH THE NSLP AND BOUGHT AT THE STORE.

ALL OF THEM HAD “RELATIVELY HIGH LEVELS” OF LEAD AND CADMIUM.

AND ALL BUT ONE SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF A CHEMICAL FOUND IN PLASTIC– LINKED TO REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES, DIABETES AND SOME CANCERS.

LEAD AND CADMIUM CAN CAUSE DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN, BUT NONE OF THE KITS EXCEEDED ANY FEDERAL LIMITS.

HOWEVER, THE CDC SAYS NO AMOUNT OF LEAD IS SAFE FOR CHILDREN TO CONSUME.

THE SODIUM LEVELS IN STORE-BOUGHT LUNCHABLES ARE AT NEARLY A QUARTER OF A KID’S RECOMMENDED DAILY INTAKE. 

CR REVEALED THE SCHOOL VERSIONS WERE EVEN HIGHER, WITH MORE THAN HALF THE RECOMMENDED DAILY AMOUNT. 

THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF SODIUM WERE FOUND IN THE TURKEY AND CHEDDAR LUNCHABLES. EATING FOODS WITH HIGH SODIUM CAN CAUSE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, LEADING TO HEART DISEASE, STROKE AND KIDNEY DAMAGE.

CURRENTLY, THE USDA ALLOWS TWO LUNCHABLE KITS.

TURKEY AND CHEDDAR CRACKER STACKERS AND EXTRA CHEESY PIZZA.

THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO NEARLY 30 MILLION STUDENTS.

TO MEET THE PROGRAM’S REQUIREMENTS, KRAFT ADDED MORE WHOLE GRAINS TO CRACKERS AND MORE PROTEIN TO THE KIT.

CR HAS A PETITION URGING THE USDA TO REMOVE LUNCHABLES FROM THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM AND REPLACED WITH “HEALTHIER OPTIONS.”AS OF THIS REPORT, IT HAD NEARLY 15-THOUSAND SIGNATURES.

THE USDA SAID IT DOES HAVE RULES TO “ADDRESS THE OVERALL CONTENT OF MEALS” AND LUNCHABLES WOULD NEED TO BE PAIRED WITH FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND MILK.

KRAFT SAID IT HAS “TAKEN GREAT STEPS TO IMPROVE THE NUTRITION PROFILE OF LUNCHABLES,” LIKE REDUCING SODIUM IN LUNCHABLES CRACKERS BY 26 PERCENT.