Kraft Heinz pulls school-approved Lunchables off the menu

[craig nigrelli]

LUNCHABLES ARE NO LONGER ON THE MENU FOR U-S SCHOOLS.

KRAFT HEINZ ANNOUNCED TUESDAY IT IS NO LONGER OFFERING THE TWO VERSIONS OF THE MEALS IT CREATED FOR SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC MEALS MADE THEIR DEBUT LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

KRAFT HEINZ SAID THEY WERE PROTEIN-ENRICHED AND HAD REDUCED LEVELS OF SATURATED FAT AND SODIUM TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NATIONAL FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.

HOWEVER, THE MEALS GOT PUSHBACK FROM NUTRITION EXPERTS, WHO WERE CONCERNED THE SCHOOL VERSIONS OF LUNCHABLES,  WOULD CONFUSE PARENTS INTO THINKING STORE-BOUGHT VERSIONS WERE HEALTHIER THAN THEY ARE.

THEN IN APRIL — CONSUMER REPORTS SAID IT FOUND THE SCHOOL-APPROVED LUNACHABLES ACTUALLY HAD **MORE** SODIUM IN THEM THAN THEIR STORE-BOUGHT COUNTERPARTS.

IN A STATEMENT — KRAFT HEINZ SAID ITS DECISION TO PULL SCHOOL LUNCHABLES WAS DUE TO LACK OF DEMAND.