Parents Beware: Lunchables Contain Troublesome Levels of Lead and Sodium
A recent study by Consumer Reports revealed that Lunchables, prepackaged boxes of deli meat, cheese, and crackers, may not be the healthiest option for kids. These convenient snack or lunch kits, including those made by Kraft Heinz, were found to have concerning levels of lead and sodium.
"There's a lot to be concerned about in these kits," said Amy Keating, a registered dietitian at CR. "They're highly processed, and regularly eating processed meat, a main ingredient in many of these products, has been linked to increased risk of some cancers."
While none of the tested kits exceeded legal limits, Consumer Reports found that five out of 12 products contained levels of lead or cadmium heavy metals that could expose children to 50% or more of California's maximum allowable amount. These metals can cause developmental issues and other problems in kids.
Evaluation of Lunchables Nutrition Levels
A recent study found that a 3.2-ounce Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers Lunchables contained 74% of California's allowable limit for lead and 49% of the recommended daily sodium intake for 4- to 8-year-olds. Other products tested had lower levels of lead and sodium.
CR chemist Eric Boring, who led the testing, expressed concern, stating, "The kits provide only about 15% of the 1,600 daily calories that a typical 8-year-old requires, but that small amount of food puts them fairly close to the daily maximum limit for lead. So if a child gets more than half of the daily limit for lead from so few calories, there's little room for potential exposure from other foods, drinking water, or the environment."
Boring emphasized, "We don't think anybody should regularly eat these products, and they definitely shouldn't be considered a healthy school lunch."
Responding to the findings, a spokesperson for Kraft Heinz defended the brand, stating, "Many of our Lunchables products are a good source of protein, offering nutrients through meats and cheeses. We've taken great steps to improve the nutrition profile of Lunchables, including recently unveiling Lunchables with Fresh Fruit and reducing the sodium in all Lunchables crackers by 26%."
"In the realm of current scientific understanding, foods that are labeled as 'ultra-processed' may not necessarily be lacking in nutritional value. Surprisingly, numerous processed foods actually contain added nutrients, offering an array of benefits to consumers. The categorization of foods ought to be rooted in scientific evidence that encompasses an evaluation of the overall nutritional content of the product, rather than being limited to a singular element such as a specific ingredient or the extent of processing," emphasized a spokesperson from Kraft Heinz.
