Consumer Reports, a well-known advocacy group, is urging the federal government to remove Lunchables from the national free and reduced-price school lunch program. The call comes after an analysis conducted by the group revealed high amounts of sodium and elevated levels of heavy metals in the popular meal kits.

Brian Ronholm, the director of food policy at Consumer Reports, emphasized that Lunchables and similar lunch kits are not healthy for children. He called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to eliminate the brand from its National School Lunch Program in order to ensure that kids have healthier options.

Consumer Reports found concerning levels of sodium in Lunchables during their analysis. They also detected lead and cadmium in the tests, as well as the presence of phthalates, which can negatively impact both reproductive health and the human hormonal system.

In response to Consumer Reports' claims, a spokesperson from the USDA stated that the department does not allow or disallow individual food items. Instead, they set requirements for the overall nutritional content of meals on a daily or weekly basis. The spokesperson explained that Lunchables would need to be paired with fruit, vegetables, and milk to meet those requirements. The USDA further added that they take their responsibility to ensure the highest nutritional quality of school meals seriously. They have been assisting schools in using local ingredients and cooking more meals from scratch.

Kraft Heinz, the company that produces Lunchables, defended the safety of their products, stating that all of their items meet strict safety standards. They also mentioned that lead and cadmium occur naturally in the environment and may be found in food at low levels. The spokesperson expressed pride in Lunchables and emphasized the company's commitment to quality and integrity. They noted that Kraft Heinz has made efforts to improve the nutritional benefits of Lunchables by adding fresh fruit and reducing sodium in the crackers.

Consumer Reports highlighted that two varieties of Lunchables are currently served through the school lunch program: Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Extra Cheesy Pizza. The group tested store-bought versions of these varieties and found that they contained 74% and 69% of the California lead maximum, respectively. The group used California's standard as a benchmark for testing due to its protective nature.

Additionally, the analysis revealed that Lunchables made for distribution in schools have higher sodium content compared to those available in stores. The turkey-and-cheese option in schools contains 930 mg of sodium, while the commercially available version has 740 mg. Similarly, the school-version of the pizza variety has 700 mg of sodium, whereas the store-sold option has 510 mg.

Consumer Reports created a petition urging the USDA to remove Lunchables from schools, which has gathered over 14,000 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. The group's findings have sparked a debate around the nutritional quality of school meals and have raised concerns about the health implications for children.

The USDA has not yet made a decision regarding the removal of Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program but continues to emphasize their commitment to ensuring nutritious meals for students.