Lunchables were introduced in 1988 and have since become one of the most popular meals for children to bring to school. However, a consumer watchdog’s recent report has startled parents across the country with an eye-raising claim: Lunchables kits are not as healthy for kids as previously thought.
The report, released April 9 by Consumer Reports, tested varieties of Lunchables, as well as other brands of meal kits for children. The report concluded that these kits “had potentially concerning heavy metal and phthalate levels,” including high levels of lead, and “they’re too high in sodium, especially for kids.” Much of this has to do with the protein within Lunchables and other kits, since “regularly eating processed meat, a main ingredient in many of these products, has been linked to increased risk of some cancers,” said Amy Keating, a registered dietitian at Consumer Reports.
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