Consumer Reports says Lunchables ‘should not be allowed on menu' for schools, petitions USDA for removal

The school cafeteria versions of popular kids’ grocery store snack kit Lunchables have been found to contain high levels of sodium, according to a consumer watchdog group. A recent report compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchables kits served in schools with those available in stores and found that the school versions had even higher sodium levels. Sodium levels in the tested store-bought kits ranged from 460 to 740 milligrams per serving, while the sodium content in the turkey and cheddar school versions was 930 mg compared to 740 mg in the store-bought version. The group also found traces of lead, cadmium, phthalates, and phthalate replacement chemicals in the tested kits. The substances have been linked to various health problems. The consumer group has petitioned the US Department of Agriculture to remove Lunchables from school cafeterias and provide healthier options.