Lunchables have concerning levels of lead and sodium, report finds

A new study from the advocacy group Consumer Reports found that Lunchables, the longtime prepackaged boxes popular with children nationwide, have high levels of sodium, lead and other heavy metals. The group is now calling for the federal government to remove them from the National School Lunch Program. KraftHeinz says Lunchables “meet strict safety standards.” Nancy Chen has details. Air Date: Apr 11, 2024.
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[@bennoble2049]

30 years too late on this consumer report.

[@UmmYeahOk]

Yeah, I mean, there’s two generations at least that have grown up with it. And the two or three generations before them dealt with lead paint and lead gas exhaust. We’re sure quick to recall toys that have lead on them though.

[@dahliarose6986]

There needs to be the compensation commercials for kids that ate these growing up. I grew up eating this and would be given these for field trips or a quick lunch or snack.

[@dannybrezelhorner2715]

​@@dahliarose6986 we live in America we're not getting anything..

[@Ash_NuggTato]

They wasnt like this back then

[@97AshleyRose]

⁠@@dahliarose6986I was only allowed to eat these on field trips but still the occasional lunchable could have just been lead definitely will make my own when I have kids one day

[@chicagolifetv]

Fun fact the Creator of Lunchables once said he wont even feed his own kids lunchables because how bad they are for you

[@LemonSoundLogos]

LMAO

[@peterjhpark4782]

Another Fun Fact: Lunchables was created by Oscar Meyer to sell more deli meats that were becoming excess during production.

[@thesailormercury2]

it looks like story about the person created a type of gun and became deaf

[@robbyrob6792]

@@peterjhpark4782just like “whey” amazing how they literally sell the trash/by products of production as an actual coveted product.

[@ChrispyLink]

Fact check: completely false the only thing hes quoted with ACTUALLY saying is this "I wish that the nutritional profile of the thing could have been better, but I don’t view the entire project as anything but a positive contribution to people’s lives."

[@chromosomegang9508]

I remember when I was in school I thought people that brought luchables for lunch were cool and rich while I had free lunch food

[@DrawciaGleam02]

Lots of people have felt that.....

[@michibmoon]

Same here. Or the people who had their lunches packed with them and their mom gave them cool/fancy things like the Milano cookies lol

[@user-ov3lm9nm2g]

Um.. I had nothing for lunch at school...

[@Paul-du3qq]

The most terrifying words to hear in relation to any food are " dangerous levels" and "meets safety standards".

[@j-sant-animations8105]

A safe amount of lead is like being “lightly stabbed” (Brooklyn 99 show)

[@funnycomedymaster]

lunchables had us convinced eating uncooked pizza and cold chicken nuggets was fine dining

[@micrill50]

Not for me

[@rambofan334]

Let's not forget that the "pizza sauce" was basically just ketchup.

[@ToonyTails]

@@rambofan334 Didn’t taste like ketchup to me that much..

[@Mokawoo]

Just for white people

[@danielmnelson-watlamet1872]

Even at 5$ a lunchable and they still can't even guaranteed Fresh product. Shame.

[@xhardcorex2398]

Breakthrough journalism. They found high levels of sodium? You mean they looked at the back of the box?

[@imaginefinding]

Honestly the sodium level doesn't really matter, but lead and cadmium tho thats a different story

[@lolapop2010]

​@@imaginefindingThe toxins are obviously worse, but high sodium absolutely DOES matter.

[@Pizzahutbaby]

​@@lolapop2010 eh compared to alot of things it's not a big deal. But I see your point, that alone should be a no.

[@daily_rhetoric]

If it’s made for kids specifically I can guarantee you it’s deadly. Nightshade in your cough syrup. Shameful.

[@druidic4353]

Nightshade isn't in cough syrups... Just dxm....

[@Jerry12768]

Who would’ve thought super processed portable food for kids was bad for you

[@tommyjones1357]

Which recipe calls for lead and cadmium?

[@jamiehughes5573]

This explains the high levels of brainrot in todays children

[@Bobby_T_]

That’s tiktok

[@minipz9thebastfiiter509]

You saw ur child watching skibaki toilet right?

[@dadongo850]

@@aaronconner1440 just a strange, concerning comment

[@lIIIllIllIlIIlI]

People have been eating this for decades so it’s something else

[@rafaeldelrio9987]

Wonder why they domt have this product in europe 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@ChicagoJoe94]

You still sell Cigs in Europe though? Don’t think y’all aren’t also digesting crap haha it’s just different stuff.

[@Bobby_T_]

It would only sell in the UK, the rest of Europe knows how to assemble their own cheese and crackers

[@y09p]

@@ChicagoJoe94 bro tried to complain at someone eating the crust while they themselves eat the pizza whole without shame, no no you don't! 😂

[@ChrispyLink]

Products in Europe still contain lead. as with anywhere there are limits in place.

[@Caketurtle7]

@@y09pwhat are u saying

[@minutemaid5113]

These schools shouldn’t even talk, when their food isn’t any better

[@GE1463]

yeah

[@TheDarkSatirist]

What does that have anything do with the high amounts of bad stuff in specifically lunchables?

[@HanzousShadow]

They still serving slop, the breakfast always sent me to the RR. Stopped eating there all together.

[@leanflavoredpringles2353]

Nahh even the school slop is better in comparison to lunchables

[@GE1463]

@@leanflavoredpringles2353 no lol

[@jgrawn]

Many items in the US are over processed and unhealthy. It's all about the almighty dollar rather than considering what is healthy for everyone like so many other unrelated things in this country. Big business just wants you to buy no matter the long term effects.

[@ToonyTails]

Thanks for restating the obvious. It’s not like anyone else has said this exact thing (or a variation of it) billions of times now

[@leetraviusmckay314]

I still ate them as an adult 😫

[@Tacobakeforever]

Bro I’ve been eating them when I sit down and drink a 12 pack and I be eating so many I’m terrified

[@kis4beauty]

All of our childhood foods are trash now! Shame...

[@bethanywashington1243]

I wonder if they were this bad when I was a kid. I was born in the 90s and I remember that lunchables had actual name branded products and colas. The packaging was deferent too as well as the amounts and taste.

[@r160aexpress5]

Lunchables was better way back when the brand was cartoonish including the penguin

[@ChrispyLink]

@@bethanywashington1243 It was actually worse back in the 80's and 90's. Weve come a long way.

[@psnisy1234]

They've always been trash tbh

[@robertpalmer3166]

For people who hate their children.

[@Maddi_LuviesYT]

Why do you hate your kid?

[@doxoxo779]

Like fast food and all that red dye #40 😂 they don’t love their kids either

[@davidhowell1415]

@@Maddi_LuviesYTseeing as dude went and saw U2 in 1997 at the cotton bowl if he has kids I’d wager they are adults now and he possibly has grandchildren. So I don’t understand why or how you would make your claim

[@Pr0toPoTaT0]

Bro, I loved my mom every single time my mom got me the pizza lunchables!!!!!! They're the best freaking thing your mom can buy you

[@davidhowell1415]

@@Pr0toPoTaT0 depending on how old you are those weren’t the same as they are now. I remember the old mid 90’s lunchables they’re not the same as they were the ingredients have changed significantly. I don’t agree with the op terminology but don’t let that distract from the health risks of what the fda calls “ safe “ now. The fda takes money from companies to say their products are healthy. Just look at the cereal companies

[@jezzy.1224]

As a picky eater, I'm glad I've only eaten lunchables a few times in my life.

[@tillettman]

Kraft-Heinz denies the accusations? So, what’s going to happen to the executives if it’s found that there are, in fact, dangerous levels of lead and cadmium?

[@bewareofsasquatch]

Coincidence but 2 days ago the prices went down so I bought 3. Yesterday they brought this up. 😢

[@SpiderxPunk]

Lunchables? More like Leadables.

[@irritatedkitty7301]

😢😅😢😅😢😅

[@seshenofthenile2363]

Dude 😂

[@jacliveshere]

OMG 🤣🤣🤣

[@richardc5100]

Not me eating an 8 pack in a day

[@johneg27]

kek

[@henryhendrix1562]

How does this happen?? Poison ☠️being fed to our children while we happily pay them for it. How does the federal government even let this happen without any consequences to the greedy corporations doing this. I’m Really Bewildered why our citizens don’t demand more accountability

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

Because they are just as guilty

[@y.r.9401]

😮😮😮why were they allowed to be sold and given at all before they were made!?

[@martink7945]

So grateful consumers report telling what is healthy and what not. Couldn‘t figure it out on my own.

[@FLORIDIANMILLIONAIRE]

It's really awful that in this day and age companies are doing this in U S Of freaking A unbelievable

[@ChrispyLink]

Everywhere in the world has Lead in their foods, it's impossible to completely remove it.

[@125SonGoku]

Great, I’ve been eating those the past 17 years on my lunch break at work. We normally don’t get a ton of free time, the ability to make it to a restaurant and back in time, or have access to microwaves and stoves isn’t guaranteed. It’s been packed sandwiches (tuna, peanut butter and jelly, or ham and cheese) along with Lunchables since they take up little time or space and have been ideal as a quick and easy go to for lunch breaks.

[@_JoeMomma]

The manufacturer of luncables said they’re proud of them and follow strict regulations. Let that sink in.

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

I KNEW IT!!! I was young when these first hit the market, and I never wanted it. It looked terrible, and my mother stated clearly that she would not buy them, even if I wanted them. Children in this country are fed garbage. That is one thing my mother got right. Lunchables are garbage-not any nutritional content at all.

[@shannon8254]

Some parents can't afford fancy foods. Yes, it may be unhealthy, but it is better than nothing. I was fed lunchables as a child and I am not obese.

[@lachonayunabotella4703]

Lentils, split peas, beans, rice, bananas , frozen vegetables and fruits are affordable , chicken gizzards, chicken feet, pork bones are cheap too, no excuses

[@DR1FT3R742]

My childhood has been officially ruined

[@nicolebear]

Lunchables are full of calories, sodium, fat, etc. I stopped eating them since they are unhealthy.

[@janetd443]

Do we have to worry about lead and cadmium in meat and cheese from the grocery store deli counter?

[@irritatedkitty7301]

Good question.

[@ChrispyLink]

Realistically no

[@irritatedkitty7301]

@@ChrispyLink That was reassuring. Hmmm. What's the difference?

[@luigiisgreen]

you'll find lead in every food product, its a naturally occuring thing, you could grow your own veggies and still find traces of it in the plant

[@FarmSimDaddy]

Junk food isn't healthy????

[@christopherwesterberg8555]

Definitely not

[@vante9588]

Difference between "healthy" and "harmful" and "junk food"

[@GE1463]

CR is already becoming untrustworthy they have to say something true once in a while to keep them alive

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

​@@vante9588sugar is harmful

[@sillysumi]

wow no way😱😱

[@stryker819]

Packaged and processed food ….. is nasty and bad for you. They don’t care if it’s good or bad for you it’s all about the $

[@missjo2036]

Well most our food is processed and until America wakes up like Europe did it's gonna be awhile till we see real ingredients in food.

[@christopherwesterberg8555]

I remember having Lunchables when I was a Kid

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

I’m sorry.

[@christopherwesterberg8555]

For what?

[@BrawlFighterz]

​@christopherwesterberg8555 that when you was a kid it was nostalga now it's gone

[@Bobby_T_]

I don’t. They put so much lead in my lunchables I don’t remember eating them

[@irritatedkitty7301]

I just started buying them once a month. Thought better than a fast food burger. Now what?

[@pinkroses135]

Lunchables? Lead. Chocolate? Lead. Some dried spices that were recalled? Lead. What are kids supposed to eat? Paint chips?

[@af3790]

I agree those lunchable meats are way too much sodium for kids and children. I don’t think they are healthy. I used to eat those lunchable when I was younger I was not aware they have high levels of sodium and other unhealthy ingredients

[@irritatedkitty7301]

Are you worried about the sodium and not lead, cadium, or phthalate?

[@ChrispyLink]

@@irritatedkitty7301 All of them are under the required levels imposed under California's prop 65. Don't eat 15 packs a day and you'll be alright.

[@peteman7354]

I'm a cafeteria manager and I would be embarrassed to serve lunchables in my kitchen. I must honestly say that it is very easy to throw food together for kids and it's not very hard to make it taste good too. The fact lunchables is even part of the national school lunch program is a disgrace to our country where so many other options are available. After hearing about large amounts of cellulose (WOOD) in Kraft's "parmesan" "cheese". Fun fact, they aren't even allowed to call it cheese. It's "cheese product". Now seeing this, I can confirm that some prison inmates eat better than our children. I'm not surprised by this at all though, look who put the whole plan into action. some one who has not the first clue about nutrition, just a wife of a person in power. Also, shame on theses foodservices for becoming so lazy with their kitchens!

[@unadomandaperte]

And they're not just going to stop at Lunchables.

[@missjo2036]

Idk why people are so surprised. It's America after all and till we wake up about what's in our food this is, what we will get.

[@leanflavoredpringles2353]

> Until Americans wake up List of things that will never happen:

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

​@@leanflavoredpringles2353do you think we went to the moon?

[@finchborat]

It makes me glad I've long since stopped eating them. I loved the Lunchables nachos as a kid and got back on them for a time during HS. I had the pizza one a couple of times, but I would often get the nachos.

[@Lucysil1970]

How is this just coming out? Lunchables have been in stores for years.

[@DANELL-kh7zm]

LEAD LOWERS COGNITIVE ABILITIES

[@dahliarose6986]

Omg this is terrifying 😱

[@laffeydude3558]

I remember getting food poisoned from lunchables in the 3rd grade back in 2005. My mom never brought Lunchables for me ever again.

[@annat6249]

I have a picky 5 yr old. He even skip his lunch at school and he have a 7 hours school day. I was desperate trying to find anything he would eat. My sister suggested lunchable because that was what her kids ate. I looked at the market. Cost cheap, around $3. It make me wonder if nutrition it have. Anyways I bought 2 and pray my son refuse to eat it, which he did.

[@grovermartin6874]

I would have loved them as a child because of the cool packaging.

[@l1z4rdon7]

I always thought Lunchables were rich people food when I was a kid. I hope it’s not just me lol.

[@laffeydude3558]

I thought it was too until my mom got me some to take to school for lunch in the 3rd grade back in 2005, and got food poisoned after that. My mom never brought lunchables for me ever again.

[@Retr0racin]

These companies are in the business of making shareholder value go up, not healthy food. pretty much how every company is now from airplanes to toasters. It's all about shareholder value not a good product.

[@honeygen777]

Nooo not my precious lunchables lol 😭😭 I grew up eating these and I still do 😢

[@samuwamu5451]

Did some research but apparently there is not rlly anything to worry about the lead levels are so low like actually low but still having lead in a child’s food is crazy

[@TheNakedRamen]

So when's the lawsuit?

[@epicjourney3720]

Omg at this point just sell boxes of lead at the grocery store.

[@Sesj02]

Thank god I was too poor to afford lunchables as a kid

[@PixiePink]

"developmental issues"..... no wonder we're all reclusive gamers who watch youtube shorts all day plugged to our phones

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

Don’t you ever call someone a “conspiracy theorist” again.

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

Nothing wrong with theorizing things involving existing conspiracies

[@tbucket8180]

Those were a treat, not an everyday lunch.

[@cherylsaxon243]

Great report , update and discussion Nancy!! Great discussion CBS!! The popular kids packed meal , Lunchables is being recommended by Consumer Reports for cafeterias to stop distributing the meals to kids in schools. mainly due to -high sodium - high lead - package contamination Lower income households receiving Lunchables and the manufacturers of this packaged meal say they are healthy focused about Lunchables

[@smorris281]

So, what else is new?

[@justju0rd]

Since when did schools give away lunchables?

[@LobsterRoc]

I could eat like 10 of those boxes and that's before the pot kicks in

[@psnisy1234]

Just like pretty much all of our other foods. So what else is new?

[@miamiwax5504]

Can anybody explain why would lead be in there?

[@kortni_animations]

My parents fed me this crap all the time. Its one of the reasons they are no longer in my life.

[@rdogshow]

I haven’t eaten those in more than 20 years 😬

[@HerLimted]

No wondered why we as adults are messed up it’s the lead in the lunchables we ate as children

[@fox7757]

You know... I loved Lunchables as a kid and had my mother buy them for me to bring to school to eat. Years later, I still like them, but... something about them made me feel pushed away from them whenever I look at them.

[@SuperLiar101]

Why are we suddenly discovering this ? Lunchables have been around for decades

[@Tacobakeforever]

Bro I’ve been eating these for last 3 months now I’m so scared 😟

[@Commonsenseisnotcommon8]

Who feeds their kids these as a lunch. I mean they’re junk food at the best, but maybe like a snack up the park or something but never as a meal

[@missjo2036]

My mom bought us these once in awhile as a lunch especially for field trips. I see other parents to this day buying kids lunchables for lunch. 🤷

[@DrawciaGleam02]

But what's causing the lead???

[@Robynbyrd100]

Does this include most of American foods?

[@SignatureAuto_]

The chips one is my favorite

[@hexayin]

As a kid I would usually just eat the crackers and the candy lol The meats definitely are toxic though. I even remember the taste. Turkey and bologna should NOT taste how they do in lunchables.

[@tech4life884]

School cafeterias have never given students Lunchables. We have to buy them from the store ourselves as parents.

[@missjo2036]

They do now. My school district started serving lunchables this school year.

[@marissacolvin5969]

They serve them once a week in my district. Lunch has been free to all students in my state since the 2nd year of the pandemic. Parents have been complaining more about the quality of the food since the free lunches were implemented, as most of it is packaged, processed crap.

[@j-willy4137]

My kid refuses to eat the school food, not even the Mac n cheese. I have to pack her food. She loves lunchables, but unless they are on sale I make her a “lunchable” in bento box with cheese cubes and pretzel sticks etc.

[@user-5ee3zk1w]

We listened to heavy metals in the 1980's and we are ok.

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

Not for long

[@IgikoPop]

No wonder I’m crazy XD it’s the lunchable and colored ketchup catching up lol

[@faxymachine]

am i even surprised?

[@Uzsjjbs.]

Tis is why homemade meals are far better. It's made by your mom or dad, it's bound to be delicious and healthy

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

No it's not

[@withindistruction54]

Glad my parents didn’t buy those for me as a kid.

[@ianmcdonald3760]

They are are even in the u.k. been here for years

[@Turbofanman13]

I ended up hearing about these when my friend told me that they have lead

[@Dom_Uchihaa]

Leadables

[@gamingguy1003]

Why the heck is there lead in food anyway? I remember eating them when I was going to school sometime don’t eat any of them anymore though.

[@ianbattles7290]

20 years ago, my mom refused to buy me lunchables because she said they were bad for you.

[@travelandeats8518]

What school gave out lunchables??

[@davidw4781]

With all the sodium in those lunchables, no wonder why I get so thirsty from eating them. I remembered I drank two cans of soda from eating two of them.

[@_eaturveggies01]

Well I’ve eaten my weight in Lunchables, even the taco ones! I hope I’m ok 🙂!

[@user-md9dz3gj6r]

First Prime drinks and now this???

[@DimitriosChannel]

Kerry needs to be honest. I did my homework.

[@buffybuffalo2975]

If this were a normal man he’d already be in prison

[@autotomie7074]

All those field trips 👁️👄👁️

[@Jboog742]

Yes, that explains why the kids can't concentrate and learn. This product, was solely marketed, to kids for decades!!!

[@jmill5995]

Lol me and every other kid in summer camp ate those nearly every day back in the early 2000s

[@Copyrightme81]

The lobby ran out of money now we get to know.

[@user-zo1wn8ys2l]

Mmm lead...no wonder I was craving them

[@yaboirlijah]

why is everything being recalled

[@Krystal_Kitty7]

Just threw mine away, thanks.

[@user-fe7py7ws1c]

where’s my cash settlement

[@Hikikomori_Gaming]

A real fallout is going to happen. Looking forward to the wasteland.

[@jex-the-notebook-guy1002]

I hope borderlands is there too

[@d_artcrayz]

So I can sue now right?

[@lennymice2261]

On what grounds?