Do Lunchables Have Lead? New Report Finds 'Potentially Concerning' Levels of Heavy Metals in Lunch Kits

Fact checked by Nick Blackmer

• Some lunch and snack kits, including popular the Lunchables brand, have "potentially concerning" levels of heavy metals and phthalates, according to Consumer Reports testing.

• The kits also contain high amounts of sodium, particularly ones made for the National School Lunch Program.

• Consumer Reports is now petitioning the USDA to remove Lunchables from school lunch programs.

Some Lunchables and other similar lunch and snack kits have “potentially concerning” levels of lead and phthalates and contain high amounts of sodium, according to recent tests conducted by a consumer watchdog group.

The findings, published by Consumer Reports on Tuesday, looked at 12 different lunch kits primarily consumed by children. All 12 kits tested positive for lead, cadmium, or both, and all but one kit tested positive for at least one type of phthalate.

Two types of Lunchables, made specifically for the National School Lunch Program, had even higher levels of sodium than the ones sold in grocery stores, Consumer Reports found. (The school-specific Lunchables weren’t tested for heavy metals or phthalates.)

“We don’t think anybody should regularly eat these products, and they definitely shouldn’t be considered a healthy school lunch,” Eric Boring, PhD, a Consumer Reports chemist who led the testing, said in a news release.

Consumer Reports’ findings have led the group to petition the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program to “give our nation’s school children healthier food choices.”

Here’s what you need to know.

Heavy Metals, Phthalates Found in Children’s Lunch Kits

Consumer Reports said it tested 12 store-bought lunch and snack kits for heavy metals, including those from Lunchables, Armour Lunchmakers, Target’s Good & Gather, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., Oscar Mayer, and P3.

Though none of the kits exceeded any legal or regulatory limits for lead and cadmium, heavy metals were found in all of the kits. When compared against California’s maximum allowable dose level (MADL)—the most protective lead standards available in the absence of federal limits—five kits would expose someone to 50% or more of that level.

“That’s a relatively high dose of heavy metals, given the small serving sizes of the products, which range from just 2 to 4 ounces,” Boring said in the news release.

For children, heavy metal exposure is particularly dangerous since they absorb more of the lead that enters their body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is no safe level of lead for children and that lead exposure can cause damage to the brain and nervous system and can lead to learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems.

“In children, I am more concerned about lead and heavy metals at any level because of their developing brain,” Jamie Alan, PharmD, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, told Health. “Lead in particular, but other heavy metals have been thought to interfere with proper brain development.”

Still, Kraft Heinz—the parent company for Lunchables, Oscar Mayer, and P3—said that “all Lunchables products meet strict safety standards by government agencies,” according to a statement provided to Health. The statement added that “the metals [Consumer Reports focuses] on are naturally occurring, and thus low levels may be present in any food product. We do not add these elements to our products.”

Additionally, at least one type of phthalates was also found in all of the kits, except for one, Consumer Reports said. Phthalates—known commonly as “forever chemicals”—are ubiquitous in our environments and our bodies and are nearly impossible to avoid. Phthalate levels in the lunch kits ranged from 0 to 7,412 nanograms per serving.

“None of the products exceeded any regulatory limits, but many researchers think those limits are far too permissive, given the emerging research about phthalates harms,” Boring said in the news release.

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can interfere with the body’s natural hormones and lead to a variety of health issues. Phthalates have been linked to reproductive health issues, allergies, obesity, diabetes, and some cancers.

Related: Are You Eating Too Much Salt? These Are The Signs and Symptoms

High Sodium Levels in Lunch Kits—Especially Those Sold in Schools

Along with tests for the presence of heavy metals and phthalates, Consumer Reports reviewed the sodium content of the lunch kits, along with two Lunchables made specifically for school programs. Sodium levels were obtained from each package’s nutrition label and compared against the U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommendations.

All kits had high levels of sodium, ranging from 460 to 740 milligrams per serving, which could account for up to half of a child’s daily recommended sodium limit, depending on their age. The school versions of Lunchables—the Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Extra Cheesy Pizza Lunchables—had even more sodium than the store-bought versions.

“When it was announced that Lunchables were being included in the [National School Lunch Program], we were a little surprised, like most people, because this type of product didn’t seem like a healthy option for kids,” Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, told Health.

Alan noted that some kids may eat Lunchables every day and may eat multiple Lunchables daily. “I am particularly concerned because sometimes these can be a ‘safe food’ for kids who have sensory issues,” she said. “The cumulative exposure could be problematic.”

The ingredients in these lunch kits—mainly processed meats, cheeses, and crackers—are among the foods highest in sodium in the American diet. According to a statement provided to Health from Kraft Heinz, sodium is often added to these products to “ensure safe preservation.”

Smithfield Foods, makers of Armour Lunch Makers, also told Consumer Reports that “Sodium is a key ingredient in many of our products and helps us meet customer and consumer demands for quality, authenticity, flavor, and convenience.”

High-sodium foods are linked to hypertension, a risk factor for several serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke. “For children, who are still in their developmental stages, the risks are particularly pronounced,” Scott Keatley, RD, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy, told Health. “High sodium intake at a young age can set a precedent for dietary preferences and health complications in later life.”

Both Kraft Foods and Maple Leaf Foods, parent company of Greenfield Meat Co., shared with Consumer Reports that they are working on ways to reduce the sodium content in their products.

For now, Ronholm said that Consumer Reports hopes that the USDA will remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program. “We also hope that this ignites a greater examination and evaluation of school nutrition policies that are in place,” he said, “and how they can be changed to make sure there are plenty of healthy food options available in our schools.”

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