After consumer groups petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program due to toxic contaminants in September 2024, Kraft Heinz, the makers of Lunchables, voluntarily decided to pull its meal kits from the program.

The petition was submitted to USDA by Consumer Reports and More Union with more than 50,000 signatures, prompted by the results of independent testing conducted by Consumer Reports that showed concerning levels of sodium and harmful chemicals in lunch kits intended for children.

More specifically, Consumer Reports compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchables kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the kits consumers can buy in the store. The group also tested 12 store-bought versions of Lunchables and similar kits from Armour, LunchMakers, Good and Gather, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., and Oscar Mayer, and found several contained relatively high levels of lead and cadmium. Although there are no federal limits for heavy metals like lead or cadmium in most foods, and none of the tested kits exceeded any federal limit, five of the 12 tested products would expose someone to 50 percent or more of California’s maximum allowable level for lead or cadmium.

Additionally, all but one of the kits (Lunchables Extra Cheesy Pizza) tested positive for phthalates, chemicals found in plastic that have been linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Prior to Kraft Heinz’s decision to pull the kits from the National School Lunch Program, Lunchables Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers and Lunchables Extra Cheesy Pizza were offered to nearly 30 million students through the program.

Consumer Reports applauds Kraft Heinz for its decision, but still calls on USDA to adopt stricter eligibility standards for school lunches.