Phthalates are so ubiquitous that they are referred to as “everywhere chemicals.” Research has connected phthalates to obesity in children, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and reproductive disorders like underdeveloped testes and genital abnormalities in baby boys, as well as low testosterone and sperm counts in adult males.
The nonprofit consumer organization stated that, as a result, it has filed a petition with the US Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of the federally funded school lunch program, asking for the removal of Lunchables food kits from school cafeterias.
“Children’s lunchables are not a nutritious choice for children and should not be served as part of the National School Lunch Program,” said Consumer Reports director of food policy Brian Ronholm in a statement. The lunchables and comparable lunch kits that we examined have alarming salt content and potentially dangerous chemical compositions that, in the long run, could cause major health issues. The National School Lunch Program should no longer include lunchables, and the USDA should make sure that students have access to healthy food options.
Last year, Kraft Heinz launched Lunchables, a packed, ready-to-eat kids meal program, into K–12 school lunchrooms across the country under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Since its founding in 1946, the NSLP has fed lunch to around 30 million students in residential child care facilities, public schools, and nonprofit private schools.
However, in order to make sure the goods complied with federal regulations, the business had to reformulate the ingredients.
Two specifically designed Lunchables alternatives for schools—”turkey and cheddar” and “extra cheesy pizza”—were part of the rollout, which was different from Lunchables offered in grocery shops. According to Kraft Heinz, there are 6 grams of saturated fat and 930 milligrams of sodium in the turkey and cheese choice, and 7 grams of saturated fat and 700 milligrams of sodium in the extra-cheesy variety.
According to Kraft Heinz, both alternatives were created with “a specialized recipe that incorporates reduced saturated fat and sodium, an increased serving size, and more protein and whole grains to keep kids powered throughout the day.”
There are 700 mg of salt in the school-approved Lunchables pizza variety and 510 mg in the store-bought version. According to consumer reports, eating foods high in salt can cause hypertension and elevated blood pressure.
The USDA, which is in charge of the federally funded school meal program, recommended alterations to the school food requirements at the same time that lunchables were introduced in schools. The suggested modifications attempted to lower the amount of added sugar and sodium in school-provided lunches. Over multiple school years, the requirements would progressively lower the salt limits.
Remarks from the USDA and Kraft Heinz could not be obtained right away.
Additives are present
Additionally, consumer reports brought attention to the questionable substances found in a number of lunchable items.Manufacturers add additives to their products in an effort to increase shelf life and pique consumer interest.
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