Kraft Heinz announced on Tuesday that it has ceased offering its Lunchables meals created specifically for schools in the United States.
The company launched two types of packaged meals—one featuring pizza and the other containing turkey, cheddar cheese, and crackers—at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Kraft Heinz claimed that these options were enriched with protein and had reduced saturated fat and sodium levels to align with the standards of the national free and reduced-price school lunch program.
However, the introduction faced criticism from nutritionists and advocacy organizations. The Center for Science in the Public Interest criticized the inclusion of Lunchables in school cafeterias, labeling it a “highly questionable move for school nutrition.” They raised concerns that it might mislead families into perceiving the supermarket version as a healthy choice.
The scrutiny intensified in April when Consumer Reports revealed test results indicating that the Lunchables permitted in schools had higher sodium levels than those found in retail stores. Furthermore, the report highlighted that these commercially available Lunchables contained more lead compared to ready-to-eat meals from various other brands.
In response to these findings, Consumer Reports urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit Lunchables and similar processed meal kits from being served in schools.
Kraft Heinz, based in Pittsburgh, explained its choice to withdraw from the National School Lunch Program by citing a lack of demand for these products. The company characterized the decision’s business impact as “negligible,” noting that sales of these school-targeted meals contributed to less than 1% of overall Lunchables sales during the previous academic year.
In a statement, the company reflected on the previous year’s introduction of two National School Lunch Program-compliant Lunchables, which were designed to have increased protein content. While many school administrators expressed enthusiasm for these offerings, their demand did not meet the company’s expectations. The statement further implied that such occurrences are common as they explore new sales channels. As a result, Lunchables will not be available in schools this year, although the company remains open to revisiting the option in the future.
Kraft Heinz is known for producing a diverse array of popular products, including Capri Sun juice pouches, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, Grey Poupon mustard, Kool-Aid, and Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
