Kraft Heinz Removes Lunchables from School Meal Programs

Company Cites Lack of Demand for Decision

Food and beverage manufacturer Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that it no longer is serving the Lunchables meals it created for U.S. schools.

Background on the Controversy

The company introduced the two packaged meals — one starring pizza and the other a turkey, cheddar cheese and cracker plate — at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year. At the time, Kraft Heinz said the offerings were protein-enriched and contained reduced levels of saturated fat and sodium to meet the requirements of the national free and reduced-price school lunch program.

Criticism from Nutritionists and Advocacy Groups

Nutritionists and advocacy groups were not thrilled by the launch. The Center for Science in the Public Interest called having Lunchables in cafeterias “a highly questionable move for school nutrition” that might confuse families into thinking the versions sold at supermarkets were a healthy option.

Tests Show Higher Sodium Levels and Lead Content

The drumbeat quickened in April, when Consumer Reports said its tests showed the school-approved Lunchables contained more sodium than the store varieties. The organization also reported that commercially available Lunchables had more lead compared to ready-made meals made by several other companies.

Petition to Ban Lunchables from Schools

Consumer Reports petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban Lunchables and similar processed meal kits from schools.

Kraft Heinz’s Statement on the Decision

In a statement, Pittsburgh-based Kraft Heinz attributed the decision to pull out of the market served by the National School Lunch Program to a lack of demand. The company described the business impact as “negligible,” saying sales of the school-designed meals “were far less than 1% of overall Lunchables sales” during the last academic year.

“Last year, we brought two NSLP compliant Lunchables options to schools that had increased protein. While many school administrators were excited to have these options, the demand did not meet our targets,” the statement said. “This happens occasionally across our broad portfolio, especially as we explore new sales channels. Lunchables products are not available in schools this year and we hope to revisit at a future date.”

About Kraft Heinz

The Kraft Heinz Co. produces a wide range of familiar products, including Capri Sun juice pouches, Oscar Meyer hot dogs, Grey Poupon mustard, Kool-Aid and Philadelphia Cream Cheese.

Conclusion

Kraft Heinz’s decision to remove Lunchables from school meal programs comes after a controversy surrounding the product’s nutritional content and demand. While the company hopes to revisit the market in the future, for now, it appears that Lunchables will no longer be an option for schools.

FAQs

Why did Kraft Heinz remove Lunchables from school meal programs? Kraft Heinz cited a lack of demand for the product as the reason for its removal from school meal programs.

What was the controversy surrounding Lunchables? Nutritionists and advocacy groups criticized Lunchables for its nutritional content, citing higher levels of sodium and lead compared to other ready-made meals.

Will Kraft Heinz revisit the school meal program market in the future? Yes, Kraft Heinz hopes to revisit the market in the future, but for now, Lunchables will no longer be an option for schools.