Kraft Heinz Pulls Out of School Lunch Program
Food and beverage manufacturer Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that it no longer is serving the Lunchables meals it created for U.S. schools.
Background
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.
Test Results Raise Concerns
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 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 pull out of the school lunch program comes after criticism from nutritionists and advocacy groups, as well as concerns raised by Consumer Reports. The company cited a lack of demand as the reason for its decision, but many are left wondering if the criticism and concerns played a role in the company’s decision.
FAQs
Q: Why did Kraft Heinz pull out of the school lunch program?
A: Kraft Heinz cited a lack of demand as the reason for its decision.
Q: What were the concerns raised by nutritionists and advocacy groups?
A: 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.
Q: What did Consumer Reports find in its tests?
A: Consumer Reports found that the school-approved Lunchables contained more sodium than the store varieties and that commercially available Lunchables had more lead compared to ready-made meals made by several other companies.
Q: Will Kraft Heinz revisit the school lunch program in the future?
A: According to Kraft Heinz, the company hopes to revisit the school lunch program at a future date.
