It appears that Consumer Reports has fired up its atomic absorption spectrophotometer. They recently published on “detectable” levels of lead in a turkey and cheddar cracker product manufactured by Kraft-Heinz and supplied to the USDA for the National School Lunch Program. In addition, sodium content at 930 mg per serving was higher than the store-available equivalent product at 740 mg.
It is noted that the levels of lead and cadmium were lower than FDA limits and in all probability represented natural background content. Naturally Consumer Reports is generating pressure for USDA to recall product from the School Feeding Program having launched a petition drive that has generated 16,000 signatures. Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Reports stated, “Lunchables are not a healthy option for kids and should not be allowed on the menu as part of the National School Lunch Program.
The USDA is considering a reduction in sodium limits for school meals with a 1,110 mg weekly intake for elementary students and up to 1,280 mg for high school students but with an additional 30 percent reduction over the proximal five years.
Kraft-Heinz maintains that the quality of Lunchables® products meet USDA requirements and that the company increased the level of meat to provide more protein, possibly responsible for the differential in sodium content between store and school-served products.