Can Kids Still Eat Lunchables?

A few weeks ago, Consumer Reports released an article about popular lunch kits. This sparked panic headlines, particularly about the lead found in Lunchables. Many PedsDocTalk followers have been asking about this, mostly, “Are Lunchables safe for my kid to eat?” So, I wanted to address this topic since Lunchables are still available for purchase and are commonly consumed by children.

A little more about the Consumer Reports article

Consumer Reports tested 12 lunch kits, including Lunchables, for lead, cadmium, other heavy metals, phthalates, and sodium. The lead was measured as a percentage of California’s maximum allowable dose level. It’s key to recognize that this is not a level that is known to cause harm – it’s a percentage of a maximum allowable level, which is really very conservative since it is unknown how much lead is considered safe. Sodium content was measured in percentages according to the recommendation of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

The article concludes by calling for changes to school lunch programs to improve the nutritional content of food served by schools. Current guidelines for 2025 are under review, and these tests can provide insight into nutritional values. For example, recent proposals call for lower limits on added sugar and sodium.

An important reminder about heavy metals and other contaminants

Contaminants are common in our environment, both naturally and from humans. They can end up in food because of where it’s grown, raised, or processed. This is how some contaminants, such as lead, end up in foods, even whole fruits and vegetables. The amount of contaminants in food depends on how much is in the environment and how much is absorbed into the food.

There is usually no known safe level of contaminant exposure. Since some of this exposure is, in a sense, inevitable, we are still trying to find out how much is too much. The FDA is continuously working to limit the levels of contaminants, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, in foods eaten by children in the Closer to Zero project.

Is there a reason to worry or make changes? 

These types of testing and reports can be helpful and drive positive change for our children. It’s key to seek information from reliable sources and digest it with a realistic perspective. We know that it’s not possible to avoid every contaminant, but efforts to minimize risk are important. These reports also help to keep the food industry and companies accountable for their products. 

This allows you to be an informed consumer – to make the best decisions for you and your family. Each family has different resources, values, and priorities.

The article brings forward the importance of considering the nutritional value of the foods we offer our children. For example, these single-serving snacks or meals contain a large quantity of sodium. It’s not that there needs or be a panic around sodium or that it needs to be cautiously restricted, but it is a reminder to be mindful of sodium intake in general.

Balance and variety are key.

During my childhood, I ate Lunchables – a lot! I think most people have eaten Lunchables. They are convenient and generally cost-effective. I’m not concerned about this because it wasn’t the only thing I ate. I had many other foods as well. We don’t offer Lunchables to Ryaan, since we prioritize other food options. But, if you choose to offer Lunchables, or other processed foods, remember that balance is key.

It's important to reduce the consumption of foods with known high levels of contaminants, that are highly processed, or high in sodium. In reality, there is often no need to completely avoid foods due to fears since we are only doing our best with the information we have at the time. You can focus on including a variety of foods in your child’s diet – whether the food is store-bought or homemade.

For more information and perspective

Check out this Instagram post by @foodsciencebabe to help put this risk into perspective, with a deep dive into breaking down California’s maximum allowable dose level (MADL) and interim reference levels (IRL). This is a helpful account for clearing up the myths about food and the food industry with evidence-based information.

On The Podcast

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and just as much as we need to focus on maternal mental health, we also need to recognize that dads and non-birthing partners also can struggle postpartum as well. 7% and 9% of new fathers develop postpartum depression. I invited my husband back on the show to chat about postpartum mental health and mental health concerns in general in men.

We discuss:

• Why men and women can struggle with their mental health postpartum

• Why men don’t talk about their mental health struggles or seek help as much as women may

• The cultural barriers that exist that normalize seeking mental health help

• How we’re raising our kids to undo this cycle of mental health stigma

• How consistent therapy has helped my husband and myself

On YouTube

In this video, I explain spit-up (GER) vs. GERD, their causes, symptoms, and when to consult a clinician. Tune in for key insights. The video covers:

• Happy spitter vs. GERD

• What is GERD?

• What causes these symptoms?

• How common is spit-up and GERD?

• When should you see a clinician?

Ask Dr. Mona

An opportunity for YOU to ask Dr. Mona your parenting questions!

Dr. Mona will answer these questions in a future Sunday Morning Q&A email. Chances are if you have a parenting concern or question, another parent can relate. So let's figure this out together!