Current Events in April 2024

Just how healthy are school lunches? An independent lab report says they would be a lot healthier if certain items – such as pre-packaged Lunchables – were removed from the menu.

Lunchables, produced by Kraft Heinz, contains crackers, cheese and meat slices. The lab also found lead that it said exceeded federal limits in food.

"The Lunchables and similar lunch kits we tested contain concerning levels of sodium and harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health problems over time," said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, which conducted the study. "The USDA should remove Lunchables from the National School Lunch Program and ensure that kids in schools have healthier options."

Kraft Heinz took issue with the report, saying it stands behind its product. In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said all of its products meet strict safety standards. The spokesperson also said that lead and cadmium occur naturally in the environment and should not be of concern because they appear at low levels.

"We are proud of Lunchables and stand by the quality and integrity that goes into making them," the company said.

A nutritionist weighs in

Sarah Herrington, a nutritionist at Brio-Medical, an alternative cancer treatment center, says many food options offered at schools skirt nutrition recommendations.

“Lunchables for schools are allowed because technically they meet guidelines by providing the ‘equivalent’ of whole grains and a meat / meat alternative,” Herrington told ConsumerAffairs. “But these are still highly processed food items that we are giving to our children.”

Herrington says processed grains and meat alternatives are linked to poor health outcomes later in life, such as cancer and diabetes, and that doesn’t begin to address the potential severe health complications associated with heavy metal toxicities such as lead. 

“These health outcomes are even becoming more and more prevalent in younger individuals, largely due to diet and lifestyle,” she said. “Excess sodium, or salt, also increases the palatability of food items, so children may learn to prefer those items over whole, natural foods.”

If you drove a car and paid rent last month, you felt the worst effects of inflation. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in March, the same as February. But rent and gasoline accounted for half of the increase.

 The energy index, which includes gasoline, rose 1.1% – a significant one-month move. The price of gas rose 1.7% and is up 1.3% over the last 12 months.

Gasoline prices are rising in concert with oil prices. According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas is $3.61 a gallon, seven cents higher over the last seven days and 22 cents higher than a month ago.

The cost of shelter has risen at least 0.4% per month since November and is 5.7% higher year-over-year. Most of that increase is the result of rising rent.

Some relief

Though it might not feel like it, there is some relief at the supermarket. The cost of groceries showed no increase for a second straight month in March and is up 1.2% over the last 12 months. But it all depends on what you buy.

The cost of fruits and vegetables fell 0.3%, the price of dairy and related products declined by 0.4% and cereal and grain prices fell by 0.6%. But meat, poultry, fish and egg prices jumped by 0.8%.

The cost of food consumed away from home, the government’s category for restaurant meals, continued to be a pain point for diners. Those costs rose 0.3% from February to March and are up more than 4% over the last 12 months.

 The index for limited-service meals rose 0.3% while the index for full-service meals increased 0.2%, suggesting fast food menu prices are rising faster than full-service restaurants.