Consumer Reports urges USDA to remove Lunchables from National School Lunch Program

(CNN)– A consumer watchdog group wants the popular snack kit ‘Lunchables’ removed from school lunch programs because of excessive sodium.

Consumer reports petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture which oversees the National School Lunch Program, claiming that the Lunchables served at schools are even higher in sodium than those sold in stores.

And they contain harmful chemicals that can lead to serious health problems over time. Public schools introduced the ready-to-meals by Kraft-Heinz as options last year.

The company says it has taken steps to improve the nutrition profile of Lunchables. Like adding fruit to the meal kits and reducing the sodium in the crackers.