INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Lunchly kits are the latest lunch box trend, showing up on TikTok and backed by influencers like MrBeast, KSI, and Logan Paul. The company markets them as a healthier spin on the classic Lunchables, lower in sugar and calories, with flashier packaging.

But a new Consumer Reports investigation found the hype may be overshadowing some serious concerns.

“We tested these kits just like we did Lunchables,” said James Rogers, Consumer Reports’ director of food safety. “We found no reason to call them healthier and found similar concerning levels of lead to those we found in other lunch kits.”

Consumer Reports ran Lunchly through the same nutrition and safety tests it used on Lunchables last year. Experts note the results are a snapshot in time and may not reflect every kit sold, but they still raise questions.

While Lunchly does have less sugar, nutritionist Amy Keating says the swap comes with trade-offs. “Yes, the sugar is lower, but it’s replaced with two sugar substitutes. And overall, it’s still a highly processed meal,” Keating said.

Each kit includes a savory item, a Prime Hydration drink, and a small candy bar. The chocolate, Consumer Reports says, may be a big contributor to the lead levels. Skipping it could drop those levels by about 30%, but as Rogers admitted, “Let’s be honest, kids are going to eat the chocolate.”

Lunchly responded in a statement, saying:

“We take the safety and nutritional value of our products very seriously. We abide by all legal requirements that apply to our products, while also providing high-quality food and ingredients to our consumers.”

Health experts say an occasional Lunchly isn’t harmful, but eating them daily could mean too much sodium, processed meats, and even phthalates from plastic packaging. One kit contains nearly half a young child’s daily sodium limit.

For parents looking for an alternative, Consumer Reports suggests building your own lunch kits with fruit, vegetables, cheese, and dips in compartmentalized containers.

Lunchly may win on style, but when it comes to nutrition, and cost, experts say the best lunch is still the one made at home.

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