Ultra-Processed Foods in School Lunches

Weak regulations and industry influence have allowed ultra-processed foods like Lunchables to be served in school lunches. Despite being altered to qualify for the National School Lunch Program, these foods contribute to the country’s alarming childhood obesity rates, which are particularly high among Black, Latino, and Native American children. The standards governing federally subsidized school lunches illustrate the power of the food industry in Congress and the School Nutrition Association. Critics argue that these standards allow food companies to meet basic nutrition requirements while engineering ultra-processed foods that sound healthy but are loaded with additives.