Doctor Reacts To The Lunchly Controversy

Summary

YouTube stars KSI, Logan Paul, and MrBeast launched Lunchly, a competitor to the popular kids' meal kits, Lunchables. While they claim Lunchly is a healthier alternative, critics and health experts question its nutritional value. The video dissects Lunchly's claims, comparing it to Lunchables on metrics like calories, sugar, sodium, and more. Though Lunchly makes some improvements, it still falls short of USDA nutrition standards for kids. The video emphasizes the need for more accurate health messaging and better nutritional guidance, especially for products targeting children.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ KSI, MrBeast, and Logan Paul have launched a new food product called Lunchly, aimed at competing with Lunchables.
• 🤔 The product has faced criticism on social media, with many creators and experts weighing in on its claims of being healthier.
• ⚖️ Lunchables, while popular, are known for their poor nutritional value, being high in sodium, saturated fat, and sugars.
• 📊 The claim that Lunchly is a 'healthier alternative' to Lunchables is scrutinized, as many of its nutritional comparisons seem unclear or misleading.
• 💡 One major criticism is Lunchly's decision to label 'electrolytes' without giving full sodium information, leading to concerns about marketing tactics.
• 🧀 Lunchly uses real cheese instead of cheese product, which is a positive change, but the overall meal kit is still considered ultra-processed.
• 📉 Despite some improvements, such as lower sugar and slightly less sodium, Lunchly still doesn't meet USDA nutrition standards for children's lunches.
• 🥪 Lunchly provides too few calories (230) compared to the USDA's recommended 625 calories per meal, forcing kids to overconsume sodium if they want enough energy.
• 🚨 Vitamin A levels in Lunchly might be problematic for children, as overconsumption could lead to toxicity due to it being fat-soluble.
• 🔬 The feedback suggests that Logan Paul, KSI, and MrBeast could benefit from consulting health professionals to ensure accurate health claims and improve the product’s nutritional value.

Q & A

What is Lunchly, and who is behind its creation?

Lunchly is a new food product designed to compete with Lunchables, created by YouTube stars KSI, MrBeast (Jimmy), and Logan Paul.

How has Lunchly been received by the public and social media?

Lunchly has faced criticism on social media, with many creators criticizing both the product and its creators. Logan Paul and MrBeast responded to the criticism, making headlines with their rebuttals.

What is the main claim Lunchly makes about being healthier than Lunchables?

Lunchly claims to be a healthier alternative to Lunchables by offering better-for-you options, with comparisons made on calories, sugar, protein, and potassium.

What are some concerns regarding the health claims made by Lunchly?

Some concerns include missing nutritional information, misleading comparisons (e.g., sodium being replaced by electrolytes), and issues with saturated fat and sodium content, which may not be significantly different from Lunchables.

How does Lunchly compare nutritionally to Lunchables in terms of sugar and calories?

Lunchly has less sugar and fewer calories than Lunchables, mainly due to its use of the PRIME drink, which is artificially sweetened, compared to the Capri-Sun used in Lunchables.

Why is the rebranding of sodium as electrolytes considered misleading?

Rebranding sodium as electrolytes is considered misleading because it doesn’t provide a full picture of the sodium content in the meal, which is crucial for determining its overall health impact.

What concerns were raised about the inclusion of vitamins in Lunchly?

While Lunchly includes higher amounts of vitamins A and B, there are concerns about vitamin A toxicity since it is fat-soluble and can accumulate in the body if overconsumed, especially in children.

How does Lunchly stack up against USDA nutritional guidelines for school lunches?

Lunchly falls short of USDA standards for school lunches, as it exceeds the recommended limits for saturated fat and added sugars and contains fewer calories than the recommended 625 calories for a child’s lunch.

What key issue has been overlooked by critics of Lunchly, according to the transcript?

A key issue that has been overlooked is the fact that Lunchly provides only 230 calories per kit, significantly less than the USDA's recommended 625 calories for school-age children, making it nutritionally insufficient.

What suggestion is made to improve the healthiness of Lunchly?

It is suggested that Lunchly should meet USDA standards for school lunches and hire a health professional to guide the product’s development and ensure more accurate health messaging.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ Launch of Lunchly by KSI, MrBeast, and Logan Paul

KSI, MrBeast, and Logan Paul introduced a new food product, Lunchly, to compete with the popular kids’ brand Lunchables. The product has received significant criticism from both creators and consumers, sparking headlines such as 'YouTube stars are coming for your kids' lunch.' Despite Logan Paul and MrBeast defending their product, the reception has been mixed. This video explores the claims made by Lunchly and compares it with Lunchables, particularly around nutrition and health.

05:00

🥪 Understanding Lunchables and Their Nutritional Drawbacks

Lunchables are popular DIY meal kits containing crackers, deli meats, cheeses, treats, and a drink, often enjoyed by children. However, these kits have long been criticized for their poor nutritional value, being high in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. Experts have warned that regular consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like Lunchables can lead to health risks, including obesity and cancer. This issue has also been observed in clinics across the country, and publications like Consumer Reports have emphasized the need for moderation in consuming such products.

📊 Comparing Lunchly to Lunchables: Healthier Alternative?

Logan Paul and his team promoted Lunchly as a 'healthier alternative' to Lunchables. However, comparisons between the two brands reveal that while Lunchly offers fewer sugars and calories, much of this is due to the PRIME drink component, which uses artificial sweeteners. There are noticeable differences in the packaging of electrolytes, particularly potassium and sodium. Some marketing choices, like emphasizing electrolytes in food products, were met with skepticism, especially when Logan Paul attacked a doctor who critiqued their claims.

🧀 Nutritional Facts: Lunchly vs. Lunchables

Lunchly has slightly less sodium and saturated fat than Lunchables, along with real cheese instead of processed cheese, which is an improvement. However, both kits still qualify as ultra-processed meals. Lunchly also has higher amounts of vitamins A and B, but this poses risks as excessive vitamin A consumption in children could lead to toxicity. While there are clear improvements, Lunchly's health claims don’t entirely match up with what they market.

📏 USDA Standards: Does Lunchly Meet the Bar?

Analyzing Lunchly under the USDA standards for school lunches reveals several shortcomings. While the product is marketed as healthier, it still exceeds recommended saturated fat and added sugar limits. More importantly, it falls significantly short in terms of caloric content, requiring children to eat multiple portions to meet USDA energy guidelines. This excess portion size leads to elevated sodium consumption, making Lunchly problematic when measured against essential dietary standards for kids.

💬 Criticism and the Need for Expert Guidance

The video concludes by acknowledging that while Lunchly offers some improvements over Lunchables, its health claims are largely a marketing tactic. Many criticisms of Logan, KSI, and MrBeast are unwarranted, but a healthier lunch kit should meet USDA standards. The recommendation is for the team to consult health professionals to ensure accurate messaging. Misleading claims about health benefits, especially around 'electrolytes,' don’t contribute to productive discourse about children's nutrition.

Keywords

💡Lunchly

Lunchly is the new food product launched by KSI, Logan Paul, and MrBeast as a competitor to Lunchables. It is marketed as a healthier alternative for children's lunch kits, although its nutritional claims are scrutinized. The product's ingredients, packaging, and nutritional comparisons to Lunchables are central to the video's analysis.

💡Lunchables

Lunchables are a popular pre-packaged meal kit for kids, typically containing crackers, deli meats, cheese, and a drink like Capri-Sun. Despite their convenience, they have been criticized for high levels of sodium, saturated fats, and sugars. The video compares Lunchables' health drawbacks with the new Lunchly product.

💡Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs)

Ultra-Processed Foods are highly industrially processed products, often containing additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. Both Lunchables and Lunchly fall into this category. The video discusses the health risks associated with high consumption of UPFs, such as increased risks of obesity and cancer.

💡Sodium

Sodium is highlighted as a key concern in both Lunchables and Lunchly products. While sodium is essential for bodily functions, excessive intake, particularly from processed foods, can lead to health issues like high blood pressure. The video points out that Lunchly lists 'electrolytes' instead of sodium, which may be misleading.

💡Electrolytes

Electrolytes are minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, essential for hydration and muscle function. Lunchly's marketing emphasizes electrolytes, particularly from its PRIME drink, as a health benefit, but the video questions this framing, noting that sodium content is downplayed in favor of potassium.

💡PRIME drink

PRIME is the beverage included in the Lunchly kits, co-owned by Logan Paul and KSI. It is artificially sweetened and promoted as having high levels of electrolytes. The video critiques its comparison to Capri-Sun in Lunchables, highlighting the potential for misleading health claims.

💡Nutritional Comparisons

Nutritional comparisons between Lunchly and Lunchables are a central theme of the video. The video assesses factors like calories, protein, sugars, fats, and vitamins in both products, showing that while Lunchly is marginally better in some areas, it still falls short of USDA nutritional standards.

💡USDA Nutritional Standards

The USDA sets guidelines for healthy school lunches, including limits on calories, sodium, and saturated fat, and a requirement for whole grains. The video examines how Lunchly compares to these standards, revealing that it exceeds sodium limits and lacks whole grains, despite being marketed as healthier.

💡Marketing Tactics

Marketing tactics are scrutinized in the video, especially how Lunchly positions itself as healthier than Lunchables. The video criticizes claims that sodium is rebranded as electrolytes and how certain nutritional benefits are exaggerated to appeal to health-conscious consumers.

💡Heavy Metal Contamination

Heavy metal contamination, particularly lead, is raised as a concern related to processed foods like Lunchables. The video mentions that Logan Paul's response to this issue, a video of an X-ray machine, does not adequately address the risk of heavy metal contamination, showing a lack of understanding about the problem.

Highlights

KSI, MrBeast, and Logan Paul teamed up to launch Lunchly, a competitor to Lunchables, with a less than stellar reception.

Creators criticized the product on social media, and Logan Paul and MrBeast responded, sparking controversy.

Lunchables have been criticized for being ultra-processed and high in sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars.

Studies show that consuming high amounts of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can increase the risk of obesity by 50% and may be linked to cancer.

Lunchly claims to be a healthier alternative to Lunchables, but some of the marketing comparisons between the two are seen as cringeworthy.

Lunchly contains less sugar and calories compared to Lunchables, largely due to the artificial sweeteners in the PRIME drink.

Despite these benefits, Lunchly's sodium and saturated fat levels are only slightly lower than Lunchables, and both are still ultra-processed foods.

Lunchly includes more potassium than Lunchables, thanks to the PRIME drink, but it's not a significant factor in determining a healthy lunch for kids.

The kits use real cheese rather than processed cheese products, which is a small improvement in ingredient quality.

Vitamin A in Lunchly is fat-soluble, and excessive intake could lead to toxicity in children, raising concerns for overconsumption.

Lunchly's total calories fall well below USDA guidelines for a proper lunch, which suggests kids might not get enough energy from the meal.

USDA guidelines also recommend that 80% of grains should be whole grains, but Lunchly does not meet this standard.

Critics argue that Lunchly falls short of being a truly healthier option and that it should meet USDA standards for school lunches.

Logan Paul's marketing strategy, including a video showing X-ray machines to check for foreign materials, does not address concerns about heavy metal contamination.

Critics suggest that if influencers like Logan, KSI, and MrBeast want to make a healthier lunch product, they should involve health professionals to ensure the accuracy of their claims.

Transcripts

- KSI, MrBeast, and Logan Paul

have announced they were teaming up

and launching a new food product called Lunchly

to compete with the Uber-popular kids brand Lunchables

and the reception has been less than stellar.

Many creators took to social media to criticize the product,

and the creators themselves,

Logan and Jimmy were quick to push back on the critics

with their own posts

and in the process, created newsworthy headlines like-

- [Reporter] YouTube stars are coming for your kids' lunch.

It's a move that has MrBeast, Logan Paul, and KSI teaming up

to take on Lunchables.

- And I usually don't make videos

discussing creators products,

but in terms like healthier or better for you

get tossed around,

I feel it's important to set the record straight.

So in the spirit of avoiding personal attacks,

let's take a look at the science of Lunchly,

including a true issue with their kits.

I don't think anyone has correctly pointed out yet.

For those who may not know

Lunchables are basically these pre-packaged

do-it-yourself meal kits.

They've usually got things like crackers, deli meats,

cheeses, treats, and come with a little drink.

And since their inception,

they've been super popular with kids.

However, it's been known, especially by experts,

that while these kits are fun and tasty,

their nutritional value is just not good.

They're often too high in sodium, saturated fat,

and added sugars

and don't use healthy whole food ingredients.

And because they fall into the category

of ultra-processed foods,

they aren't healthy to consume often, period.

Studies actually show

that those consuming high amounts of UPFs

can have up to 50% higher risk of developing obesity,

and some specific UPFs are linked to increases in cancer.

I see it even in my clinic,

so many of my pediatric patients are over consuming UPFs

and it's becoming a growing problem across the country.

Consumer reports even dedicated a special feature

highlighting the problems with Lunchables

and why they shouldn't be consumed regularly

due to health risks.

My own take on Lunchables,

I don't recommend parents pack them for their kids

on a daily basis,

a low-quality food with poor nutritional value.

But now what about Lunchly,

starting with the first claim,

in the press release announcing the product,

Logan Paul was quoted as saying,

"Lunchly is a healthier alternative

and that it's a better-for-you lunch option

compared to Lunchables."

In fact, throughout the Lunchly website

and the social media promo posts,

you'll see countless comparisons being made to Lunchables.

To be honest, some of the comparisons are kind of cringe

and don't make much sense to me,

but maybe that's because I'm not the target demo.

Flavorful combos verse standard picks.

The meal kit combos are nearly identical to Lunchables.

Big gestures verse mid moments.

I certainly don't remember that lesson

in my nutrition classes.

I was more concerned

with the nutritional comparisons being made anyway,

so if someone was to make a healthy meal kit for kids,

I would find that incredibly valuable.

And in looking in the comparison,

I'd be most interested in calories, which they have,

protein, which they have, sugar, which they have,

saturated fat, which is missing,

and sodium, which is not only missing

but replaced by electrolytes,

and unlike all the other macros,

is only labeled potassium

and only in the PRIME bottle in the kit,

comparing it to the Capri-Sun in the Lunchables.

This is a pretty weird marketing choice

to label electrolytes and food products.

It's such a strange choice

that it even stunned fellow Dr. Brian Sutterer,

who tweeted-

- [Announcer] "Sodium getting rebranded as electrolytes

will be taught in marketing textbooks one day."

- And sadly was ashamed to see Logan attack

instead of starting a meaningful dialogue with the doctor.

Given that 400 milligrams

is not the amount of electrolytes in PRIME.

At least in the image that Logan shared,

400 milligrams of potassium plus 5 milligrams of sodium

equals 405 milligrams of electrolytes.

It's not about nitpicking,

it's just about being reasonable and honest

to help further the conversation.

Look, if I wanna decide if a food is right for me,

I like to be able to compare the entire electrolyte profile,

which would have to include sodium.

It's like having a PB and J sandwich label

that says what's in the sandwich,

you know, protein, fats, calories,

but then the sugar line

only tells you what's in the peanut butter

as opposed to the jelly and the entire sandwich.

I wanted to go further and do the comparisons myself

using the nutrition facts

from the Lunchables and Lunchly websites,

and it's honestly really hard

to draw perfectly clear conclusions for several reasons.

One, I don't have nutrition facts for each part of the kits.

For example, how many calories come from Feastables

versus the food component.

Second, some of the portion sizes aren't the same.

The Turkey Cracker kit from Lunchables is 82 grams

while Lunchly's is 72 grams.

Three, there are so many varieties of Lunchables

that just swapping out the flavor of Capri-Sun

cost significant differences in sugar and calorie content.

What I was able to conclude is that Lunchly has less sugar

and therefore, less calories than Lunchables

in comparable kits.

That's probably due to the drink component of the kit,

as Capri-Sun uses sugar and PRIME is artificially sweetened.

Lunchly has significantly more potassium than Lunchables

because of the PRIME drink, which I guess is good,

but not something I'd regularly use

in deciding if a food is an ideal lunch for a kit.

Lunchly has slightly less sodium and saturated fat

than comparable Lunchables.

That's definitely moving in the right direction.

However, both differences were fairly small.

Lunchly does use real cheese

as opposed to cheese product,

signaling that at least one ingredient is less processed

than in Lunchables,

but the entirety of the kit

is still considered an ultra-processed meal.

Lunchly has higher amounts of A and B vitamins,

which can be good,

but also can be problematic

as vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin

and kids can easily overconsume it, leading to toxicity.

Being that it's fat soluble

means that you can't just urinate excess out.

This has actually been raised as an issue by experts

with PRIME in general.

Despite these legitimate upgrades,

social media posts are slamming Lunchly

for not being perfect,

but Lunchly does not need to be perfect

to be valuable for kids.

It just needs to be significantly healthier

in order to reduce risk.

As a doctor, I use risk reduction all the time,

essentially taking something harmful

and replacing it with something less harmful

but still imperfect.

As an example, I would never recommend starting vaping,

but getting someone

to replace smoking cigarettes with vaping

is generally a good step down in terms of health risk.

Knowing all that,

is it fair to say that Lunchly is healthier?

I guess one can say, yes,

but honestly, probably more so as a marketing tactic.

The reason why,

well, let's look at the recently past nutrition standards

set forth by the USDA for school lunches

and see how Lunchly compares.

Going line by line here,

less than 10% of calories should come from saturated fat.

Lunchly Turkey, 23% of calories come from saturated fat.

Less than 10% of calories should come

from added sugars.

Lunchly Turkey, 10.4 comes from added sugars,

but this is where things get really interesting

and for some reason, no one has pointed this out.

You see USDA caloric guidelines say

that a lunch meal for kids K-8

should contain around 625 calories.

Kids need energy to function

and calories give them that energy.

Lunchly Turkey contains only 230 calories,

which would mean a kid would need to eat about 2.7 portions

to consume enough calories,

and if they did that,

they'd get nearly 1300 milligrams of sodium,

which is also significantly over the USDA standards,

so they'd be either undereating calories

or overeating sodium.

Finally, the grain guidelines state that 80% of lunch meals

must be whole grain,

and Lunchly Turkey does not list

any whole grain ingredients.

It's clear, Lunchly, just like Lunchables,

misses the mark too many times

to be considered meaningfully healthier,

at least in my opinion.

That being said,

I do think many criticisms pointed at Logan, KSI, and Jimmy

are unfair.

Attacking them

for trying to create a successful influencer product

isn't inherently problematic.

I just think if a company was truly interested

in creating a healthier lunch kit for kids,

the USDA standard

should be the minimum starting requirements,

otherwise, we're simply propagating the problem

even further.

One of my hopes is that in navigating the future feedback

on this company,

the guys hire a health professional

to guide them in making messaging more accurate.

I just saw someone ask about heavy metal contamination

and Logan responded with a video of an X-ray machine

checking for foreign materials.

That checks for stray objects

accidentally getting into the meals,

not heavy metal contaminations

like we discussed earlier with Lunchables and lead.

And saying, a food has more electrolytes,

therefore, it must be better or healthier, just not true.

Foods with an incredibly high sodium content and electrolyte

are not considered particularly healthy.

In fact, many are considered unhealthy for that reason.

I can't expect non-medical people to get this perfect,

but if you're gonna stand

by a children's food product being healthy,

you need to hold your messaging to a higher standard.

Eating a diet full of UPFs can lead to weight gain.

Click here to see the harsh reality of life at 800 pounds

and as always, stay happy and healthy.

(upbeat music)