"The Pizza" Lunchly; pepperoni, cheese, "pizza crust" and tomato sauce. Includes aFeastables Milk Crunch bar (pictured below crust) and a bottle of Cherry FreezePrime.
The product was announced to the public byKSI,Logan Paul, andMrBeast as a collaboration on September 16, 2024,[2][3] following other food and beverage products such as Prime, a range of energy and sports drinks by Olatunji and Paul, and Feastables, a brand of chocolate bars by Donaldson. Both products are sold in combination with Lunchly kits. Lunchly is intended as a "healthier" alternative toKraft Heinz'sLunchables, and the website features a calorie and sugar comparison to that product on its website.[4][2][5] Sodium and saturated fat are not included on the comparison.[6]
At the time of Lunchly's release, Donaldson was in the midst ofnumerous controversies of his own.[7][8] A number of social media experts speaking toBusiness Insider stated that Lunchly may benefit from the negative attention Donaldson was exposed to, while also noting that the launch may come across as a distraction.[9] Following Lunchly's negative reception online, Paul claimed that Lunchly's headquarters had received abomb threat[10] from a caller based in London.[11]
Contents of the Fiesta Nachos, with aFeastables bar in the nacho chips
Lunchly currently has three varieties of snack kits, all of which are reinterpretations ofLunchables products.
"The Pizza": Based on the "Pizza with Pepperoni" Lunchable. It is a build-it-yourselfpizza withtomato sauce andcheese, a small Cherry Freeze Prime bottle, and a snack-sized Feastables Milk Crunch Bar.[12]
Fiesta Nachos: Based on the "Spicy Nachos" Lunchable. It is a dipping meal withNacho Chips with "queso blanco"dipping cheese andsalsa, a small Strawberry Banana Prime bottle, and a snack-sized Feastables Milk Chocolate Bar.[13]
Turkey Stack 'Ems: Based on the "Turkey and American Cheese Cracker Stackers" Lunchable. It is a build-it-yourself cracker sandwich withcheese and crackers,turkey, a small Ice Pop Prime bottle, and a snack-sized Feastables Milk Chocolate Bar.[14]
Lunchly was criticized by a number of Internet personalities. YouTuberDanTDM expressed his disapproval of Lunchly, stating onTwitter: "This is selling crap to kids who don't know better than to trust the people who are selling it to them."[7] In response, KSI claimed that Lunchly's negative reception stemmed from a dislike that critics have for Paul, Donaldson, and himself.[15]
Forbes described the three packaged meals as "almost identical to existing offerings byLunchables".[2] After the product's launch,The Mary Sue stated that Lunchly was likely intended to boost sales forPrime Hydration andFeastables.[16]
Reviewing the product in October, YouTuberRosanna Pansino reported findingmold growing on the cheese in a packet of "The Pizza" style.[17][18][8] Following this, a number of social media users claimed to have likewise found mold in Lunchly packages.[19] TheFood and Drug Administration confirmed that it received over ten complaints about Lunchly, with one consumer reporting an illness linked to the product.[20]
Doctor Mike, afamily physician who releases educational health videos on YouTube, acknowledged that the product's sugar andsaturated fat were slightly less than Lunchables, but estimated that a child would have to eat 2.7 Lunchly Turkey Stack 'Ems to achieve their recommended lunchtime calorie intake, and in doing so would consume close to theirrecommended daily intake of sodium.[21][10] UK health campaigners voiced similar criticism of Lunchly.[22]
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