MrBeast, Logan Paul, and KSI called out by Ethan Klein for Lunchables “ripoff” Lunchly,
“It’s literally child poison,” Triggers avalanche of criticism for Prime, Feastables
Is Lunchly better than Lunchables?
Some are saying that Lunchly is a “ripoff” of Lunchables. All three Lunchly meal options are the same as existing Lunchables: turkey and cheese with crackers, nachos with cheese, and pizza.
The creators say the product is a healthy alternative to Lunchables, not a copy. But, YouTuber Ethan Klein was smart enough to look closer on the September 16 episode of The H3 Show, turning their narrative on its head.
Is Lunchly using deceptive marketing?
While reading through a chart on Lunchly’s website comparing key characteristics of the product to its competitor (below), Ethan cleverly noticed that what they chose to highlight was bizarre.
Comparison chart on Lunchly.com (September 2024)
Other than irrelevant comparisons of the packaging and ‘vibes’, this chart and the websites’ product pages compare the electrolytes and calories in each product. As a parent, this raised red flags for Ethan.
The electrolytes in Lunchly come from Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration drink, which has recently come under legal scrutiny for allegedly containing “forever chemicals.” Young children have no need for additional electrolytes, which are essentially salts. Parents usually aim to give their children less salt, not more. Similarly, being low calorie is not a selling point. After all, kids are always growing.
“They’re 5-year-olds, they need to eat,” Ethan said.
Ethan revisited the topic on his September 18 episode. He stood firm in his position, standing up for the creators’ very young fans who he believes are the target of deceptive marketing.
“My problem is that they’re obviously marketing this to kids and it’s disgusting trash,” Ethan said, “it is literally child poison.”
Is Lunchly bad for you?
Many other creators and internet users took note of the situation after Ethan drew attention to it and chimed in with their criticisms online.
Food YouTuber and previous Beast Games contestant Rosanna Pansino criticized MrBeast in a tweet, saying she once turned down an 8-figure deal with Walmart because they couldn’t use high quality ingredients, and that MrBeast, Logan, and KSI have the responsibility to do better.
TikTok user goojiepooj posted a video echoing Ethan’s concerns, corroborating everything he said about the products.
“Literally nothing on here, as a mom, is something that would encourage me to buy this for a kid. This is marketing for children,” she said.
She points out, like Ethan, that as a mom she wants more calories in her child’s meal. Ethan reiterates how important it is that kids have healthy attitudes around food, scathingly criticizing the Lunchly creators for planting negative ideas in their fans’ heads that may haunt them for the rest of their lives.
“These guys clearly don’t have kids, we’re not putting our 5-year-olds on diets,” he said, “Why are you advertising less calories to kids? You’re trying to give kids eating disorders already?… Kids should not be counting calories, the idea of that is absurd.”
MrBeast, Logan Paul, and KSI have offered feeble defenses for themselves in replies on Twitter, arguing that their product is better for you than Lunchables, despite the fact that it isn’t healthier by any measurable metric.
Unfortunately for them, Ethan Klein may have mortally wounded Lunchly before it had the chance to get off the ground.
Lunchly will be sold for $3.99 at Kroger and Albertson’s stores.
Written by Meaghan Boyd
