A YouTuber claimed she opened a Lunchly packet and found moldy cheese inside—and now she's warning people that the products may not be safe.

MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI recently launched what they claim to be a “healthier” alternative to Lunchables. Aimed at their younger fan base, the trio teamed together to launch the “groundbreaking new better-for-you lunch option” that combines products they already sell into an all-in-one meal.

The lunch includes one of three processed food options—The Pizza, Turkey Stack 'Ems, or Fiesta Nachos—as well as a bottle of Prime Hydration, a sports drink alternative produced by Paul and KSI, and a Feastables milk chocolate bar created by MrBeast.

YouTuber Rosanna Pansino claims that a pack she bought was riddled with mold and said “this is really concerning.”

“This is disgusting. I was filming a video comparing Lunchables to Lunchly and was shocked when I opened ‘The Pizza’ Lunchly. The cheese had MOLD!” Pansino posted on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a video of her having opened a pack of “The Pizza.”

“The expiration date was still 2 months away! I checked online and found at least a dozen other people posting that their Lunchly’s were moldy too. Full video is on my YouTube channel.”

Newsweek emailed spokespeople for Pansino, MrBeast and Paul for comment on Monday.

In the video, Pansino said: “I was shooting a video comparing Lunchly to Lunchables and I opened the first package, which was meant to be good till December 8th, 2024, and we just got this one, it was fresh from the store this morning and there is a ton of mold in there.”

As she showed close-ups of the bright blue mold, Pansino continued: “I honestly wasn’t expecting that, I was thinking that, you know, they would taste pretty similar, just, you know, would not have the best, or better for you, ingredients. And I was going to go over nutritional facts and things but this is really concerning so I am just pausing from filming this to take a little break to show this.”

Using a fork, the YouTuber then dug into the grated cheese, which appeared to be riddled with mold.

She added: “That is a ton of mold. That is really dangerous.”

At the time of writing, her post had been viewed 13.7 million times.

In a follow-up post, she shared pictures of the mold and wrote: “Just opened my first @Lunchly ever! So. Much. Mold. What flavor of mold did you guys get?”

In another post, she shared a picture of her having made the mini pizzas with the moldy cheese. “‘I like my cheese moldy, bruh!’” she captioned the image alongside the nauseated face emoji.

“My moldy @Lunchly! ‘Use By 08/Dec/24’ @US_FDA,” Pansino said in another post, this time tagging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

She concluded: “Please be careful everyone. This is not safe and not okay. Especially for children!”

In the YouTube video she uploaded, Pansino didn’t reveal where she had bought the Lunchly products from, but said: “We just got them from the store.” She also didn’t clarify how she had been storing the products before use. If not stored correctly, cheese can become moldy quite quickly. On the Lunchly website, the product descriptions read: “Keep refrigerated. Do not freeze.”

The FDA, which oversees food recommendations and rules, recommends that cheese be stored in a refrigerator at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cheese should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours, and its shelf life varies depending on the type of cheese.

In a statement shared with Newsweek, A representative for Lunchly said: “All Lunchly products go through a stringent review process to ensure the quality and safety of its products. That process consists of multiple inspections and approvals, including that of the USDA, before any product can even leave the manufacturing facility.”

Paul previously released a statement in which he described the meals as a “healthier alternative” to a market that is “dominated by Lunchables” and MrBeast stated that the intention is to “disrupt the lunch market for kids with healthier, better-tasting options.”

When Lunchly received backlash from various people online, who branded the food as “unhealthy,” MrBeast responded by retweeting a post from DramaAlert on X, which included screenshots of various YouTubers responding to the launch of Lunchly. He explained why he, KSI and Paul had launched Lunchly and why he thinks it’s a healthier alternative to Lunchables.

“Lunchables sells hundreds of millions of units and countless people eat it. Our goal is to give people a better for you alternative to it. Our turkey meal for example is 80 less calories, 60% less sugar, more electrolytes, we use real cheese they use “cheese product” (they can’t call it cheese), higher quality meat, etc,” he wrote.

“Obviously eating fresh chicken and broccoli is healthier but if someone is going to eat a premade meal like this (which millions of people do thru lunchables) then I think giving them a higher quality version at roughly the same price is a net good imo [in my opinion] and why we launched Lunchly. Also as we get economies of scale and can get things cheaper we will be only improving the product more and more.”

Examining the Mold Problem

While the criticism may be warranted, when looking at the nutritional information of each Lunchly meal and its Lunchable comparison, the products the YouTubers are selling may be a healthier alternative—but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy food. In the U.S., ultra-processed foods account for almost 60 percent of our energy intake, according to research published in the BMJ. This includes packaged snacks, carbonated drinks, instant noodles, ready meals and most products that contain a long list of ingredients, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners and artificial flavorings.

Numerous studies have linked ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer, as well as obesity. The mold discovery has raised concerns about the safety and quality control of Lunchly products, especially since they are marketed to children.

The mold discovered by Pansino has caused quite a stir online and has been the subject of many news articles, TikTok videos, and Reddit discussions, with people pointing out that Lunchly isn’t really healthy at all, especially for kids. The situation underscores the importance of careful inspection of food products, especially when dealing with pre-packaged meals and snacks. Parents and consumers alike should be wary of marketing claims and always prioritize food safety and nutritional value when making choices for themselves and their families.

Moldy Cheese And Beyond: Concerns About Lunchly

Videos featuring the alleged growths have been shared on social media, with several posts about the topic going viral online. The backlash has been fiercest amongst those who have called the company out over its initial claims that Lunchly would serve as a healthy alternative to other prepackaged meals, like Lunchables.

The mold discovery has added to a growing list of concerns about Lunchly, which has faced criticism for its nutritional content and marketing claims. Even though MrBeast, Paul and KSI have claimed that their product is a “healthier” alternative to Lunchables, the fact that many people are finding mold in the cheese suggests that Lunchly is not as safe or hygienic as it claims to be.

While the creators insist that they are aiming to disrupt the lunch market for kids with healthier, better-tasting options, consumers are clearly not buying it. Critics have pointed out that the Lunchly meals are still loaded with ultra-processed ingredients, saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, making them hardly a healthy choice for anyone, especially children.

Is It Time for a Change?

It’s time for companies like Lunchly to reconsider their claims and prioritize the health and safety of their customers. If they truly want to disrupt the lunch market for kids, they need to offer products that are genuinely healthy and safe. In the meantime, parents and consumers need to be vigilant and look for healthier alternatives that are not laden with unhealthy ingredients, additives, and preservatives.

The Lunchly saga is a reminder that we need to be skeptical of marketing claims and always make informed choices about the food we consume. Ultimately, the health and well-being of ourselves and our children should always come first.