MrBeast has hit back after people slammed him and fellow YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI for launching what they claim to be a "healthier" alternative to Lunchables.
Aimed at their younger fan base, the trio teamed together to launch Lunchly, a "groundbreaking new better-for-you lunch option" that combines products they already sell into an all-in-one meal.
This includes one of three processed food options—"The Pizza," Turkey Stack 'Ems, or Fiesta Nachos—as well as a bottle of Prime Hydration, a low-sugar energy drink produced by Paul and KSI, and a Feastables milk chocolate bar created by MrBeast.
Paul described the meals as a "healthier alternative" to a market that is "dominated by Lunchables" in a statement, and MrBeast stated that the intention is to "disrupt the lunch market for kids with healthier, better-tasting options."
No matter their goal, the men have been blasted online, with many branding the food as "unhealthy"—a claim that MrBeast denies.
Newsweek emailed a MrBeast spokesperson for comment on Wednesday outside of normal business hours.
The X account DramaAlert shared screenshots of various YouTubers responding to the launch of Lunchly, with the caption: "YouTubers are NOT happy with MrBeast, KSI, and Logan Paul's new product."
One of the screenshots is from a post from DanDTM, which reads: "What happened to YouTubers man.. I can't not say anything anymore. This is selling stuff for the sake of making money, simple. How does this benefit their fans? This is selling c*** to kids who don't know better than to trust the people who are selling it to them. Do better."
A YouTuber called Squiddy added: "Why not teach kids healthy eating habits, they're comparing their product to lunchables, which in itself is highly processed c***. None of them are passionate about health towards fans, only their wallets. So disappointing."
MrBeast responded to the backlash by retweeting the post from DramaAlert, explaining why he, KSI and Paul 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."
A community note was then added to MrBeast's post that reads: "Feastables chocolates were also marketed as being healthier than other chocolate bars (only 5 ingredients!) Later the recipe was reformulated; they are now no healthier and the extra ingredients are disguised as 'unsweetened chocolate' counting as one of the 5 ingredients."
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.
The primary nutritional distinction between the two well-known brands is that the electrolyte content of a Prime beverage is 400 milligrams while a Lunchables Capri-Sun pouch only has 55 milligrams. MrBeast's chocolate bar also contains less sugar than a Kit Kat or Crunch bar.
The Fiesta Nachos has 10 sugar grams, as opposed to 22 in the Lunchables equivalent, which is the Nachos Cheese Dip & Salsa Meal Kit with Capri-Sun Fruit Punch Drink & Kit Kat Candy Bar. The Lunchly version also has fewer calories at 360, as opposed to 450 in its Lunchables counterpart.
When comparing Lunchly's Turkey Stack 'Ems to the Lunchables equivalent, the brand started by the YouTubers is once again probably healthier. It has 7 grams of sugar, compared to 21 in Lunchables. The calorie difference also favors Lunchly at 230 compared to 310.
"The Pizza" has 12 grams of sugar instead of 20 grams in the Pizza with Pepperoni Meal Kit with Capri-Sun Fruit Punch Drink & Crunch Candy Bar from Lunchables. There is a small calorie difference as Lunchly has 360 compared to 390.
"There's a lot to be concerned about in these kits," Amy Keating, a registered dietitian at Consumer Reports, said about Lunchables. "They're highly processed, and regularly eating processed meat, a main ingredient in many of these products, has been linked to increased risk of some cancers."
While Lunchly may have fewer calories and less sugar, this doesn't make them a "healthy" food option.
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 unrecognizable ingredients, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners and artificial flavorings.
Numerous studies have linked ultra-processed foods to an increased risk of various diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer, as well as obesity.
Class Action Lawsuit
This isn't the only controversy MrBeast is facing, as a class action lawsuit has been filed against MrBeast's companies, as well as the production arm of Amazon, and accepted by Los Angeles Superior court. The case involves the participants in the MrBeast reality competition show, Beast Games, taped over the summer and alleges multiple labor law violations—including infliction of emotional distress and sexual harassment—as well as false advertising and unfair business practices.
Beast Games had over 1,000 participants competing for a $5 million payday. Participants describe how they were deprived of medical care, food, sleep and the necessities of basic hygiene. A release date has not yet been announced.
The internet celebrity is being sued by five contestants, who are alleging "unreasonable, unsafe and unlawful employment conditions."
"I wanted to join [the class action] because I was a fan of MrBeast and his videos made me smile during the COVID-19 pandemic," said one of the female plaintiffs in the complaint, identified only as "Contestant 5."
"I expected to be challenged, but I didn't think I would be treated like nothing—less than nothing. And as one of the women, I can say it absolutely felt like a hostile environment for us. We honestly could not have been respected less – as people, much less employees—if they tried."
Newsweek emailed a MrBeast spokesperson for comment on Wednesday outside of normal business hours.
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