Could Flamin' Hot Cheetos be hazardous to kids' health? Some schools are banning the snack, saying it provides no nutritional value -- and may even be addictive.
A health teacher in New Mexico sent a note to students and parents saying that Flamin' Hot Cheetos should stay at home. The teacher said the snack had poor nutritional value, often took the place of a lunch, led to germ sharing and caused red fingerprints for janitors.
School districts in California and New Mexico are attempting to ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos as junk food, and one school district in Illinois stopped selling the snack in schools, ABC News reported.
A 2.5-ounce bag of Hot Cheetos contains 24 grams of fat and 550 milligrams of sodium — a quarter of the daily dietary allowance. On top of the artificial coloring and flavoring, some experts say the Cheetos are "hyperpalatable," or highly addictive.
Cheetos maker Frito Lay says it is "committed to responsible and ethical practices, which includes not marketing our products to children ages 12 and under."
