To mark National Macaroni and Cheese Day last week, consumer advocates revealed alarming findings regarding hazardous chemicals discovered in cheese powder. “We believe that these substances are present in every mac ‘n’ cheese product — there’s no way to avoid the issue by simply choosing different brands,” stated Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a supporter of the research, in an interview with The New York Times. Consumer advocacy groups are now urging individuals to reach out to manufacturers and demand actions to prevent these chemicals from contaminating food products.
This news poses a significant challenge for Kraft Heinz, which dominates the boxed macaroni and cheese market with a 76% share. According to the New York Times, Kraft produces nine of the cheese products that were tested. Just a few years back, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese underwent a substantial reformulation aimed at eliminating artificial preservatives and synthetic colors, in an effort to remove these types of chemicals.
No food manufacturer intentionally adds phthalates to their products; instead, these industrial chemicals are believed to leach into food from printed packaging labels or from plastic materials utilized in food processing equipment. If this is the case, it signals a large-scale issue not only for macaroni and cheese makers but for the entire consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food processing sectors.
In Europe, the use of phthalates in plastic food contact materials for fatty foods, including dairy products, has already been banned. However, a petition from food safety groups aimed at eliminating all phthalates from U.S. food, packaging, and manufacturing equipment has been stalled by the FDA due to a technicality, as reported by the New York Times.
In the meantime, U.S. consumers are taking food safety into their own hands. According to the Food Marketing Institute’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends study, 61% of shoppers now rely on themselves to ensure food safety, up from 55% in 2009. They also place significant trust in the FDA (54%) and USDA (50%) for food safety, while only 42% depend on food manufacturers.
The results of this macaroni and cheese study provide consumers with yet another reason to avoid highly processed foods, with many opting for “cleaner,” less-processed alternatives. A Nielsen study indicated that approximately half of U.S. households intentionally seek out products free from artificial ingredients. This study should raise serious concerns among manufacturers across various food segments, including those producing bariatric advantage calcium soft chews, as they may face increased scrutiny and demand for transparency. It will be fascinating to observe the broader implications of this issue and the reactions of consumers as they continue to prioritize their health and safety.