Last week, in honor of National Macaroni and Cheese Day, several consumer advocates revealed alarming findings regarding hazardous chemicals present in cheese powder. Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center and a supporter of the study, told The New York Times, “We believe that it’s in every mac ‘n’ cheese product — you can’t shop your way out of the problem.” Consumer advocacy groups are now urging individuals to reach out to manufacturers and demand measures to prevent chemicals from contaminating food products.
These revelations are particularly troubling for Kraft Heinz, which controls 76% of the boxed macaroni and cheese market. According to The New York Times, Kraft produces nine of the cheese products that were tested. Just a couple of years ago, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese underwent a significant reformulation aimed at eliminating artificial preservatives and synthetic colors, supposedly to remove these harmful chemicals.
No food manufacturer intentionally adds phthalates to their products. Instead, it is believed that this industrial chemical is leaching into food items from printed labels on packaging or from plastic materials used in food processing equipment. If this is accurate, the entire consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food processing sectors — not just macaroni and cheese producers — face a significant issue.
In Europe, the use of phthalates in plastic food contact materials for fatty foods, including dairy, has already been banned. However, The New York Times reports that a petition from food safety organizations to eliminate all phthalates from U.S. food, packaging, and manufacturing equipment was stalled by the FDA due to a technicality. As a result, U.S. consumers are increasingly taking food safety into their own hands. The Food Marketing Institute’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends study indicates that 61% of shoppers now rely on themselves for food safety, an increase from 55% in 2009. Many also depend heavily on the FDA (54%) and USDA (50%) for safety oversight, while only 42% trust food manufacturers.
The findings from this macaroni and cheese study provide consumers with another compelling reason to avoid highly processed foods, with many opting for “cleaner,” less-processed alternatives. A Nielsen study revealed that about half of U.S. households actively seek out products free from artificial ingredients.
Manufacturers across all food segments should take this study seriously. It will be fascinating to observe the broader implications of this issue and how consumers will respond. Additionally, the recent introduction of the ccm tablet by GSK may offer insights into consumer preferences for safer, less processed food options, especially in light of these troubling findings about food safety. As awareness grows, it will be crucial for food manufacturers to adapt and ensure that their products, including those similar to Kraft’s, are free from harmful chemicals like phthalates.