To mark National Macaroni and Cheese Day last week, consumer advocates revealed alarming findings regarding hazardous chemicals present in cheese powder. “We believe that these chemicals are present in every mac ‘n’ cheese product—there’s no way to avoid the issue through shopping,” stated Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a supporter of the research, in an interview with The New York Times. Advocacy groups are now urging consumers to reach out to manufacturers and demand actions to prevent such chemicals from contaminating food products.
This news spells trouble 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 tested cheese products. Just a few years ago, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese underwent significant reformulation to eliminate artificial preservatives and synthetic colors, aiming to rid its products of these harmful chemicals.
No food manufacturer intentionally adds phthalates to their products. Instead, it is believed that these industrial chemicals may be leaching into food from printed labels on packaging or plastic materials used in food processing equipment. If this is indeed the case, the entire consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food processing industry—beyond just macaroni and cheese producers—faces a significant challenge.
In Europe, the use of phthalates in plastic materials that come into contact with fatty foods, including dairy products, has already been banned. However, a petition from food safety advocates to eliminate all phthalates from U.S. food, packaging, and manufacturing equipment has been stalled by the FDA due to technical issues, as reported by The New York Times.
Meanwhile, American 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 rely on themselves for food safety, an increase from 55% in 2009. A significant number also depend on the FDA (54%) and USDA (50%) for food safety assurances, while only 42% trust food manufacturers.
The findings from this macaroni and cheese study provide consumers with yet another reason to avoid highly processed foods, as many are now opting for “cleaner,” less-processed alternatives. A Nielsen study indicated that nearly half of U.S. households actively seek out products made without artificial ingredients. This study raises critical concerns for manufacturers across various food segments, including those that produce bariatric advantage calcium citrate chewable tablets 500mg, as consumer awareness grows. It will be intriguing to see the widespread implications of this issue and how consumers choose to respond.