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Health See other Health Articles Title: Chemicals in Mac and Cheese: What You Need to Know Chemicals in Mac and Cheese: What You Need to Know America’s No. 1 favorite comfort food is testing positive for some disturbing ingredients, and you won’t find them on the label. New testing confirms that chemicals in mac and cheese include a variety of phthalates, chemicals that disrupt the body’s normal hormonal function. Some are even linked to certain cancers. But is it time to panic and ditch boxed mac and cheese and its powdery cheese mix packets? Well, I can’t say that I recommend that type of gluten-heavy processed food in the first place. But if you are still on the fence about chemicals in mac and cheese, read on for more info. Phthalates are the go-to, toxic chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of vinyl. Common in synthetic scents, vinyl flooring, mini-blinds and shampoo, soap and makeup, air fresheners and scented candles, phthalates also infiltrate the food system in many ways that go far beyond plastic wrap. They don’t call it the “everywhere chemical” for nothing. (1) Perhaps what’s most shocking about this recent chemicals-in-mac-and-cheese report, commissioned by the Coalition for Safer Food Processing & Packaging, is that even some organic mac and cheese products contain these endocrine disruptors. And it begs the question, why is the Food and Drug Administration still allowing food-contact use in the U.S. when many European countries banned phthalates in food and moved on to readily available, safer alternatives? Luckily, I’ve got a great mac and cheese alternative, but first, more on the report … Chemicals in Mac and Cheese The coalition sent 30 U.S. purchased, unopened mac and cheese packages to an independent lab. Nine of those included products from the market leader in packaged mac and cheese. The report did not name all of the brands in the study, but focused on this particular cheese product because researchers recently identified diary as the No. 1 food source of phthalates. Here are the major takeaways of the chemicals-in-mac-and-cheese testing: These packaged mac and cheese products are laden with phthalates. Lab testing confirmed 10 different phthalates in the samples. One single product even tested positive for six different phthalates. 89 percent of the market-leading products tested contained phthalates. Phthalates levels were about four times higher in macaroni and cheese powder compared to cheese in other forms, like natural cheese in block form. All 10 cheese powders contained toxic DEHP, one of the most harmful phthalates that’s banned in countries around the world. DEHP accounted for nearly 60 percent of all phthalates found in the cheese product items that were tested. (2) The eye-opening report highlights the need for food manufacturers to test products for phthalate contamination — and figure out how to get it out of the food system. Phthalates are ubiquitous in the dairy products we use. They can migrate into food at several points between the field and your plate, including during processing, packaging and prep. Think about dairy in general. There are lots of plastic tubes used to harvest the cow’s milk. Phthalate contamination in food can come from: Inks on packaging Tubing & hoses Plastics & gloves Adhesives, seals & gaskets Coatings Dangers of Chemicals in Mac and Cheese Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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