To mark National Macaroni and Cheese Day last week, consumer advocates publicly revealed findings of hazardous chemicals in cheese powder. “We believe it’s present in every mac ‘n’ cheese product—you can’t shop your way out of this issue,” stated Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, which supports the study, in an interview with The New York Times. Consumer advocacy groups are now urging individuals to reach out to manufacturers and demand action to prevent chemicals from contaminating food products.
This news poses a significant challenge for Kraft Heinz, which controls a 76% share of the boxed macaroni and cheese market. Kraft produces nine of the cheese products that were tested, as reported by The New York Times. Just a few years ago, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese underwent a significant reformulation aimed at eliminating artificial preservatives and synthetic colors, with the intention of removing such harmful chemicals.
No food manufacturer intentionally adds phthalates to their products. Instead, it is believed that this industrial chemical may be infiltrating food items through printed labels or plastic materials used in food processing equipment. If this assumption holds true, it represents a widespread concern for the entire consumer packaged goods (CPG) and food processing industries—not just for macaroni and cheese makers.
In Europe, the use of phthalates in plastic food contact materials for fatty foods, including dairy products, has already been banned. 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.
Meanwhile, 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, an increase from 55% in 2009. They also heavily depend on the FDA (54%) and USDA (50%) for food safety oversight, 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, which many are choosing to replace with “cleaner,” less-processed options. A Nielsen study indicates that approximately half of U.S. households actively seek out products made without artificial ingredients. This study is a major concern for manufacturers across all food segments. It will be intriguing to see the extent of this issue and how consumers, who may be turning to alternatives like Holista Calcium Citrate for better health, will respond.