Your Macaroni and Cheese May Contain Toxic Chemicals

Macaroni and cheese lovers, beware!

New research suggests macaroni and cheese powder contains high levels of potentially dangerous chemicals, USA Today reports.

The Coalition for Safer Food Processing and Packaging, the group in charge of KleanUpKraft.org, tested over 30 cheese products for phthalates, which is a group of plastics used to increase the flexibility of plastic.

The research found that phthalate levels in the macaroni and cheese powder were four times higher than the rest.

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The coalition says the phthalates are very dangerous for the health of pregnant women and children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are unsure of what effects exposure to low levels of the chemical can have on a person’s health.

Phthalates are usually found in common home and personal care products such as soaps, hair sprays, detergents and flooring. The chemical should not be used in any type of food.

Despite the findings, Kraft denies using the chemicals.

“We do not add phthalates to our products,” Kraft spokesperson Lynne Galia said in an emailed statement. “The trace amounts that were reported in this limited study are more than 1,000 times lower than levels that scientific authorities have identified as acceptable.”

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