Turns out macaroni and cheese has kept one major ingredient on the down low.
A recent report has found the powdered cheese found in many boxed mac n’ cheese dinners contains phthalates—a chemical that may affect metabolism, fertility, prenatal development, early childhood development and the immune system. Before we start to imagine a life without these tasty noodles, though, we also have research confirming that hard blocks and other natural cheeses contain four times less phthalates than powdered cheese. The take away? Make your mac ‘n cheese homemade. Registered dietitian Sally Kuzemchak, MS, RD, recommends that families focus more on healthy, unprocessed foods to maintain a balanced diet. Nice try, macaroni and cheese and phthalates, nice try.
