Chemicals in Mac-n-Cheese ?

I was just talking about how glad I was to see some organic pre-made and boxed Mac and Cheese hitting the shelves. But it still does not stop the ingredient labels from growing tremendously long or missing ingredients from the label entirely. I stopped eating Boxed Mac-n-Cheese (no names) about 10 years ago. The taste had changed dramatically, tasted like chalk and chemicals.

Reading labels started me on a road to eating healthy. The more I read, the more I couldn’t believe they were putting these chemicals in our boxed and processed food. Added sugar and yeast in every box. What is the purpose or reason behind this “bulking” up foods with junk. These products only add to slowing you down like a slug and making you fat.

It’s all about cooking with fresh wholesome ingredients. HOMEMADE… remember that word. It’s really not hard to live a healthy lifestyle. You can still eat out. You have to plan ahead and choose wisely. Go for a better food selection. Not FAST FOOD (name places) or that crap. Freshly Made.. Everything from pasta to grass fed beef. Broiled Meat and Fish, BBQ, fresh made Mexican. Eating from a Mexican taco truck is healthier for you than eating at a FAST FOOD (name places) Joint.

Now there are reports surfacing that Kid’s favorite Mac-n-Cheese is testing positive for phthalates. New testing confirms that chemicals in mac and cheese include a variety of phthalates, these chemicals disrupt the body’s normal hormonal function. Some are even linked to certain cancers.

Phthalates: are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes).

Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are used to make products such as plastic packaging film and sheets, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers, medical tubing, and some children’s toys.

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?

European Union further restricts four phthalates

Homemade Mac n Cheese

Ingredients:
8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika

Directions:

Pre-Heat oven 350′

• Cook macaroni according to the package directions
• Drain.
  In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat
• Stir in enough flour to make a roux
• Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly
• Stir in cheeses
• Cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick
• Put macaroni in Greased large casserole dish
• Pour sauce over macaroni and Stir well

Breadcrumbs Topping

• Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat
• Add breadcrumbs and brown
• Spread over the macaroni and cheese
• Sprinkle with a little paprika.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes
• Serve

Recipe By Judy @allrecipes.com

Save

Save