Safer Mac n' Cheese, Please (Do We Need a Cheese Czar?)

Mother Nature Network ^ | August 27, 2009 | Jen Savedge

[Diana in Wisconsin]

(Why does the American version of this family favorite have more chemicals than the European variety?)

So, for a little light reading lately I've been perusing The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick, by Robyn O'Brien. As you can probably surmise from the title, the book is filled with all kinds of frightening background and tidbits on the food that's on store shelves these days. One issue in particular struck a nerve with me ... not so much because it's my family's favorite ... but because it is one of America's favorite foods: mac n' cheese.

Would you believe that last year the good folks at Kraft decided (with a little consumer prompting) to remove artificial colorings, like yellow #5, and chemical sweeteners like aspartame, from the products that they distribute in Europe, Australia and other developed countries. But, it seems they haven't removed these chemicals and colorings from the mac n' cheese that they distribute in the U.S. Why? Because they didn't think we'd notice.

How infuriating!

I immediately hit the Web to learn more about this, and I found that blogger Joan Blades over at MomRising.org recently came to the same conclusion that I did. She's launching a letter-writing campaign to get the folks at Kraft to value the health of Americans as much as they do those in other countries. Here's an excerpt from her post:

"Join us in sending Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld a letter asking that Kraft value the health of our children as highly as they value the children in other countries. And please then share this email with friends and family so that they too can send a letter."

[monkapotamus]

Yeah! I remember that..

[cubreporter]

How about making your own for a change? Everything is in a box or package anymore. Cook your own macaraoni...grate your own cheese. It’s better for you and tastes fresher. OR...do without if you dont’ like the package. I have never bought the package stuff of anything like that. It’s either homemade or not at all. Doesn’t take that long to make it and I have made it and frozen it like I have done dozens of other foods and it is ready with a thaw.

If people would go back to COOKING their own foods they would save a hell of a lot more money and not get so many preservatives in their systems.

[cubreporter]

How about making your own for a change? Everything is in a box or package anymore. Cook your own macaraoni...grate your own cheese. It’s better for you and tastes fresher. OR...do without if you dont’ like the package. I have never bought the package stuff of anything like that. It’s either homemade or not at all. Doesn’t take that long to make it and I have made it and frozen it like I have done dozens of other foods and it is ready with a thaw.

If people would go back to COOKING their own foods they would save a hell of a lot more money and not get so many preservatives in their systems.

[cubreporter]

How about making your own for a change? Everything is in a box or package anymore. Cook your own macaraoni...grate your own cheese. It’s better for you and tastes fresher. OR...do without if you dont’ like the package. I have never bought the package stuff of anything like that. It’s either homemade or not at all. Doesn’t take that long to make it and I have made it and frozen it like I have done dozens of other foods and it is ready with a thaw.

If people would go back to COOKING their own foods they would save a hell of a lot more money and not get so many preservatives in their systems.

[Bender2]

Gadzooks, Seven! If it doesn't have beer in it... I don't eat or drink it!

[ETL]

Thanks for helping me decide on what to have for lunch! Kraft's *DELUXE* mac & cheese is the best off-the-counter brand, imo. It includes a creamy cheese in a pouch. Their other mac & cheese (the one in the skinny box) uses a powered cheese and is no where near as good.

Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese Dinner

Size/Count 14.0 oz.

* Good source of calcium & protein
* Made with real Kraft cheese
* Rich & creamy taste

http://www.walgreens.com/store/store/product/product_details.jsp?id=prod361
_________________________________

Here's the other....

[blackie]

I’ve never eaten mac and cheese...what have I been missing...