Photo: BrokenSphere | commons.wikimedia.org
There's a rising tide of angry consumers and a petition underway. The topic at hand? Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Actually Kraft food products in general. It turns out that Kraft has been making a different version of its products in sold in Europe, Australia and other areas by removing the artificial colors and aspartame from the ingredients list. But it has not made similar changes in it's U.S. market (nor, one assumes, in less developed countries). These changes overseas are in response to consumer demand after studies reporting the negative effects of these substances on children.
One study, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, specifically states, “This study demonstrates a beneficial effect of eliminating reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD”. There was also a study published at the University of Southampton in England which highlighted a link between artificial colorants, temper tantrums, allergic reaction, and poor concentration in children.
The effects of these and other studies was to raise a protest from consumers demanding the manufacturers not use these products. Since an angry consumer won't buy a product, the manufacturers, including Kraft, listened and these chemicals, which are neurotoxins, were removed from the ingredients list; this occurred in 2008.
As referenced in her book, “The Unhealthy Truth,” Robyn O'Brien revealed that although these ingredients are not necessary and certainly not present in the products manufactured for sale in places like Europe and Australia, they are still used in food products in the United States. One would think that if a product, such as Mac and Cheese, can be made without these chemicals it would be an across-the-board decision for the Kraft Food Corporation. Apparently not. They've missed the boat on this one; instead of removing the chemicals and tooting their own horn, they quietly continued to use them hoping no one would notice.
Not only did a few people notice, a lot of people noticed. There is now a petition to convince Kraft to remove these neurotoxins from their products here in the United States. To do for American consumers what they have done for consumers overseas. An organization called MomsRising.Org has put the petition together and is seeking your signature to help convince Kraft to do the same thing they did overseas and remove these substances from their products. If you are concerned about the health effects of eating petrochemical-based food dyes and artificial sweeteners, and you should be, you can find the petition available at http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=27297.
For more information:
The Unhealthy Truth
Robyn O'Brien
Is a Colorful Diet Right for Your Child?
Food Intolerance Network
Comments
Thanks for this info. One of my children can't have food dyes, artficial sweeteners, MSG, or petroleum based lard substitutes and it makes me MAD that big companies can make mac n cheese, or M&Ms, in England without those chemicals but has no problem pumping American kids full of them!
Another good reason to try Better Bowls, a new natural line of gelatins and puddings. No preservatives, no artificial colors and jam-packed with fiber and yummy taste. Check it out at www.betterbowls.com. Only in stores on the East Coast now, but you can order through amazon.com.
Hi,I’m a Kraft Foods employee. Saw your post on Kraft Mac & Cheese & want to share some info.
We completely understand that nothing is more important than your family’s health & well-being. Many of us are parents too & share your goal of providing good food for our families. That's why we follow guidelines of gov't agencies responsible for the safety of our food. So in the U.S., Kraft only uses ingredients that have been recognized as safe for food use by U.S. FDA. We'll continue to use current, approved ingredients.
Our products across the globe are different to reflect local preferences/tastes. Yet we use the same standards to select ingredients, always putting safety first.
We know some prefer products made with no artificial ingredients so we now offer more choices like our Back to Nature line. So you know, our Mac &Cheese products are sold mostly in U.S. & Canada. Altho we have a variant of pasta/cheese products in north. UK & Australia neither has recently changed.
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