Many Americans rely on Kraft’s mac and cheese to make a quick dinner. Why? Because it’s convenient and cheap. The problem with this highly processed food is that eating it slowly poisons your body.
Petroleum-Derived Food Dyes
Aside from the frequent recalls that occur within the company, the most dangerous ingredients used in this junk food are its food dyes. Kraft’s mac and cheese contain yellow 5 and 6. You’ve probably noticed yourself how unnatural this product looks.
Banned In Europe
Food dyes are banned in the majority of European countries, but not in the U.S.
Yellow 5 is a synthetic lemon-yellow food color also known as tartrazine or E102. Yellow 6, another synthetic yellow dye, goes under the name Sunset Yellow FCF, or E110. (source) Both are derived from petroleum and pose a wide range of health issues.
They contain cancer-causing benzidine and other potentially carcinogenic chemicals which can damage DNA and cause severe damage to our cells. It can halt cell reproduction and may lead to cancer. Artificial colors have been linked to hyperactivity and decreased concentration in children, cancer, and allergic reactions (such as asthma).
Avoid Synthetic Food Dyes
According to a 2012 study on the toxicology of food dyes, “The inadequacy of much of the testing and the evidence for carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, and hypersensitivity, coupled with the fact that dyes do not improve the safety or nutritional quality of foods, indicates that all of the currently used dyes should be removed from the food supply and replaced, if at all, by safer colorings.”
Bottom Line
While there needs to be more studies done about the safety of Kraft’s mac and cheese, don’t take any chances with it. Get rid of these overly processed junk foods and try to eat more whole, fresh, organic foods and homemade meals instead.