Do you know what your child is eating when you stir up a pot of boxed mac and cheese with the yellow powder packet?
Food scientists say that there are chemicals that have been banned from rubber toys 10 years ago still showing up on the mixes that have powdered cheese, The New York Times reported.
They're called phthalates and the Food and Drug Administration has yet to ban them in food, despite a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that asked the government to take a look of the risk. The 2014 report showed that most people were exposed to phthalates in their food, drugs and beverages, and not toys.
The problem with the powdered cheese mix is that the concentration of the chemicals was four times higher than block cheese, according to the Environmental Health Strategy Center.
Phthalates have been linked to genital birth defects in infant boys, learning and behavior problems in children and can disrupt male hormones. It can also be a risk for pregnant women and children.
July 14th marks National Mac and Cheese Day.
Read more from the New York Times here.
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