Chemicals that have been linked to a host of chronic diseases may be present in high concentrations in macaroni and cheese meals made with powdered cheese, a study has found.

The substances, called phthalates – thought to affect hormones and metabolism – were banned from children’s teething rings and rubber duck toys a decade ago.

But now a new study of 30 cheese products has detected the substances – which leaks into food from packaging and equipment – in all but one of the samples tested.

The highest levels were found in highly processed cheese powder in boxed mac and cheese mixes – four times more than in block cheese and other natural cheeses.

A recent study suggested high phthalate exposure is significantly associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure in men.

A test of cheese products found high phthalate levels in powdered mac and cheese mix (file)

Previous research has also linked them to obesity, thyroid abnormalities, reduced sperm count and mobility and risks to pregnant women and young children.

'The phthalate concentrations in powder from mac and cheese mixes were more than four times higher than in block cheese and other natural cheeses like shredded cheese, string cheese and cottage cheese,' Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, told The New York Times.

The organization is one of four advocacy groups that funded the report along with Ecology Center, Healthy Babies Bright Futures and Safer States.

How the research was carried out

The team tested 10 different varieties of mac and cheese – including some that were labeled organic – and found high levels of phthalates in all of them.

They researchers looked for 13 different types of the chemicals and discovered all but two – and up to six different phthalates were found in some products.

The US-bought food items were shipped in their original packaging to a lab in Belgium, where fat extracted from each product was analyzed using validated test methods, according to Mr Belliveau.

He said it is extremely difficult for consumers to avoid the chemical.

'Our belief is that it's in every mac 'n' cheese product – you can't shop your way out of the problem,' he said.

While the report did not disclose the names of specific products tested, nine of the cheese products tested were made by Kraft, which makes most of the macaroni and cheese products sold.

A spokesperson for the company said: 'We do not add phthalates to our products. The trace amounts that were reported in this limited study are more than 1,000 times lower than levels that scientific authorities have identified as acceptable.'

'Our products are safe for consumers to enjoy.'

PHTHALATES RAISE MEN'S RISK OF HEART DISEASE Exposure to chemicals in medicines, food packaging and toys increases men's risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, recent research reveals. High levels of the chemicals, known as phthalates, in men's urine is significantly associated with suffering from such chronic diseases. Scientists from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian and Medical Research Institute analysed 1,504 men aged between 39 and 84 from south Australia. It is unclear why phthalates cause disease, however, researchers believe it may be due to their effect on the body's hormones, which regulate growth, metabolism and development. Although the study was only conducted in men, the researchers expect similar outcomes to be true for women. Previous research has linked phthalates to hormonal changes, obesity, thyroid abnormalities, and reduced sperm count and mobility. Advertisement

Dangers of phthalates

There is strong evidence that phthalates block the production of the hormone testosterone.

The gender-bending chemicals have been linked to genital birth defects in infant boys and can affect the development of a baby after just five days in the womb, research suggests.

Previous research has also associated them with raised risk of obesity.

A study from Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Germany found that phthalates can interfere with metabolism and pave the way for weight gain.

A previous study found that mice exposed to phthalates in their drinking water gained a substantial amount of weight – particularly in female animals.

Past studies have also suggested the substance can cause thyroid abnormalities, reduced sperm count and mobility.

The chemicals may pose special risks to pregnant women and have been associated with learning and behavior problems in older children.

What are phthlates and how do they get into foods?

Phthalates are industrial chemicals that have been widely used since the 1950s to soften plastics that would otherwise be brittle and crack when bent.

They are not intentionally added to food – the chemicals seep from food processing equipment like plastic tubing and conveyor belts.

The can also leak in from printed labels or plastic materials in the packaging.

Phthalates bind with fats, which is why they can build up in fatty foods, including infant formula, meats and fast food.

Calls to ban the chemicals

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not banned the use of phthalates in food packaging and says 'It's not clear what effect, if any, phthalates have on human health'.

Europe has banned many types of phthalates from use in plastics that come into contact with fatty foods, including baby food.

However, the FDA allows the use of many phthalates in such materials and classifies them as indirect food additives.

A 2014 report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission urged federal agencies to assess the risks of the chemicals 'with a view to supporting risk management steps.'

It said that food, drugs and beverages, and not toys, were the primary source of exposure to phthalates.