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Illegal GMO Wheat in Kraft Mac & Cheese?

6/4/2013 Update: The New York Times Publishes Label – read full story here

5/31/2013 Update: In this video filmed on 5/31/2013, Flo who is a Food Babe reader, visited Tesco Extra in Ponders End, Enfield, North London to demonstrate there are boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese that are imported into the United Kingdom from the United States that require these special warning labels to alert consumers of potentially harmful ingredients that Kraft is using in their products. This video further verifies that Kraft’s flagship product “Macaroni & Cheese” sold in the UK requires a warning label stating the product may cause an adverse effect in activity and attention in children and is made with GMO wheat. (Note: GMO wheat is illegal in the US.)

Watch here:



The information I just uncovered about Kraft Mac & Cheese is CRAZY.

It’s been almost 2 months since I hand delivered thousands of signatures to Kraft’s front door requesting the removal of artificial dyes from their Mac & Cheese. The people inside that I met with said they’d keep the conversation open and research my questions that went unanswered… but I haven’t heard a peep from them – not a word. Of course I’ve followed up via email and voicemail and baring an impromptu visit to their headquarters again – I’m not sure if they’ll ever willingly want to talk to me in the near future or any of the rest of the 288,000 people who signed the petition.

Kraft’s refusal to keep a conversation open doesn’t surprise me, considering their tone and the nature of my initial meeting at their headquarters. (You can read the full inside story of that visit here). They didn’t send out the people who make decisions to speak with me (like the head of Mac & Cheese) – instead Kraft sent their corporate spokespeople to discuss what I believe is a very serious issue. An issue that has been broadcast all over the World including countries like Mexico, Brazil, Canada, U.K., Finland, Japan, and in almost every city in the United States. This is an issue that has brought out the truth, thanks to several different media agencies who asked for a medical opinion about the harmful effects of artificial food dyes and who agreed there are risks associated with consuming them.

Their refusal to listen and change their products is all about money. Kraft cares more about their bottom line than the health of millions of children everywhere who they are selling the boxes of Mac & Cheese to.

It was just announced that Kraft’s CEO Tony Vernon made 49% more this year than he did last year. This fact kicked me right in the face. These are millions of dollars that could be used to stop the production of artificial food dyes. These are millions of dollars that could be used to improve Kraft’s product line for the safety of Americans. These are millions of dollars that could send a statement to us that Kraft really does care about the safety of their consumers (like they’ve said in their canned written statement already).

While Kraft has reformulated their Mac & Cheese for other countries using safer ingredients and natural dyes – they continue to exploit and feed Americans dyes made with petroleum linked to a myriad of diseases and GMOs.

But wait – you must be thinking – what?! There are GMOs in Mac & Cheese? And it’s not just any old GMO.

Kraft Mac & Cheese is made with Genetically Modified Wheat. 

Below is a picture of the warning label that is placed on a box of Macaroni and Cheese (the same one we buy here) imported into the UK from the United States. The UK and other European countries require a warning label if a product contains artificial food dyes and/or GMOs. This label has a warning for both! You must be wondering how the heck did I get this box of Mac & Cheese… this is where having so many wonderful readers across the globe is quite amazing. Someone actually sent this to me after I saw them post a picture of it on Kraft’s facebook page (Thank you Flo!!!). This box of Mac & Cheese is available and sold in a special imported “international food” section in a grocery store called Tesco. The box clearly states that it is from the US – specifically “Northfield, Illinois.”

On the label of Kraft Mac & Cheese there are 2 different warnings:

Warning #1: This Product May Cause Adverse Effects On Activity And Attention In Children (This warning label is required because The US version of Kraft Mac & Cheese has artificial food dyes yellow #5 and yellow #6 which are proven to be linked to hyperactivity in children.)

Warning #2: GMO Declaration: Made from genetically modified wheat. (May contain GMO) (This warning label is required because the US version of Kraft Mac & Cheese contains GMOs.)

Please note: It is uncertain at this time who places these warning labels on products once they are imported into the UK and this is something I am still investigating. I know it is not the grocery store themselves and not Kraft, but likely the importer/distribution company. 

Kraft Mac spelled correctly 2 with arrows

Kraft with Newspaper

2 New Pictures Above added on May 31, 2013
Kraft Warning Label

If Kraft is using genetically modified (GMO) wheat in their Mac & Cheese, it is SERIOUSLY ALARMING for a number of reasons.

  1. GMO Wheat is not approved by the USDA for U.S. Farming. So where the heck is Kraft getting this wheat to put in their Mac & Cheese?
  2. Last night in breaking news, it was discovered that GMO wheat had been illegally growing in Oregon. So this begs the question – is there illegal GMO wheat in Kraft Mac & Cheese?
  3. The USDA is investigating the illegal crop in Oregon – Don’t you think they should investigate companies that are using GM wheat like Kraft too? (Contact the USDA here).
  4. If Kraft is not using GMO wheat grown in the United States, they could be getting genetically engineered wheat from other countries that allow the production, and are importing it into the US. It is crazy to think that a company could be importing a crop that is not approved for use in the US and putting it our products without labeling!
  5. There is only one other likely scenario for the GMO Declaration on Kraft’s Mac & Cheese. The farm land that wheat is grown on in the US is so contaminated from GMO crops like corn and soy, they have no choice but to declare our wheat genetically modified on the warning label when exported to other countries. This fact is very concerning if true and has dire implications for the entire farmland here in America.
  6. The labeler could have mistaken GMO corn for GMO wheat, but if that is the case, Kraft needs to confirm either way.

If Kraft is using illegal GMO wheat in Mac & Cheese – are they using it in the rest of their products too? This alone is reason enough to boycott this company – As if we didn’t have enough reasons before.

How To Vote With Your Dollars And Hit Kraft’s Bottom Line

Kraft is a food giant which used to be even larger before they split with Mondelez late last fall. Here is a list of major brands that Kraft produces now that you need to know to avoid. I’ve included some alternatives to check out instead…

  • Study This List & Share It With Your Friends and Family
  • Don’t Buy Any of These Products In The Future
  • Search Your Pantry and Fridge For These Products
  • Take Them Back To The Store and Get a Refund
Kraft Brands To Avoid Brands to Choose Instead
A1 Annies BBQ Sauce or make your own
Back To Nature Annie’s Branded Snacks and Mac & Cheese
Bakers Organic Baking Chocolate by Sunspire
Boca Sunshine Burgers or make your own
Bulls Eye Annies BBQ Sauce or make your own
Café Collection (Coffee Mate) Use real organic milk or almond milk, dried non fat organic milk powder works too
Capri Sun Squeeze Your Own Fresh Juice or Choose Whole Food’s or Trader Joe’s (FYI – they recently found mold growing in Capri Sun packages)
Cheez Whiz Just eat real cheese
Corn Nuts Stick to real nuts
Country Time Make homemade lemonade or choose Lakewood Juice
Crystal Light Ban this altogether – this stuff is not good for your health, try infusing water with fruits instead
Dream Whip Make real whip cream instead or go with Tru whip
General Food International Recipe for homemade creamer from Deliciously Organic
Gevalia Larry’s Beans or another organic coffee brand you like
Good Seasons Simply Organic has dressing mixes that don’t have harmful ingredients
Gravy Master Here is a recipe for homemade gravy
Grey Poupon Annie’s Mustard
Handi Snacks Mary’s Gone Crackers and Cheese
Jell-O Mama Natural shows you how to make healthy jello
Jet Puffed Marshmallows Vegan Marshmallows without artificial food dyes and corn syrup are available at Natural Food Stores
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Make your own or choose Annie’s Mac & Cheese
Kraft Cheese Organic Valley or local
Kool-Aid Just don’t do it.
Lunchables Make your own! Check 100 Days of Real Food for Lunch Ideas
Maxwell House Larry’s Beans or another organic coffee brand you like
Miracle Whip Spectrum or Veganaise
Open Pit Annies BBQ Sauce or make your own
Oscar Mayer Applegate Farms
Philadelphia Organic Valley, Trader Joes has organic cream cheese
Planters Woodstock Farms 
Sanka Choose organic coffee always
Tang Don’t do it! Consider adding some fresh OJ to your water instead
Tapatio Choose an organic hot sauce
Tassimo Professional Do not buy this coffee machine – choose breville or cusinart instead
Twist Lakewood Juice
Velveeta This stuff is gross, just don’t do it. Stick to real cheese – try Organic Valley
Yuban Larry’s Beans or another organic coffee brand you like

Please take the time to share this crucial information with your family and friends. We must keep the social media pressure on Kraft – they need to know that we are not going away or letting them off the hook for this madness.

Thank you for your continued support and good energy!

Food Babe

Kraft Mac & Cheese Box

If you’d like to call and inquire about this – here’s the UPC code on the box of Kraft Mac & Cheese sent to me with the warning label.

Kraft UPC

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294 responses to “Illegal GMO Wheat in Kraft Mac & Cheese?

  1. This is nuts. At what point do humans become more important than greed and profit? i am so sick of it.
    As much as I hate the health consequences, I also just hate being taken advantage of and I hate feeling like a sucker. They are making fools of everyone!

  2. get more fired up. read the article about the farmer trying to get rid of his unknown GMO wheat product. he didnt know it was GMO until he couldnt kill it.

    1. I’m less impressed with the farmer, because he discovered it was GMO by spraying it with RoundUp. 😛

  3. It is very easy to make your own cream cheese…make yogurt and let it hang in cheese cloth over night.

  4. I understand your concern, but how do you know the US gets the same Mac & Cheese as in the UK?

    1. Joe, I think you misunderstood. The UK does not have the same Mac ‘N Cheese as the US. The one that is made to be sold in the UK does not have artificial dyes (they use tumeric instead). It looks like this box is one that was made to be distributed in the US but was imported to the UK, therefore needing extra labeling.

      1. If you check out the importer listed at the bottom you will see that they import many American foods that they sell in the UK. Not defending Kraft but has anyone thought that this importing company may have to label it this way in order to sell it in the UK without going through a lot of government red tape. Maybe someone should get all the facts before starting a riot. I am as mad as anyone about the colorings but you need all the facts to make an educated decision.

      2. Gary, I was thinking the same thing. We need more information on why this box was labeled this way before jumping to any conclusions. Maybe someone could contact the importing company and see if they can shed some light on this.

      3. I agree Gary, I have contacted my friends in the UK and asked them. I will have an answer tomorrow. I am not willing to take this at face value. For one, where did she get this information? Two, why is there a sticker on it?

        I want more info.

      4. The Kraft mac and chz deluxe that I have in front of me now uses Paprika and Annatto for color, not dyes.

      1. How we you know it was imported from the US?? Nothing indicates that. Also it appears to just be a sticker and with the spelling error….

      2. We know it’s imported from the US because KRAFT is a US company…. duh.

      3. Duh? Not exactly a helpful response and very presumptive. Just because Kraft is headquartered in the US does not mean its branded products are only made in the US. Rather, Kraft also uses manufacturing facilities in a number of other countries (as do most ‘major’ brand producers). While the product pictured clearly states that it was imported to the UK and the re-labeling makes implicitly clear compliance with regulations in that jurisdiction, there is nothing here that definitively establishes the geographic origins of the product or its component parts.

      4. The fact still remains that Kraft does produce toxic food. Unfortunately a good percentage of the food from the supermarket has been altered in such a way that we do not know if it is truly natural or not. If the US doesn’t wake up we are headed for a lot of serious health issues. In general eating heavily processed foods is not a good idea!

  5. If it’s any consolation, the GM wheat they’re talking about is just Roundup Ready. It’s only been modified to resist herbicide application, so there’s nothing in the wheat that would (or could) harm a person. However, it may contain higher levels of herbicide, because this modification encourages farmers to spray more herbicides… but that’s true of ALL imported crops that come from countries with less regulation, not just GMOs. (In other words, the issue here isn’t necessarily the fact that the wheat is GMO, it’s the fact that it’s been imported from a country with lower safety standards).

    Why is Kraft using imported wheat? We export our wheat for sale to other countries. Are they importing it because it’s cheaper, as the countries WE export to won’t buy from the countries Kraft gets its wheat from?

    1. Can we still call them farmers ?? Maybe they should be called heavy equipment operators instead. Real Farmers take care of the soil for future crops, saving seeds ect. It just rubs the grain wrong to plant food crops where poison has been sprayed on the soil. That’s not including run off and killing of small animals that pollinate the crops….

    2. And how do you know it won’t harm a human? Round up causes cancer. Round up ready is a terrifying thing! Anything sprayed with a pesticide should die…those don’t.
      Please tell me how that is safe for human consumption?

      1. Because the GMO wheat doesn’t make its own RoundUp. It’s only created to resist the herbicide. There’s nothing in its genome that could possibly harm anyone (no more so than ordinary wheat). It’s not like BT corn, where a pesticide is being created by the plant. RoundUp Ready crops don’t create toxins, they just resist the herbicide.

        Do you honestly think they’re not spraying RoundUp all over the place near the conventional crops, too? They do. They use it to clear weeds before they plant, for non-GMO crops. So, this isn’t about RoundUp, it’s about the GMO itself.

        I think it’s vitally important that if you’re going to oppose something, you UNDERSTAND it. RoundUp is not a pesticide. It’s an herbicide. It kills plants, not animals. It’s not good for animals, either, but it’s designed to kill plants.

        By the time wheat is large enough to form seed heads, there’s no longer any reason to spray RoundUp near it. So, the amount of RoundUp contamination of the GMO wheat isn’t likely to be any higher than it is in normally bred wheat.

        If you want to call for banning RoundUp, I’m right there with you, but RoundUp and GMOs are separate issues. RoundUp Ready crops are bad because they encourage farmers to use RoundUp instead of other methods of weed control – not because they, themselves, are a hazard to human health.

      2. Not so Donna, any gmo plant or creation has a negative impact on the planet, people, animals enviroment in general! regardless of the pestisides! do some research on articles by joe cummins, professor emeritus genetics.

    3. Hi Donna, research now is conclusive that gmo food are highly harmful to our bodies. Gmo products may contain the same nutrients but the body cannot process them in the same way. It is not about what they are lacking but about what else is being delivered to us. GMO”s foods contain a genetic altering wild card. the genetic modification process does not stop with the food. Once it is in our body, researchers have now shown that miRNA from food can circulate in the human blood stream and may well turn genes off or on in the human body. I know i am horrified by the fact that our bodies now contain plant and insect genes. This is serious stuff! What we are talking about goes beyond pestisides. If you join the UK scientific site “isis.org” you will see many research articles including information on how genetically modified trees are killing off our wildlife. There are plenty of articles on farm animals with declining health due to this feed.

      This is why so many other countries ban GMO’s . It is time for us to wake up. Part of the reason we are so overweight in this country if because of these modified food products.

      Everyone please pass the word, we have to stop GMO’s

      1. I’m afraid you have misunderstood the research – probably with the help of someone who had an agenda. You see, normal foods do the same thing. Viruses and bacteria have been delivering RNA to us, and altering our genetics… always. It’s part of the evolutionary process. The mutations that occur that lead to evolutionary advances aren’t all the result of mutagenic chemicals or radiation. Some are the result of DNA and RNA transfer from other species, through the vectors of bacteria and viruses. A mosquito bite, and suddenly your genome is part maple tree. That’s just the way things are. All we’ve done with genetic engineering is, once more hijack and taken deliberate control over a natural process.

        Here: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vitamins-minerals-and-microrna

        You see, it’s not about GMOs. They aren’t special. All foods do the same thing, and they always have. This is why you need to be critical of everything you read, and do your own research.

      2. You have misunderstood the research. It’s not about GMOs at all. ALL foods transfer microRNA. They always have. In fact, so do viruses and bacteria. They deliver snippets of DNA and RNA from other species, right into our cells. Get bitten by a mosquito, and become part Maple Tree. It’s just the way things are! It’s part of the engine of evolution. Genetic changes don’t all come from mutagenic chemicals of radiation, they can cross over to us from different species.
        GMOs aren’t any different in this respect, sorry!

        This is why it’s so important to do your research yourself, and view everything with a very critical eye.

        http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=vitamins-minerals-and-microrna

      3. Donna thank you for taking an educated science based approach that isn’t selling some form of organic Riot…you can tell most of the comments are from people who read “articles” with data thats out of context and not scientific studies that provide the whole picture. I’m waiting for someone to say “Well Dr. Oz said so….lack of thorough research is just as dangerous as anything discussed hear. Thank you Donna!

      4. Thanks, Kevin. I do favor ‘organic’ pesticide and herbicide-free agriculture, because it’s proven to produce yields that are comparable, to inhibit soil erosion, and sequester carbon: solving many problems at once, and producing food that is more nutritious in the process (even if only slightly)! I would like to see more GMOs that put back the nutrition that’s been bred out of our food crops. It took hundreds of years to produce sweet-tasting but low-nutrient food crops. We can fix that, if we fix all of the problems that companies like Monsanto are creating with their money-grabbing, irresponsible activities. Imagine taking genes from a wild crop-ancestor, and putting them into a modern version, so the food crop produces the same level of nutrients that its ancestor did! This is what genetic engineering should be used for – fixing the problems created over time by selective breeding.

      5. Donna, thanks so much for your scientific responses. I have one thing to add though. Many non-organic farmers are now using zero-tillage methods of farming on our cropland. A pre-seeding herbicide application is used to kill the pre-emergent weeds, then the crop is seeded, using very narrow knives to cut through the soil and drill the seeds in using air. The stubble from previous years is left standing in the fields and eventually breaks down, building the soil organic matter content. The roots from the previous crops are still intact, inhibiting soil erosion and sequestering carbon. This method of farming has stopped the loss of topsoil that occurred last century (remember the stories of dust storms in the dirty thirties) and is now rebuilding the topsoil. In contrast, organic farmers cultivate and till the soil before planting to control the weeds, and seed their crops into loose soil. I agree there are positive and negative attributes to both systems, but there is room for both at the table. One other point; the term pesticide is a general term that includes herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

    4. False, many genetically engineered crops are cultivated using LESS herbicides and fungicides than conventional. Take India’s cotton production, GM crops have cut pesticide applications by 50%! This has had the impact of reducing the occurrences of pesticide poisoning by 2.4M (http://www.agwest.sk.ca/blog/2013/02/global-impacts-from-adoption-of-genetically-modified-crops/). While pesticide reduction is not always the case (GM crops require more or less pesticides depending on the variation) making a blanket statement that GM = more pesticide use is simply untrue. The organic that you all think is sooo much better for you uses many of the same compounds used in conventional farming that are on the “approved list”, often in higher dosages. To go beyond that, things like copper and sulfur are applied (at much higher rates than synthetic compounds) which are not good things to have accumulating in the soil.

      Another issue with your post is that you jump to the conclusion that Kraft imported the wheat, and that US companies import crap and ship out the good (BTW any importing nation has to match up to USDA standards). Below is a skeptical look at this non-story and some info about the pasted on label that the anti’s won’t disclose:

      http://doccamiryan.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/labels-and-other-krafty-stuff-mythbusting101-2/

      I personally know the scientist that writes this blog and recommend a read through some of her other posts, she may just wake up some of those who think they already have awoken.

      #6 in the original article is the likely case (you know, the one that is so much less appealing and dramatic than the rest and the one that Kraft has “confirmed either way” as babe demands), that or a retailer (yea that’s right, the retailer is the one with the responsibility to label imported foods in the EU, not the importer, and not Kraft) thought that GM wheat was being marketed in the US (see the updates on Cami’s blog for that one).

    5. Renee: Glyphosate has been found in human urine at higher than safe levels, and it’s entering our bodies through the food supply. This is due to the practice of spraying crops just before harvest, in order to kill them off. I was very disturbed to learn of this practice. It is correct that RoundUp-Ready crops are LESS likely to contain high levels of glyphosate after harvest, because of this practice! Monsanto has to be stopped.

      Organic producers are able to prevent soil erosion, build carbon and nutrients in the soil, and produce high yields, without using any pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Organic plots are more drought resistant than GMO drought-resistant crops in conventional plots. Monsanto’s money-grabbing forays into India have cost too many lives.

      Explain to me why we should allow Monsanto, and companies like it, to continue to sell products which damage the soil, wind up in our bodies at higher than safe levels, and put farmers into debt, when we have techniques that do none of these things, but produce the same yields?

    1. That’s a very important observation. Additionally, who would put a warning sticker over the nutrition facts on a box?

      1. Hi, I took the picture in my local Tesco. I not sure exactly why the labels started appearing but I know that any food containing GMO is illegal in the
        EU so I assume that the labels have been added in order to keep the products one the shelf.

  6. As much as I hate these companies feeding us wrong or even hidden ingredients, I’d like to ask – are all GMOs so harmful? Agreed natural stuff is definitely good. But why do you think all GMO-based products are bad? I just want to know – that’s all. In this context, why do you think GMO wheat is bad? I’d like to support the cause but I want to make an informed decision.

    1. I would start by reading Wheat Belly, while I don’t agree with everything in the book it is a good overview of what has happened in the wheat industry and why people are so intolerant now vs a hundred years ago.

    2. Why is GM’s bad and why is GM Wheat (or altered wheat) bad? Other than the wonderful resources on Food Babe’s sight and on 100 Days of Real Food, the Non-GMO site, etc, there is a link here that helps shed specific light on modified wheat. (see the video) http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505269_162-57505149/modern-wheat-a-perfect-chronic-poison-doctor-says/ I obtained the link from this site that you may be interested in seeing here: http://sustainableseedco.com/wheat/

      1. That article is about modern, conventionally bred wheat, NOT GM WHEAT. “Wheat is bad” isn’t news to everyone. There’s nothing about RoundUp Ready wheat that makes it WORSE… unless you spray RoundUp on it.

    3. Not all GMOs are bad. They have to be examined individually. Companies like Monsanto make bad GMOs, though. BT corn is of dubious safety. RoundUp Ready products encourage the use of toxic herbicides that destroy soil organisms. GM salmon can hybridize with and outcompete wild salmon, so if they escaped, could become a serious problem. The list goes on.

      The tragedy in this, is that people will wind up rejecting ALL GMOs because these horrible corporations gave them a bad name. In the end, we could lose so much because of this all or nothing attitude.

    4. Studies with mice , show third generations having major problems !! Do you want to be one of their lab rats ?? I don’t !! Shouldn’t we have the right to chose to be a lab rat or not !! It is mad science. These studies should be healed in a secure green houses. And labeled when interred in the food chain….Some say this is a way of controlling the population ??There is no way I would risk the safety of small children. Would it not be better to air on the side of caution ??

    5. If you know you have something GOOD for the public would you be trying to sneek it in or would you be advertising it with your picture and the cooperation making this wonderful product ????There is a reason for hiding stuff ! And the cooperation’s has spent millions to keep it hid. Many scientist and doctors and reporters have lost their jobs for blowing the whistle on big corp.

    6. Gmo’s have been linked with sterility in humans. I have heard that there are other insidious side effects that can be caused from gmo’s as well. I cannot give a list because I have not done extensive research on that particular subject. However, in moderation and minute amounts, most things are harmless and our immune systems are usually able to rid themselves of possible toxins. The problem is, gmo’s are not being consumed in small and moderate amounts because by products of gmo crops are used in so many of our “everyday” foods. So most people are consuming little bits in every meal, every day and are not aware of it. This is where our problem comes in. If the immune system is constantly bombarded with these toxins on top of pesticides, herbicides and over processed foods, it will slowly break down. That is where diseases come like type two diabetes, severe food allergies(which is basically a persons immune system in overdrive), autism, ADHD, cancers and more…….

      1. I have also heard little green men have pots of gold at the end of a rainbow…

      2. I heard Marilyn Manson is the guy who played Paul from the wonder years. I also heard that with facts a statement has no purpose…find the article and post it otherwise you just lost the right to post anything of value

  7. FED UP GRANNY AIN’T HAPPY!!!!! so sick of reading stories like this & feeling helpless..please..info on petitions or links to complain would be appreciated!! & thank you for posting this!!!

  8. How do you explain the spelling errors on the label? it’s MACARONI – this spelling error leaves me questioning the validity of this. Just saying …

    1. Great point!
      When I searched for the importer (Innovative Bites Ltd), the website americangrocery.co.uk came up as the official website. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is one of the products available on the official website.

  9. I will be traveling to Switzerland, Austria and Germany next month. It will be interesting to check out the food labels of common U.S. brands while I am there to see which of them list GMOs. I’m sure there are others, like Kraft, who also sell more natural products in Europe compared to the garbage they sell us here in the U.S. I definitely plan to do some label-reading while I am in the stores buying our hiking snacks!

    1. I’ll be in London in 2 weeks and will also be checking this. I have to say I am surprised this product would be imported, when there is a separate EU branded product available.

      Does anyone know where such an imported product would be available for purchase in the UK? I will check at Tescos, Marks & Spencers and other large grocery chains while I am there. I believe that product is branded Kraft Cheesey Pasta however, which leads me to think this would be found and some type of American import store.

      Also, the sticker over the label is common on imported foods. I see it a lot here in the US with foods at import stores, or larger grocery chains that have imported products from around the world.

      What leads me to think it is a fake is that this whole non approved GMO wheat thing in Oregon was just announced and for this to come next makes me think someone is trying to alarm the masses. Plus yes, the spelling error – might happen on things translated but from US to UK seems less likely.

    2. Do a web search on how to read the UPC codes. The first several numbers tell the country of origin of the product.

  10. Since this whole thing came out, i found a recipe for homemade mac and cheese and will never again buy packaged.

    There are so many things you can make yourself. Salad dressing is super easy–and IMO better tasting (which means you use less). Coffee creamer is something I recently started making. Omg. Way better. Cheaper and only takes me 3 minutes!

    Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten) has a recipe for marshmallows. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html Super easy.

    She has a recipe for ricotta cheese too. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-ricotta-recipe/index.html

  11. If its NOT organic, and its PROCESSED, its most likely gmo wheat/corn/etc used in the product -they are everywhere and I’m not surprised at all

    1. KINGS AND PONDS.. WE THOUGHT HITLER WAS A DEMON. HE IS SMALL POTATOES COMPARED TO WHAT BIG CORP HAS IN STORED FOR US.

  12. The entire US Govt as a whole is in it for THEMSELVES! Not “WE the People.” Its sad really. My wife and I have become much more aware of what we eat, put in our bodies, etc. We have begun to grow more of own own greens, herbs, etc. If the crooks in Washington wont work for us, then it falls on us as individuals. Thanks Food Babe for all of your hard work and intel!

  13. I have to admit I do not believe the truth in this article. Get the spelling right on the photoshop. Then it may be more believable. lol This product isn’t good for you anyway but I think it is just one thing to stir up the masses. That does not do anyone any good. Makes us all look like fools for following false/fake info.

    1. Good point, When I searched for the importer (Innovative Bites Ltd), the website americangrocery.co.uk came up as the official website. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is one of the products available on the official website.

      1. How is this information related to the spelling error?
        I agree, the validity of this entire claim should be questioned.

      2. The fact the picture wasn’t photo shopped. This box was shipped from UK after someone saw it in a UK store in their international section. Food Babe would NEVER use false information, only the truth.

    2. I inquired about the spelling – and that is what the manufacturer put on the label. I’ve verified this product directly with the store in the UK and they said the manufacturer is required to label products. I’m having my contact make a video of the products in the store tomorrow so I can post that as well to alleviate any doubts you might have. You can also contact TESCO at this number via Skype – like I did. +44 – 08456779546

      1. Does the box contain a UPC code? Those first numbers would tell us where the product was made. The spelling error really bugs me too!

      2. Are you SURE? I tried googling it with “macroni” spelling and came up with nill; Kraft doesn’t even call it “macaroni & cheese” there from what I saw! Call it “Cheesey Pasta”

  14. If you are not willing to boycott Kraft products then this whole thing on Facebook is a waste of time, all the signitures in the world mean nothing if those who sign are not willing to act. Kraft will not listen, or change, unless they know it will impact their profits.

  15. Hey FoodBabe, I’ve recently been only buying products from companies that support GMO labeling and banning the others. You have recommended Santa Cruz products as a good alternative but they are owned (last I checked) by Smucker’s who has given almost $400,000 to fight labeling of GMO’s. Just an FYI. Thanks for all you do, it is so very much appreciated.

    Silvia

    1. @Silvia – My wife and I have done the same. We found an app that seems to be pretty good so far, its called “buycott.” We scan bar codes at the market, etc and it will let you know of any campaign conflicts, the “family tree” (what the parent co is). Its an extra step for sure but has swayed our buying practices a few times thus far.

  16. Not that I don’t believe this, because I don’t trust Kraft at all, but how can we be sure this is real? I thought the UK had their own version of Mac ‘n Cheese from Kraft that didn’t have coloring/GMOs, so why would they be importing the US version to sell there?

    1. UK does have their own version, but this was bought in a special “international food section.” It’s definitely not readily available – only in this speciality store. I’ve verified this product directly with the store and they said the manufacturer is required to label products. I’m having my contact make a video of the products in the store tomorrow so I can post that as well to alleviate any doubts you might have. You can also contact TESCO at this number via Skype – like I did. +44 – 08456779546

  17. Ps. I love your blog, it is seriously changing my life. On this topic, I read the article and tried to find more information online. It seems like Monsanto was last testing this product in 2005 and then when it was not approved it should have been packed up and put away… now 8 years later its popping up in Oregon in wheat crops and the guy in the article was saying he didn’t think it was widespread??? How could it NOT be? If it wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place, it definitely came from somewhere. I feel like they are trying to make it seem like it just “blew” into the field and there was a tiny part of it infected ( I love how they didn’t give us an acre size or anything, or any information on the surrounding farms being tested etc) Makes you wonder if the USDA even plans on running any tests..

  18. Vani, you have buy Applegate instead of Oscar Meyer ….I agree but remember the carrageenan in Applegate? It’s in most of their deli meats and cause cancer……

    1. It’s certainly a better alternative – carrageenan is not in all of their products, for example organic bacon.

      1. Right, and also their ham doesn’t have it but their turkey and chicken does….just makes me mad and I told them about it too 🙂

      2. Organic prairie, wellshire (whole foods), and 365 also have products without carrageenan.

  19. I’m done with Kraft. Between food dyes and GMO’s, I’m making sure my kid never touches the stuff. Thanks for bringing this to light – I hope it prompts Kraft to respond to you.

    Quick question though: Has anyone tried to contact Innovative Bites? I presume they are the ones who printed the label, and may be able to answer questions about where they got the info about GMO wheat (and the misspellings – it’s consistently spelled wrong, perhaps that is the local convention?)

  20. This makes me so angry! They don’t give a crap about people! All they care about is the money that they are making! I stopped buying Kraft several months ago and I will continue to boycott them until they take these unacceptable ingredients out of their products!

  21. Thank you so much for the list of foods to avoid! I had no idea Kraft owned so many different labels. As I’m pushing through on this journey of buying only USDA Organic foods and Non GMO foods, I’ve fortunately cut most of Kraft out of my life. I love your blog and your suggestions for products and replacements! Yay for Food Babe!

  22. This is shocking and disgusting. Every now and again I still find myself having a bite or two of Kraft Mac and Cheese if it’s right in front of me, but I am trying my best to eliminate Kraft and only feed myself actual food.

    Thanks for your story!

  23. Hey y’all. I am surprised that several of you think Vani hasn’t done her homework-This IS the real deal!!! )And who cares if they don’t spell it right. It is the actual ingredients we care about, right??? not the packaging.) She researches everying!!! That is why I love her sight! I used to research the hound out of sites and once I found her site I don’t question it. Her thoughts and knowledge are right in line with all the other smart foodies out there!
    Look-news out from the Washington Post today (May 30, 2013) states “USDA says unapproved genetically engineered wheat discovered in Oregon field” Check out the link here
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/usda-says-unapproved-genetically-engineered-wheat-discovered-in-oregon-field/2013/05/30/2975da22-c902-11e2-9cd9-3b9a22a4000a_story.html
    Once the bad seed is out there apparently it is out there and who knows where it is at! The NON-GMO site has already replied to this issues as well. You can read it here. http://www.nongmoproject.org/2013/05/29/non-gmo-project-responds-to-usda-announcement-of-gmo-wheat-contamination-in-oregon/
    So, please if you question it, that’s fine-but know she does do her research!!! THANKS SO MUCH VANI for keeping us all in check and sharing your knowledge with us all!!!!!

    1. “Who cares if they don’t spell it right”???
      It’s a serious red flag — don’t blindly believe everything you read.

      1. I asked about the spelling and that is what it states – whether right or wrong. I’ve verified this product directly with the store and they said the manufacturer is required to label products. I’m having my contact make a video of the products in the store tomorrow so I can post that as well to alleviate any doubts you might have. You can also contact TESCO at this number via Skype – like I did. +44 – 08456779546

  24. I have a question. Do big companies like Kraft also create the cheaper store brand of products? I know most store brands are not organic (though there are some store brand organics popping up), but just wondered if, say, the grocery store brand of Grey Poupon would in any way profit Kraft, or if it is a separate entity all together that needs to be researched separately, as far as safety is concerned.

    1. The answer is yes. I used to work for a food marketing company and most companies do produce the “knock off” or store brands as well.

  25. Sick, sick and sick.. My mom lives in England she told me about the warning label on some of these foods.. Thank you Vani, for the wonderful job you’re doing, I trust you more than I trust these “scientists” that declare GMO food is healty..

    I am really curious though, what if Kraft wanted to pay you off so you can shut up lol, I know they’ve done that before and their critics, I pray you tell them to shove it lol..

    May Go bless you and protect you.

  26. Great post Vani! It’s truly unbelievable, how do they sleep at night? And the “Back to Nature” brand is the most infuriating on the list. The whole brand–all the food giants– should be called Disgrace to Nature.

  27. This is so disturbing on so many levels. I had read earlier today about the GMO wheat but to find out that it is actually being used (apparently knowingly) by a company is unbelievable.

    I am glad that I came across your blog this week as I am going totally vegan and trying my best to do all non-GMO and organic products (food, cleaning supplies, personal supplies). Thank you so much for this information.

  28. While I would like to believe that this is true — it would give us some really powerful ammunition — I have my doubts. Before I’m willing to share this, I need further evidence that this is real. I suspect it’s a lie.

    I’ve asked a contact in UK to verify it for me. Unfortunately, it might be a while before I get a response. 🙁

    We have enough real information to fight this fight. We don’t need lies that make us less credible.

    1. Bonnie – I’ve verified this product directly with the store in the UK and they said the manufacturer is required to label products. I’m having my contact make a video of the products in the store tomorrow so I can post that as well to alleviate any doubts you might have. You can also contact TESCO at this number via Skype – like I did. +44 – 08456779546

  29. I appreciate all the work that Vani does and hope the following items can be explored as well as they are necessities even for persons who purchase very little packaged processed food and household items and just buy raw organic ingredients and try to grow their own organic foods:

    toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels, baking soda, white distilled vinegar, laundry products from a health food store, bottled spring and distilled water.

  30. Wow, thank you for posting my pic, wasn’t sure if you received it! For those who think the pic is photoshopped, it wasn’t; I am an American living in the UK. I snapped this photo because as an American it’s nice to see food from my childhood on the supermarket shelves over here but since reading Foodbabe’s articles I was wondering if it was actually a good thing. Kraft mac and cheese was one of the few items that looked differently imported and these labels have appeared in the past few months. They are completely real, just like all the European protests against Monsanto. Look, signing this comment with my real name. Thank you FoodBabe!

    Fera

    1. Actually this picture is from a lovely lady named Flo – but I did receive your picture as well. Thank you for sharing it with me and I appreciate your work!

  31. years ago i started making my own mac and cheese with all natural organics like real cheese and read macaroni made from all normal natural products. yea i read this back 10 years ago now and i tasted that CRAP and thats what it is CRAP, its DISGUSTING tasting CRAP and who in their right minds eat CRAP when you c an eat natural flavoring and normal produced macaroni and even Spagetti for that matter ! everyones trying to get off on the cheap and sell us out as americans. If an american company cant make healthy foods for its americans then we dont need to buy anything from them

  32. years ago i started making my own mac and cheese with all natural organics like real cheese and read macaroni made from all normal natural products. yea i read this back 10 years ago now and i tasted that CRAP and that’s what it is CRAP, its DISGUSTING tasting CRAP and who in their right minds eat CRAP when you c an eat natural flavoring and normal produced macaroni and even Spaghetti for that matter ! everyone’s trying to get off on the cheap and sell us out as Americans. If an American company cant make healthy foods for its Americans then we don’t need to buy anything from them

    1. This is, in an odd way, great news. Thanks for sharing Paul. I am never one to wish harshness on the USA economy (Im from/live in Los Angeles) but maybe if this happens a bit more regularly our President might think twice about signing the H.R. 933 (monsanto) bill. Hit them ALL where it hurts. We can all do this people

  33. How freaking easy is it for those of us AWARE and not SHEEP to just avoid buying their processed poisons? Look at that list of “food” they sell, and just avoid each and every one. Learn to eat healthy food, make informed choices, and grow what you can. And, if you can’t grow some fruits or vegetables, buy organic and stop going to the movies or buying useless crap and buy wholesome stuff for your body. I work in the funeral business and I can tell you, personally, when you’ve seen what that Kraft food crap does to the human system – or fast foods or so many other unhealthy foods and beverages in the store – you’d stop cold in your tracks. Kraft produces s h i t for human consumption. Just avoid it and tell your friends. And, you know what, if your friends think you are over-board on this issue, avoid those friends. They are on their way to an early grave anyway. Also, and I know you will hate this suggestion: stop using cell phones. For God’s sake, don’t you people understand what you are doing to your brains? I can’t tell you how many go in the ground due to cell phones every year, but it sure is A LOT of people. I have never owned a cell phone and I never will. You want good health, read a book by the Bragg family who make Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar and start adding ACV to your diet every day. The health benefits will astound you, as will what it can do for your libido….. nuff said. Live well and eschew garbage like anything made by the Kraft Family of Death Products. IN a few simple words: FOOK OFF, KRAFT! ANd, Tony Vernon, we all pray you die of cancer this year. Fook you, death man!

  34. We quit buying Kraft Macaroni and Cheese 3-4 years ago because everytime we made it it tasted like the box. I complained to Kraft and they said they have no control over the storage once the stores receive it in their warehouses. They suggested I buy it at some other store which I did and had the same problem. Don’t know if the GMO has anything to do with the taste. We just make homemade now even though it takes a little longer.

  35. This is just awful. I no longer purchase Krap…er…Kraft products anymore, but I know most people do. Thanks so much for all you do in bringing this to our attention. I’ll be spreading this on social media.

  36. Its funny cause I just read your list of what to avoid, I don’t buy anything of theirs already. I never realized it.
    So that is what I don’t buy. I used to buy their magazine just to get ideas for my suppers but I realized they don’t give me any ideas anymore so gave them up too. There are many things people can buy, you showed many good ideas for something else. What a treat you are to do all this work for us and your self. Keep it up! We will always try to stop them too.

  37. I hate to break this news to you but the USDA doesn’t give a crap about the people in the US they only care about big business and they are the ones who helped draft the Monsanto bill in the US, which in a nutshell gives Monsanto the right to do anything they want and nobody can sue them, they are the big company responsible for GMO crops in the US and most of the Senators and Reps voted in favor of stopping states to label GMO’s in food, go to Natural Society and you can see if your Senators and Reps voted for this because Monsanto payed them off, it’s about time people in the US stand up for their health because nobody else is, certainly not our government.

  38. I know you do a lot of good for the non-GMO movement, but you are making a fool of yourself with this post. That label says nothing about GMO wheat. It says “gluten from wheat”. All wheat, whether GMO or not, contains gluten and this apparently has to be included on the allergen section of the label in the UK. But this does not make the wheat genetically modified. There is no genetically modified wheat that has been submitted for approval to be sold and grown anywhere in the world. If Kraft was using illegal GMO wheat in their product, I am sure they would not announce it on their label. This kind of post makes the whole non-GMO movement look bad, and just reinforces the statements from the GMO people that we are a buch of poorly informed zealots. I am totally committed to the non-GMO movement and own a food store that is removing and labeling GMOs, but I am just as committed to being factual. We can win this battle with facts. We cannot win it with unfactual sensationalism.

    1. I have to appologize for my above post! I am the one who didn’t read it right. I went back and looked at the label again and saw the “contains GMO wheat’ statement. Since there is no approved GMO wheat anywhere in the world, the only thing that makes any sense to me is that they are putting that on their label to cover themselves in case some unintentional GMO contamination is found in their wheat. Sorry for my error.

      1. If that were the case, “this product MAY contain GMO’s ” would have been the only thing they could possibly say (and that would still have been technically wrong). The fact that it definitively states that it is MADE from GMO wheat gives it away. I would bet this is a false flag, in which case it will come out and backfire.

  39. This “label” looks suspicious to me. Notwithstanding today’s news from Oregon, there has NEVER been any GM wheat commercially grown anywhere. So why would Kraft directly say their product is made from GM wheat?? It couldn’t be. There is more to this than meets the eye.

  40. So scary; makes you wonder how many other corporations are doing the same… how much of our wheat is GMO???

    1. Sam, none of the wheat had better be GMO since there is no GMO wheat approved to be grown anywhere in the world. Trials have been done in various countries, but it did not get registered anywhere.

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