Lab Tests Find Cadmium in Boxed Mac & Cheese Brands: Full Results
Independent laboratory testing published by Lead Safe Mama, LLC in August and September 2024 found cadmium in three boxed macaroni and cheese products: Annie's Macaroni & Classic Cheddar, Kraft Mac & Cheese Original Flavor, and Goodles Shella Good Aged White Cheddar and Shells. The Goodles sample also contained lead. Every detected level exceeds the thresholds proposed for children's food in the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. This article reports the published numbers and background on the testing organization.
Key Takeaways
- Lab testing found cadmium in all three products: 28 µg/kg in Annie's, 7.32 µg/kg in Kraft, and 29 µg/kg in Goodles.
- The Goodles sample also tested positive for lead at 5 µg/kg.
- All results exceed limits proposed in the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021.
- Lead Safe Mama's repeated findings in US wheat products point to soil contamination rather than a single manufacturer's process.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about heavy metal exposure, contact a qualified healthcare provider.
About These Metals
Evidence: peer-reviewed toxicology literature.
Cadmium is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 human carcinogen. Its biological half-life in the kidneys is measured in decades. Lead is stored in bone, where it substitutes for calcium, and inorganic lead compounds are classified as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans.1 Neither metal has a biological function in the human body. The slow clearance of both is the reason proposed limits for children's food are set as low as they are, and the reason repeated small exposures accumulate.
Source: Lead Safe Mama
Independent Lab Results
Evidence: consumer product testing published by Lead Safe Mama.
The results below come from laboratory testing commissioned and published by Lead Safe Mama, LLC. Each sample was the dry boxed product. Adding milk and butter free of cadmium would dilute the concentration in the prepared dish somewhat, though it would not change the amount in the pasta and cheese powder themselves.
Annie's Macaroni & Classic Cheddar
Testing found cadmium at 28 µg/kg, above the thresholds proposed for children's food in the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. Cadmium was the only heavy metal detected in this sample. The pasta in this product is organic, which speaks to pesticide practices rather than soil metal content.2
Kraft Mac & Cheese, Original Flavor
Testing found cadmium at 7.32 µg/kg, the lowest of the three products but still above the proposed thresholds. Lead and mercury were not detected in this sample.3
Goodles Shella Good Aged White Cheddar and Shells
Testing found cadmium at 29 µg/kg and lead at 5 µg/kg, both above the proposed limits. This was the only product of the three with detectable lead.4
Source: Lead Safe Mama
Source: Lead Safe Mama
About the Testing Organization
Lead Safe Mama, LLC was founded by Tamara Rubin, an independent advocate focused on childhood lead poisoning prevention. The organization tests consumer goods, publishes full results, and has prompted several product recalls. Its testing of US-grown wheat products has repeatedly turned up cadmium, which points to soil contamination as the likely route rather than any single manufacturer's process. Each report linked below includes the laboratory documentation for that product.
More reporting on food safety and contaminant testing is in the articles archive.
Sources
- Tchounwou PB, Yedjou CG, Patlolla AK, Sutton DJ. Heavy metal toxicity and the environment. EXS. 2012;101:133-164. ↩
- Lead Safe Mama, LLC. Annie's Macaroni & Classic Cheddar lab report, August 2024. ↩
- Lead Safe Mama, LLC. Kraft Mac & Cheese Original Flavor lab report, September 2024. ↩
- Lead Safe Mama, LLC. Goodles Shella Good Aged White Cheddar and Shells lab report, August 2024. ↩
