Patrick Oconnell
Kraft Dinner, known as Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, is a packaged macaroni and cheese mix. It was introduced in 1937 and has since become a beloved staple in many households. While the product has undergone changes over the years, such as the removal of artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives, it remains a popular and convenient meal option for people of all ages. In this article, we will delve into the history of Kraft Dinner and explore the ingredients that make up its iconic cheese sauce.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year introduced | 1937 |
| Inventor | James Lewis Kraft |
| Parent company | Kraft Foods Group (or former parent company Mondelez internationally) |
| Ingredients | Dried macaroni pasta, processed cheese powder, spices, paprika, annatto, turmeric |
| Packaging | Cardboard box |
| Countries sold | Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, the UK |
| Names | Kraft Dinner (Canada), Kraft Mac & Cheese (US, Australia, New Zealand), Mac and Cheese (UK) |
| Number of boxes sold globally each week | 7 million |
| Number of boxes sold in Canada each week | 1.7 million |
| Number of boxes sold in 1937 | 9 million |
| Number of boxes sold in 1943 | 50 million |
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What You'll Learn
Kraft Dinner's cheese powder
Kraft Dinner, or KD, is a nonperishable, packaged macaroni and cheese mix. It was introduced in Canada and the United States in 1937 and has since become a popular comfort food, especially in Canada, where it is often considered a national dish.
The iconic blue box typically contains dried macaroni pasta and a packet of processed cheese powder. In 2015, Kraft announced that it would be removing all artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives from its products, including the boxed mac and cheese. This change was in response to growing consumer demand for more natural foods and criticism over the company's use of artificial dyes.
The cheese powder in Kraft Dinner is made with a blend of spices and ingredients from Canada and the United States. While the exact recipe is not known, the powder is designed to melt into a creamy cheese sauce when mixed with boiled pasta and a small amount of butter. Some recipes also call for the addition of milk, cream, or extra cheese for a more decadent dish.
In 2018, Kraft-Heinz introduced the KD Shaker, a plastic bottle of Kraft Mac and Cheese Dinner's powdered cheese. This product allows consumers to use the cheese powder as they wish, without having to purchase the boxed pasta. The KD Shaker is similar to shelf-stable Parmesan cheese powder bottles.
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Natural ingredients
In 2015, Kraft announced that it would be eliminating the use of all artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives in its entire line of products, including boxed mac and cheese. This was in response to growing consumer demand for more natural foods. The company replaced synthetic dyes with natural ingredients like paprika, annatto, and turmeric for colouring.
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, also known as Kraft Dinner (KD) in Canada, is a packaged macaroni and cheese mix that has been a popular convenience food since its debut in 1937. The product is traditionally boxed with dried macaroni pasta and a packet of processed cheese powder. While the original recipe included artificial ingredients, Kraft has made strides to remove these and offer more natural alternatives.
The iconic blue box has become a national treasure in the United States, with around a million boxes sold daily. In Canada, where it is known as Kraft Dinner or KD, it is even more popular, with Canadians consuming 55% more boxes per capita than Americans. The product has become an iconic staple in Canadian culture and is often referred to as the country's true national dish.
Kraft has also introduced variations of its classic product, including Kraft Dinner Smart (KD Smart), a healthy sub-brand that offers macaroni and cheese products with no artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives. This line includes added ingredients such as cauliflower, oats, or flax seeds blended into the noodles, along with real Kraft cheddar. Organic and whole-grain versions are also available, providing consumers with more natural and nutritious options.
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No preservatives
In 2015, Kraft announced that it would be eliminating the use of all artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives in its entire line of products, including boxed mac and cheese. This change was made in response to growing consumer demand for more natural foods and criticism of the company's use of artificial dyes.
Prior to this announcement, Kraft had already started to phase out artificial preservatives from its products. In November 2013, the company announced that new pasta shape varieties for children in the US would no longer include Yellow 5 and Yellow 6, and that the sodium and saturated fat content would be reduced. These changes were then extended to the rest of the product line, with the removal of artificial preservatives being implemented across all products after January 2016.
Kraft's decision to remove artificial preservatives and dyes was met with some concern from consumers, who feared that the iconic Kraft Macaroni & Cheese flavour would be altered. However, the company conducted what it called "the world's largest blind taste test" and claimed that people did not notice a difference in taste or appearance.
Today, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is made with a blend of spices and natural ingredients to achieve the same taste and look that consumers know and love. The product is also available in a variety of formulations, including organic and whole-grain options, as well as a healthy sub-brand called Kraft Dinner Smart (KD Smart), which offers macaroni and cheese products with no artificial preservatives, colours, or flavours and added ingredients like cauliflower, oats, or flax seed.
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Canadian wheat and milk
Kraft Dinner, or KD as it is known in Canada, is a nonperishable, packaged macaroni and cheese mix. It was introduced in Canada and the US in 1937 and has since become a national dish in Canada. Canadians purchase 1.7 million of the 7 million boxes sold globally each week and eat an average of 3.2 boxes of Kraft Dinner each year—55% more than Americans. Kraft Dinner is the most popular grocery item in the country and has become a generic trademark of sorts for macaroni and cheese.
Kraft Dinner is packaged in Quebec with Canadian wheat and milk, along with other ingredients from Canada and the US. Wheat is the common name for members of the genus Triticum of the grass family and is among the three most produced cereals in the world, along with corn and rice. Canada is the world's sixth-largest producer and one of the largest exporters of wheat, producing an average of over 25 million tonnes and exporting around 15-20 million tonnes. Canadian wheat is recognised for its quality, versatility, milling characteristics, and superior performance in finished food products.
The majority of wheat is grown on the Prairies, but wheat fields can also be found in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Canada is the world's leading exporter of Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheat, grown only in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. In Western Canada, the most predominant wheat varieties are Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD), while in Eastern Canada, the most common varieties are Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter (CESRW) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR).
Canadian wheat has a unique classification system, with ten wheat classes grown in Western Canada and seven in Eastern Canada. The history of Canadian wheat is a success story, characterised by resourcefulness, adaptation, research, innovation, and stewardship. The first variety grown in Canada was Marquis, which was distributed to farmers in the spring of 1909. This variety quickly became popular due to its fast maturation, excellent yield, and superior milling and baking qualities compared to European varieties.
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Kraft Dinner Smart
Kraft Dinner, or KD, as it is known in Canada, is a nonperishable, packaged macaroni and cheese mix. It was introduced in Canada and the US in 1937 and has since become a staple in many households, particularly in Canada, where it is the most popular grocery item.
In 2010, Kraft Dinner Smart (KD Smart) was launched as a healthy sub-brand of the Kraft Dinner brand. This line of Kraft macaroni and cheese products contains no artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives and includes added ingredients such as vegetables, cauliflower, oats, or flax seeds blended into the noodles. The product is made with real Kraft cheddar and is manufactured in Mount Royal, Quebec.
The introduction of Kraft Dinner Smart was part of Kraft's efforts to respond to consumer feedback and demand for more natural and healthy food options. In 2013, the company announced that it would be removing artificial dyes from its pasta shapes for children in the US, and by 2015, this change was extended to the entire line of products, including the elimination of artificial preservatives. Instead of synthetic dyes, Kraft started using spices and natural colourings like paprika, annatto, and turmeric.
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Frequently asked questions
Kraft Dinner Cheese is made from a blend of spices, wheat, and milk. The boxed macaroni and cheese was first introduced in 1937 and has become a national treasure in the US and Canada.
Kraft Dinner (KD) is the name of the product in Canada, while in the US, Australia, and New Zealand, it is called Kraft Mac & Cheese. The product is also known as "macaroni cheese" or "cheesy pasta" in the UK and internationally.
The ingredients in Kraft Mac & Cheese include dried macaroni pasta and a packet of processed cheese powder. In 2015, Kraft removed artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives from the product and replaced them with spices.
To make Kraft Mac & Cheese, boil water, cook and drain the noodles, stir together the sauce, and combine everything. Some people like to add extra ingredients such as cream, butter, or additional cheese.
