Are we responsible for what we buy?

Before I get into the bulk of this post I want to make one small complaint. You know that handy little not on the top of a Mac and Cheese box that says something to the effect of, “To open push on the side flap and tear back?” Well, IT NEVER WORKS!!! I usually end up with a sore finger and some choice words. What the heck!? Anyway, on to the issue.

Earlier I said I want to examine what goes into my kids’ food. Well, I’m starting with a unanimous favorite in my home: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Here is a list of the ingredients:

• Enriched Macaroni Product (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate [iron], thiamin mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid)
• Cheese Sauce Mix (whey, milkfat, milk protein concentrate, salt, sodium tripolyphosphate (???), contains less then 2% of citric acid, lactic acid, sodium phosphate, calcium phosphate, milk, yellow 5, yellow 6, enzymes (which ones?), cheese culture)

In reading this, I have a whole bunch of questions:

1. Where do all these long-named ingredients come from?
2. I can’t pronounce a third of them, why am I eating the stuff, let alone allowing my kids to eat it?
3. Why does it matter if something contains less then 2% of citric acid, and 2% of what precisely?

Trying to answer these questions, and others that might come up, I will start from the top: Wheat Flour