A report finding hazardous chemicals in boxed macaroni and cheese may have alarmed fans of the inexpensive and convenient meal, but food safety lawyers say any litigation over the issue faces formidable challenges.

The envelope of powdered cheese flavoring in macaroni and cheese has high concentrations of phthalates, a class of chemicals that have been linked to health risks when consumed by pregnant women and young children, according to test results issued in June by a group called the Coalition for Safer Food Processing and Packaging. Phthalates are not added as an ingredient but are believed to migrate into food through contact with plastic processing equipment and packaging.

Exposure to phthalates in pregnant women appears to block production of testosterone in the developing male fetus, raising the risk of malformed reproductive organs as well as infertility, low sperm counts, and a heightened risk of testicular cancer, according to a July 12 New York Times article on the study. Exposure to phthalates in early childhood can cause aggression, hyperactivity and cognitive delays, the Times article said.