Food Dyes

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with eliminating food dyes from their child's diet and if so, what has improved? What happens when they are exposed like during family holidays etc? Thanks

[Anonymous]

I know a few people where they said it was an issue. We limit them.

[Anonymous]

We limit, but haven't eliminated. Anecdotally, I would say that food dyes (esp. red dye) make my DS8 very hyper and impulsive, and it can last for days until it's out of his system.

I have no science to back this up, but after an extremely bad red licorice incident, I haven't permitted red dye for several years.

I would say the "licorice" incident had a lot to do with the quantity-- I wasn't attending, and he ate the entire package at the movies. Given that I haven't seen any issue with other dyes, I would say that he's sensitive (not allergic) to red dye, and the dose made the poison.

[Anonymous]

I was allergic to them as a kid so have kept them to an extreme minimum with my own kids. Feingold diet.

It's not too hard to stay away from dyes.

[Anonymous]

Blue dye is our nemesis. There are two kinds of blue dyes, and they both -- but to a different degree -- mess up with my DD's mind. Not so much my son, just my daughter. After a few bites of cotton candy, or blue slurpee or anything blue, she becomes whiny, cries from everything and things go downhill fast. This has been going on for a long time, and at 9, she seems to be doing better. The other thing I'm after is artificial flavorings, which create the same situation. At least the ones found in the cheap candy. I cannot tell you how many times I've been called excessive and crazy. But the reality of the reaction is swift and overwhelming.

So for us, no dyes in general. And a one time deal is only fine if we're willing to accept the consequences.

Google blue food dye to verify that I'm not a lunatic.

[Anonymous]

Amalah.com has written about this with her son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blue dye is our nemesis. There are two kinds of blue dyes, and they both -- but to a different degree -- mess up with my DD's mind. Not so much my son, just my daughter. After a few bites of cotton candy, or blue slurpee or anything blue, she becomes whiny, cries from everything and things go downhill fast. This has been going on for a long time, and at 9, she seems to be doing better. The other thing I'm after is artificial flavorings, which create the same situation. At least the ones found in the cheap candy. I cannot tell you how many times I've been called excessive and crazy. But the reality of the reaction is swift and overwhelming.

So for us, no dyes in general. And a one time deal is only fine if we're willing to accept the consequences.

Google blue food dye to verify that I'm not a lunatic.

I'm the person who posted above you. Just want to say for me it was all heavy dyes. I grew out of it in my mid to late 20's. I remember in my early/mid 20's screaming at my mother on the phone and then saying to her "I'm out of control, I have to go" and I KNEW I was totally in the wrong but couldn't stop. That same day I wrote notes about something. Later I went back to check the notes and literally couldn't figure out what I'd written. I mentally reviewed what I'd eaten and it turned out - Reeses Pieces. For some weird reason any color of M&Ms were fine, but for years I stayed away from Reeses Pieces. Same thing with those bright orange "cheese crackers with peanut butter."

When I get cake, I never eat the colored icing. If I know I'm going to eat a lot of sugar, I protein-load first. As your DD gets older she will get better about wanting to avoid things that set her off, and at the same time, will want to try the trigger foods to see if she can handle them. It may help to let her do that once or twice a year, when she won't have school for a week or so.

[Anonymous]

PP, thanks for posting. I feel like saving this for DD to read in a few years... or sooner.. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Not me, but my brother had a problem with Sprees candy as a kid. They made him break out in hives. Nothing was more brightly colored!

[Anonymous]

My son broke out in hives at about 6 months. It was from infant Tylenol -- very easy to identify the culprit because he hadn't started eating solids. After trying dye-free Tylenol, we found that it was the dye in Tylenol, not acetaminophen. Fast forward a year and red dye gives him a rash. Fast forward 2 years and accidental red dye consumption makes him act hyper, but no longer a physical reaction. The behavioral reaction is definitely real though.