Red dye (also known as FD&C Red 40) has been in the news over the years as researchers explore a possible link between food coloring and hyperactivity in children. While the FDA reviews research data to determine whether there is a link, the jury is still, decidedly, out. Food dye manufacturers are predictably pushing back against possible government bans or restrictions on artificial food colorings and the general public is split as to whether or not the government should meddle with some of the colorful foods we know and love.
While I don’t want to involve myself in the politics of all this, I do want to come out firmly in support of the many parents who believe that Red 40, and perhaps other artificial dyes, cause a reaction in their children. For what it’s worth, I believe you.
Avoiding Red 40 has been a way of life for my family since my sister was very young and my parents realized that the dye made her very ill every time she ingested it. It took a long time to make the connection between the symptoms and the culprit, and even longer to get an official diagnosis. Hyperactivity would seem a relatively minor side effect compared to the migraine headaches, vomiting and hives that she has contended with. It is now second nature for me to read food labels, and I am careful to serve up only red dye-free fare when my sister is visiting. I try to do so most of the time for my own family as well, even though we have no apparent sensitivities to food coloring.
Some foods were obviously out of the question, like red Jell-O, red or pink candies, dyed cake frosting, etc. But other times, Red 40 appeared on labels where we really wouldn’t expect it: certain hot dogs, barbecue sauce, some “natural” fruit juices, many items that weren’t even red in color. I don’t know of any home cooks who whip out little bottles of food coloring to make their homemade meals look more appealing. Why does a bottle of barbecue sauce contain Red 40 while a bottle full of bright red ketchup does not? Though it’s easy to read labels when you’re cooking for yourself or your family, eating at someone else’s house, school, or a restaurant is something of a risk. Dye-containing foods are not always obvious.
Medicines are another problem. Fortunately some manufacturers are starting to market dye-free cough syrups and children’s pain relievers, but the selection is slim. Tiny red lettering on a pill is enough to make my sister sick–she needs to scrape it off before she can take the medicine. Granted I am not a pharmacist, chemist or doctor, but I don’t see any reason why the commonly prescribed amoxicillin and other medicines need to contain Red 40 in order to perform their function. Parents can choose not to serve artificially colored foods to their kids, but their options are limited when it comes to medication.
Many parents suspect that food dyes are causing reactions in their children, whether hyperactivity or more serious side effects. And many of those parents have to push for their doctors to explore the possibility of a dye allergy because the idea is too easily dismissed. I know several moms who believe that Red 40 makes their children hyperactive, and I believe them. If a tiny amount of artificial food coloring can cause such a strong reaction in my sister and others like her, then surely it isn’t beyond reason that it can cause milder problems for a wider swath of people.
Although I have certainly enjoyed my fair share of artificially colored treats over the years and will continue to do so occasionally, as soon as I saw my baby’s perfect little body I knew that I wanted to keep his diet as natural as possible. I hope that manufacturers will take the initiative in helping parents serve up healthier food for their families, seeking alternative food colorings or doing away with them altogether when possible. I hope that health officials and the public will be less dismissive of parents who see a possible link between artificial dyes and their children’s behavior. I hope that more parents will explore the ways in which diet impacts their children’s health and behavior. I think there’s still a lot that we don’t know.
It’s the medicines that annoy me more than anything. Why in God’s name does amoxicillin have to be pink? Do they think the kids won’t take it if it’s white? I had to switch Andrew to Cefdinir (AMA Omnicef) because of it. It’s a stronger antibiotic, which has rendered amoxicillin basically useless for him now, even if we could find a dye-free version. 🙁 same with Tylenol, and many other over-the-counter brands. Children’s Advil can only readily be found in red. And many that aren’t red at all, like grape-flavored stuff, has the red 40 in it anyway!
That’s what makes me mad too, Jody. There is just no reason for it. I was reading up on artificial food coloring and found that it has an interesting history. The previous red dye that was used before Red 40 was actually banned as a carcinogen. Red 40 itself is banned in several European countries. Although the food dyes we use now are deemed “safe”, the amounts that can be used in food are strictly regulated. I wish the government would outlaw its use in medicine altogether.
I do believe that my oldest son (6) is sensitive to food dyes and additives. He has done much better since I started to feed him a more “paleo” diet (even though I myself am a vegan).
Thanks for your comment! I’m glad your son is doing better with the changes you’ve made. I think minimizing artificial ingredients would make a difference for a lot of kids.
just thought I would share this tidbid…Jackie dog used to get arthritic sypmtoms when dad would try to save on dog food and get a colorful variety (red,green,orange etc)…I would switch him back to dad’s with little bites (jacks favorite) and he would be much better…I had to ask dad not to get the colorful food…dad said that Jack liked it but I had him observe the difference in Jack when not eating the colored variety…I did not think that it was just a coincidence…
Good point – animals can be just as sensitive, if not moreso, to ingredients that humans have a problem with.
Hi! Just found your site through a swagbucks search:) Love it! My sister had a red dye allergy when we were growing up. My dad suspected it and cut it out of her diet and her behavior changes drastically. Scary stuff! Love the site, I’m your newest follower!
Thank you for following, Shannon! 🙂
We have recently had major problems with my daughter’s allergies lately, including hives, swelling, behavior differences, gastro-intestinal problems and asthma complications… and weren’t quite sure as of the cause. We got her tested, and from the basic allergy test, her main triggers are dogs, cats, and every single type of grass. The past week, she’s “randomly” thrown up twice: once after chugging a water bottle flavored with grape drink mix, and most recently with lemonade that had a tiny bit of Hi-C fruit punch in it. More and more, I’m thinking it may be reactions to red dye… We’re going back to her allergist in a couple of weeks to discuss how she’s been doing, and I’m definitely going to bring this up. Thanks for your post. 🙂
I’m sorry she’s having so much trouble, but hopefully you get some answers from the allergist. It does sound like the dye could be a problem for her. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve always wondered if I was sensitive to red (and yellow) dye because every time I took a 600mg (the dark red one) Advil I would get a massive headache and throw up. (Ironically I took it because I had a headache but that Advil made it worse). I’m still not sure if the red color was the cause because I don’t get the same reaction with Advil cold and sinus liquid gels but I do get it with other dark red food (like red hot dogs).
My sister reacts to even tiny red lettering stamped on pills.
I went through 15 years of being extremely Iodine sensitive due to a Thyroid disorder (Hashimoto). Red dye was at the top of the list of foods to avoid because it’s extremely high in Iodine. Immediately after eating food that contained red dye I could feel my body go into hyperthyroid mode. Apparently, while your thyroid is dying off some people become sensitive to foods that contain Iodine. Now that my Thyroid is completely dead and not functional at all, I can eat foods that contain Iodine, but I still prefer to stay away from red dye.
Also, when my kids were young I could always tell if they had eaten candy with red dye because they would be bouncing off the walls. They have both been diagnosed with Thyroid disorders so it makes you wonder if sensitivity to Iodine/red dye has a connection to dysfunctional Thyroids.
That is VERY interesting! I never thought of that connection. I have hypothyroidism, though apparently not Hashi’s. I will have to pay attention and see if I notice any impact from red dye.
Thank you for this article.. my son has a suspected case of PANDAS.. started having facial tics following a (treated with dye-free amoxicillin).. strep infection. He had to go back on antibiotics for a few weeks, and the children’s penicillin came in 2 huge jugs of BRIGHT red syrup! I was flabbergasted.. called pharmacist to switch it & was informed this was the only form the syrup came in! I can’t find an ingredient list anywhere, but assumingbitsbalso made with High Fructose Corn Syrup! Why?? I’m going to write to the company that makes this and voice my concerns.. it’s unaccwptable that any child would consume this, let alone one that is sick and fighting something off. Ugh. I switched him to the tablets & crush them into elderberry syrup. Red 40 needs to be BANNED!
My family has a huge history of ADD and ADHD (8 1st cousins and 1 sibling have it) when my niece was little having some issue we found research on Red Dye 40 sensitivity being more prevalent in families with those conditions. Fast forward to my son being born and my husband and I could not figure out why our son would go into fits of rage for no reason. Complete melt downs over the smallest things and just down right mean to those around him. I remembered the dye issue and we cut it from his diet. Those episode completely stopped. He only has them when he accidentally eats something with Red Dye 40. I read food labels like a boss and he is really good about telling people no when they try to give him stuff with dye in it. The medicines kill me I have to order dye free for any OTC pain med and good luck finding a cold medicine that isn’t some red fruit flavor. I accidentally gave him kids tums for a few days and even his teacher wrote us about his behavior that week. The dye needs to be banned use natural colorings like beet juice!