Food dyes are substances that are added to foods to enhance their appearance. They are especially common in food products marketed to children, such as cereals, ice cream and candy. Most of the time, these dyes are safe and have no effect on children. However, some children experience a wide range of adverse reactions to food dyes, including hives, hyperactivity and even anaphylactic shock.
Histamine Reactions
FD&C Yellow No. 5, also known as tartrazine, can cause hives, congestion and itching in sensitive people. This reaction is more likely to occur in children who are also sensitive to aspirin. Tartrazine is present in many foods, including soft drinks, pudding and cake mixes, candy and other foods with yellow or green coloring. The FDA requires that Yellow No. 5 be listed on ingredient labels so that sensitive individuals can avoid the dye. If you suspect that your child may be allergic to Yellow No. 5, eliminate all foods containing the dye for a full week. If your child's symptoms disappear, you can assume that Yellow No. 5 may be the culprit, and continue to avoid it.
Hyperactivity
The presence of a variety of artificial food dyes and additives has been implicated in the rise of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, in the past several decades. According to studies done by Dr. Ben Feingold in the 1970s, chemical additives, including food dyes, contribute to symptoms of hyperactivity in children. Dr. Feingold developed an all-natural diet that eliminates these additives. Many families with children with ADHD and other behavioral disorders report improvement after trying the Feingold diet.
The Feingold diet is controversial, and several studies done in the 1980s and 1990s seem to contradict Dr. Feingold's findings. However, in 1994, a study done by the Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia, suggested that tartrazine, also known as FD&C Yellow #5, may in fact contribute to hyperactive behaviors.
Asthma and Anaphylactic Shock
There have been rare cases where carmine, a bright red dye made from the carminic acid produced by certain insects, has caused asthma flares and even anaphylactic shock. Anaphylactic shock is a severe reaction that can include airway restriction and cardiac arrest. The link between carmine and anaphylactic shock was reported in 1997 after a woman suffered a severe reaction to a Popsicle she was eating.
References
- Naturally Dangerous: Surprising Facts About Food, Health, and the Environment
- "Why Your Child is Hyperactive;" Dr. Ben Feingold; 1975
- Pub Med: Synthetic food coloring and behavior: a dose response effect in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study
- University of Michigan: Popsicle-induced anaphylaxis due to carmine dye allergy
- 3D Chem: What is Tartrazine? About its Science, Chemistry and Structure
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