Iodine is a mineral your body requires to produce thyroid hormone. This hormone is very important because it controls bodily functions like growth, brain development and metabolism, or the rate at which your body uses calories for energy. Your physician may recommend avoiding iodine-containing foods if you have an iodine allergy or if you will be undergoing a radiation test because iodine in your diet can show up in the test. Although few fruits contain iodine, it is important to be aware of the ones that do should you need to avoid iodine.
Red Dye #3
Red dye #3 is a food-coloring agent that contains iodine and should therefore be avoided if you are on an iodine-free diet. Other red dyes, like red dye #40, do not contain added iodine. Read food labels carefully for this ingredient. You may find it in fruit juices, particularly those colored red or pink, like fruit punch or ruby red grapefruit juice.
Fruit Cocktails and Maraschino Cherries
Two examples of fruit products that commonly have added red dye #3 are fruit cocktail and maraschino cherries. The cherries tend to be used as toppers for products like milkshakes, pies, cookies, cakes and doughnuts. While fresh cherries do not contain red dye #3, the dye is added to maraschino cherries for coloring purposes. Fruit cocktail, which is a serving of mixed fruits that tends to take on a red color, also can contain red dye #3 and therefore iodine. If the fruit mixture is reddish, you may want to avoid it as a general rule and read the food label carefully to ensure it does not contain the dye.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a red food that is often classified as a fruit and/or vegetable and is an ingredient in many fruit pies and tarts. Rhubarb tends to contain a significant amount of iodine because it is grown in soil that contains iodine. Many pies and tarts that contain strawberries often have rhubarb as well -- ask the baker before consuming a baked good that has red fruits in it.
Considerations
With the exception of fruits that have added red dye #3 and rhubarb, you can consume most fresh fruits while avoiding iodine in your diet. Keep in mind if you have a tendency to add salt to fruits, either as a preservative or for flavoring, that many sodium brands sold in the United States contain iodine. Always examine your sodium to ensure it is iodine free.
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