February 26, 2015

Food Dye and Mental Health – One Mother’s Story

Today, my friend Jenna shares with you the story of her daughter’s amazing recovery from mental health issues and how they discovered the root cause. It’s an incredible story and one I believe can offer hope and practical help to many of you today. If you know of a child struggling with potentially food-related behavioral problems, I hope you’ll share Jenna’s story with their parents.
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I usually like to start my daughter’s story from the very beginning, but today I’m going to throw you straight into the deep end. So hold on to your life preserver.

It was 2010 and I was running some errands in town. My four-year-old daughter, Samantha, was along for the ride. Blond hair, bright blue eyes, and sharp as a tack. After several of our errands, we stopped for a quick lunch and then we topped the morning off at a local cupcake shop.

Samantha had chosen a delectable Red Velvet Cupcake and I’m pretty certain I chose one of everything else.

I loaded Samantha back into her booster seat and set her up with the cupcake and a napkin so she could eat it on the way home. I wanted to celebrate Samantha’s very good morning and I wanted to reinforce her excellent (and rare) behavior with something special.

What happened next changed everything for us.

As Samantha ate the Red Velvet Cupcake, it was as if a light switch flipped inside her brain. I first noticed something was wrong when the melody from the song she was singing suddenly fell silent. She dropped the half-eaten cupcake into her lap. Her sweet song was replaced by a low growling noise as she rhythmically rocked back and forth in her seat. She rocked harder and harder until her little head was banging against the back of her booster seat with each impact. Her clenched fists turned white at the knuckles and her feet kicked wildly as she began to scream. She pulled at her hair and grabbed at her skin as though she was being burned alive. I pulled the car over to tend to her and to keep her from hurting herself.

I remember standing on the side of the road yelling through my own tears, “Why does this keep happening to you? I don’t understand what’s wrong and I don’t know how to help you!”

It was a sincere cry from an exhausted mother who’d tried for years to find a cause and solution, but continued to watch her child spiral into emotional and behavioral distress time and time again. A mother who desperately needed answers.

Although this was not an unusual situation for us, this was the most intense reaction I’d seen in a while. I decided to investigate.

I replayed the morning in my mind to see if I could find the trigger. Something. Anything that may be responsible for such a dramatic response.

First we went to Costco. She was fine. Then we went to Target and used the public restroom. She was fine. Sat in some traffic on the way to lunch. Ate a California Roll and drank some water. Fine. Went to the cupcake shop. Ate the cupcake in the car.

That’s it – She was eating the Red Velvet Cupcake.

What’s in a traditional Red Velvet Cupcake? About 2 cups of red food coloring called FD&C Red #40 (Allura Red). Ok, not really two cups but there is a heinous amount. You have to pack quite a punch to turn rich cake from brown to red.

That led me to type the following into my Google search box:

The number of search results that came back was staggering. I was completely in the dark at this point when it came to understanding how artificial ingredients were affecting Samantha so this was like a ray of hope shining into our tantrum-filled darkness.

You have to understand that a week before, I’d stood in our pediatrician’s office trying to decide between a pediatric psychiatry referral and a pediatric neurology referral because we’d reached the point where we needed some more intensive support. You have not lived until you have researched pediatric neurologists in your local area, let me tell you.

Discovering this possible food sensitivity came at just the right time. Samantha had already been medicated once for her extreme mood swings, raging tantrums and dysfunctional sleep patterns and we were at a crossroads in terms of determining where to turn next for answers.

Naturally the next step was to remove Red 40 from Samantha’s diet and watch to see if we noticed any difference in her moods and sleep patterns. Jackpot.

Within 24 hours of removing Red 40 from Samantha’s system she slept through the night for the first time in years and she completely stopped having extreme episodes like the one I described earlier with the Red Velvet Cupcake. It was immediate and it was undeniable.

Here are a few of the items we removed from our home that day because they contained Red 40:

Do you see a pattern? We were infusing Samantha morning, noon and night with Red 40 because we were simply unaware of its existence, let alone the impact it was having on her.

We just didn’t know.

I thought back to all of the pink antibiotics she’d been on for reoccurring ear infections since she was an infant and all of the red children’s medication we’d given her to reduce fever and pain over the years. We potty trained her with M&M’s. We rewarded her for a good day with jellybeans. Trick-or-treating. Easter candy. Gingerbread houses. Birthday cakes and ice cream trucks. It was like her whole life flashed before my eyes and it brought me to tears.

We were causing the very problem that we were so desperate to solve.

I’d like to say that’s the end of the story but it wasn’t that simple. It was just the beginning of truly understanding Samantha’s sensitivities. Once we removed the biggest offender, Red 40, from her diet we noticed that she was still struggling with her moods. It was less dramatic, but something was still not right. Over the next year we continued to carefully monitor her diet and we got a better picture of her triggers.

Red 40, Yellow 6, TBHQ, BHA and BHT. They may look like a random list but guess what? They are related. If you break them down and take a good look at their chemical make-up you’ll find that they’re all petroleum based.

Even the FDA explains that certain synthetic food dyes are derived primarily from petroleum and coal sources.

You can’t make this stuff up.

So it turns out that we weren’t crazy when we compiled that specific list of triggers because they are related. Samantha did in fact have an extreme sensitivity to petroleum based ingredients. Which explains why she’s triggered by red and yellow dye, but not blue. And why she’s sensitive to the preservative TBHQ but not a non-petroleum based one like Benzoic Acid.

When Samantha avoids all petroleum based ingredients, her moods and her behavior are astronomically better. I know that’s not a scientific measurement but it’s an accurate description. Astronomical improvement.

To understand more about the science behind this phenomenon, we got in touch with a nationally-renowned child psychiatrist in our area who is currently involved in researching how nutrition affects mental health.
We learned a lot about how those ingredients affect her brain function, and we also learned that many kids who have this kind of food sensitivity also have nutritional deficiencies that can drastically alter their moods.

She suggested supplementing Samantha.

So we did.

And that turned out to be one of the final pieces to the puzzle.

So where are we now? Samantha is 8 years old and she’s doing outstanding. She eats a well-balanced, all-natural diet and she is supplemented every morning. She sees a very wonderful psychologist who has helped Samantha learn different techniques to help manage strong feelings when they do arise.

Samantha enjoys working with food in the kitchen and has created several of her own creative and delicious natural recipes. My personal favorite is homemade hot chocolate with Samantha’s signature whipped cream!

Even to this day, if Samantha has as much as a pink Tic-Tac, she’ll decline into an emotional state that we lovingly describe as being ‘on the dye’. But those times are very rare now and we’re enjoying Samantha’s respectful, loving, funny and mellow personality.

She’s a joy for our family and her younger siblings. It gives me chills to think about where we might have been with her in another 5-10 years if we hadn’t made this discovery so early. I have nothing but humble thankfulness in my heart that we’re in such a healthy place.

Jenna is a wife, mother, graphic designer, and photographer. She and her husband, Brian, have 4 beautiful children as she likes to say, “they like chaos and screaming and laundry”. 🙂 She has a Masters in Christian Education and enjoys developing children’s curriculum for churches around the country.

For further reading:
Toxic Food Dyes and the Dangers of Artificial Food Coloring
7 Reasons I Hate Artificial Food Dyes
CSPI Says Food Dyes Pose Rainbow of Risks
CSPI Urges FDA to Ban Artificial Food Dyes Linked to Behavior Problems
Why Your Child Is Hyperactive: The bestselling book on how ADHD is caused by artificial food flavors and colors

You may also enjoy these posts

10 Ways to Curb Sugar Cravings During the Holidays

How to Improve Digestion Naturally

8 Reasons Why I Don’t Wear Daily Sunscreen

The GAPS Diet

Wholesome Baby Food and Little Green Pouch

193 Comments

NerdOwl
February 26, 2015 at 11:20 am
We had a very similar experience with our daughter, except in her case the trigger was (is) corn and corn-derived products. When she was younger corn ingestion triggered not only horrible mood swings/behavior but also extreme bladder sensitivity. Now that she's 11 it's all emotional/behavioral. Her two younger brothers (but not the older two) have the same sensitivity. "Corny" days are really bad!
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 7:14 am
  Hi, it's Jenna! It is always so interesting to me when other people can relate to our story, but their child has a different set of triggers. I didn't realize that corn-derived products affect some kids that way. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I love the term, 'Corny days'! :)
  Reply to this comment
  - Claire
    February 12, 2016 at 11:19 pm
    My daughter is going through the same thing, with red dye. After reading this, I think the petroleum based preservatives are also causing a issue. What was the name of the psychologist that you used? We love our pediatrician, but she doesn't understand. We wanted to get her tested for a vitamin deficiency, but they don't know what to test for. I'm at a loss!
    Reply to this comment
- Natalie S.
  March 2, 2015 at 11:31 am
  Wow! We also have the petroleum issue in our family. Is yours all corn, or just GMO corn? I'm curios to know if organic corn also has a problem?
  Reply to this comment
  - Kathie
    September 18, 2016 at 4:46 pm
    I believe all commercial corn is GMO. Only if you get it from a local farmer and he is sure he used non-GMO seeds. I try to avoid all corn as it's impossible to know! Corn is used to fatten pigs anyway! We have to get more truly organic.
    Reply to this comment
  - Danyelle
    January 14, 2017 at 4:35 am
    Hi! My son has behavior issues with yellow 5 and 6, extreme mood swings, reds make him hyper and we recently noticed that it seems corn, we eat more organic corn in general and the problem seems when we buy non organic corn items such as cereal for a treat, now I wonder about the TBHQ and BHT BC those are not in organic corn items. Hmmm. But yes we do notice a distinct change in his personality and behavior! He is 7. We have known about dye since 2 and and corn product always made him a projectile vomiter while I was nursing him as a baby and toddler!
    Reply to this comment
    - Ali
      March 30, 2019 at 9:23 pm
      We found that he reacts to anythingSodium benzote Carmel color (huge trigger) All food dyes and flavorsI’m am so tired of it all
      Reply to this comment
- Sylvia
  April 3, 2017 at 1:08 pm
  Removing red, yellow & blue dye from my son's diet took him from needing supplemental oxygen 24/7 to needing none in just a month. As a teacher I also saw the affects Red #40 had especially on the behavior of my students with ADD or ADHD. It is found in the weirdest items. I have found vanilla icing with red #40 in it.
  Reply to this comment
Pam O'Malley
February 26, 2015 at 11:27 am
Thanks Carrie! Is this linked on your Facebook page? Would love to share it.Pam
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- Deliciously Organic
  February 28, 2015 at 11:59 am
  I shared it on FB on Friday. Thanks for sharing!
  Reply to this comment
Jamie
February 26, 2015 at 11:43 am
Amazing story and so glad to hear she is doing so well! My son exhibits some of these behaviors and I was wondering what nutritional deficiencies she has and what supplements you give her? You have a beautiful family!
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 7:20 am
  Hi Jamie, it's Jenna! We are still in the process of determining what specific nutritional deficiencies Samantha might have via blood tests, but we found that a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3, and a probiotic was the right combination for Samantha. I still have much to learn about the world of supplements and how they may be helpful to Samantha, but those three seem to cover all our bases at this point.
  Reply to this comment
  - Stephanie @ this abundant life
    February 28, 2015 at 5:23 am
    Jenna, do you have a particular brand of supplement that you trust to be dye free? We have found that our son, who also suffers from food allergies, is very sensitive to food dyes as well. He is able to control his behavior fairly well when we keep his diet clean, however we are in the midst of a six day spiral downward and we can't figure out why. I am wondering if we should try supplementing. I had not considered this angle. Thanks for the article. Very informative and very comforting to know there are other parents out there dealing with this issue.
    Reply to this comment
    - Christina Hofmann
      March 2, 2015 at 8:34 am
      Stephanie, I have a lot of food sensitivities, and have found that Swanson supplements work well for me.
      Reply to this comment
      - Anne
        January 13, 2017 at 11:39 am
        Please be very careful with certain vitamins and supplements, a lot of them have fillers that people with sensitivities can't handle
        Reply to this comment
    - Jennifer Lawrence
      March 15, 2015 at 6:34 am
      We us Young Living for our supplements and couldn't be happier with the quality. So much better than what you buy on most store shelves in my opinion.
      Reply to this comment
    - Katherine
      April 2, 2016 at 11:09 am
      My daughter had extreme nervous tics several years ago and several deficiencies. Within 3 weeks of starting Juice Plus...the tics were gone! It has been wonderful for our whole family! I'm happy to share more of her story and results if you'd like!
      Reply to this comment
      - Kristi
        August 11, 2016 at 1:12 am
        I would love to hear more about your daughter's nervous tics and how a Juice plus helped! My son is 7 and I finally figured out his red dye problem after he ate a strawberry cupcake when he was 3. He had red dye at twice at camp this week and he's been a disaster. Really bad anxiety and what might be called tics. He is also abnormally emotional. I'm really worried now. I just got a Juice Plus brochure at the pediatrician's office today.
        Reply to this comment
    - Katherine
      April 2, 2016 at 11:16 am
      My daughter suffered from several deficiencies and had severe tics. Within three weeks of starting Juice Plus, the tics were gone. We also use probiotic & omegas. We have had a lot of blood work and discovered more which I'm happy to share!
      Reply to this comment
    - Kathie
      September 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm
      Hi, I'm an RN and have many health problems. I've always been interested in nutrition. Out soil, air and water are so polluted that I believe you must supplement with a company that is US based and has the studies and science to back up their product. I have found several good ones but my favorite is Stop the Aging by Joshua Corn. They use the exact same amount and ratios of a supplement that is sold to the public as they used for the study. Many companies reduce this amt and add who knows what for fillers. I never buy any supplement or vitamin over the counter ever. I've gotten rid of 2 medications so far and shooting for more!! I feel better too! That's my 2 cents worth! Good wishes, kathie
      Reply to this comment
  - Lena Martin
    February 6, 2016 at 8:03 pm
    Which minerals do you give her? I have a son with sensitivities and I give him calcium and magnesium.
    Reply to this comment
Anita
February 26, 2015 at 12:13 pm
This has to be one of the most interesting article I've ever read. Its scary that something that's in so many of our foods and even make up can do that much damage!! Thank you so much, I have passed this on to many of my friends, everyone should read this! Thank God this mom was smart enough to keep investigating till she got to the problem.
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Sarah in CA
February 26, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Oh my gosh, we lived this for 16 years with our son. For us we removed all the "big 4" and it still wasn't anywhere near enough. For our son it was Corn Syrup in all and sundry forms. Trust me there is a lot of it out there and the names change. Sneaky of them. With CS gone we have a son I never could have imagined. He 23 now, graduated for high school at age 21 and now is in college and working to pay for it all. Yes, there is hope and healing. Send my best regards to Jenna. Sarah
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Karen
February 26, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Perfect timing. My new grandson is showing signs of allergies. I know a diet that is clean is going to help him.
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Tara
February 26, 2015 at 1:19 pm
I so relate to your story. It's nice to know some other parents out there are facing the same issues, because most people look at me like I'm crazy when I say my daugher is allergic to articial colors. After 4 years of wondering what was wrong, my aha moment was after an icee. I did the same google search as you did and went through the elimination process. It has made a monumental difference in our lives!! As the other reader asked, can you tell us about the supplements your daughter receives?
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 7:29 am
  Hi Tara, it’s Jenna! It sounds like we are on the same journey and have a very similar story! I am so glad you guys are in a more functional place now! I mentioned this above to another reader, but we are still in the process of determining what specific nutritional deficiencies Samantha might have via blood tests, but we found that a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3, and a probiotic was the right combination for Samantha. I still have much to learn about the world of supplements and how they may be helpful to her, but those three seem to cover all our bases at this point so we're sticking with it for now.
  Reply to this comment
  - Beth Visconti
    February 28, 2015 at 6:01 am
    Which multivitamin are you using?
    Reply to this comment
Patti Meadows
February 26, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I have had such a hard time getting pediatricians to believe that bubblegum flavored pink antibiobiotics turn my 6 or old son into an absolute monster!
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Shawn
February 26, 2015 at 2:41 pm
our story is so similar. I noticed it was dyes after my daughter had a blue ring pop! Would love to know what kind of supplements you give your daughter. Thanks!Shawn
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 7:33 am
  Hi Shawn! It's Jenna. We are still in the process of determining what specific nutritional deficiencies Samantha might have via blood tests, but were encouraged by the psychiatrist that we saw to use a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3, and a probiotic. That was a very effective combination. I still have much to learn about the world of supplements, but those three seem to be doing a great job so we're sticking with it for now!
  Reply to this comment
Mind Over Messy
February 26, 2015 at 2:43 pm
We discovered this the hard way too:( I used to think cereal bars and lowfat yogurts were healthy choices. My son's reaction to dyes led us to learn about food and become expert label readers. Thanks to sites like this we've been able to find recipes and new ways to cook that have us eating real food and that means a happy child in our house. It does make me mad that dyes are allowed in our foods when they do not add flavor or any value! Our story http://www.mindovermessy.com/how-my-sons-sensitivity-to-dyes-and-corn-syrup-led-us-to-real-food-clean-eating/.
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Michelle@myslowlivingadventure
February 26, 2015 at 3:10 pm
My now 7 year old had an incredible skin sensitivity to all clothes and shoes and literally anything touching his skin. It would drive him (and us) crazy! At the time his diet was quite limited. He wouldn't try new foods. I took him off gluten and his symptoms disappeared immediately. His diet was already fairly clean but now it's amazing. He tries anything, his diet is so nutritious and he hasn't had a tantrum or major outburst about clothes or shoes or anything again! Food is the source of all health. Your story is amazing.
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Jessica K
February 26, 2015 at 3:56 pm
My 6yr old has adhd and get very aggressive/emotional given anything with MSG, Corn Sugars, or Artificial Colors. We try to eat a whole foods diet, but occasionally indulged in Cheetos, Cupcakes at parties, and "juice" like Hawaiian punch. Taking all that away has made a difference for sure! He still struggles with constant movement, disruption, and negotiating his way.....but without hostility or tearful breakdowns. Some researches say it takes up to 4 months for a complete detox of all residue left behind from petroleum products!
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 8:42 am
  Hi Jessica! It's Jenna. That's such a great bit of information to know that it may take up to 4 months to get petroleum products out of the system completely. I think it's so important to remember that it took us over a year to get Samantha's elimination diet all sorted out and several more years to get things back up and running in terms of her nutrition. It's not an overnight fix. Thanks for the info!
  Reply to this comment
Shannon
February 26, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Remember that allergy elimination is only half of the puzzle. Be sure to add in 1) probiotics (like lactobaccilus which cleanse) and fermented foods like sauerkraut/kimchee/REAL fermented pickles to re-establish gut flora 2) bone broth and chicken feet soup to re-establish the gut lining and 3) healthy fats like coconut oil (all purpose) tallow (frying) olive oil (raw) for healthy neurons. LOVE the GAPS book by Dr McBride! There are many reasons why some kids don't have the resiliency with these products. Do all you can to increase that resiliency. Allergy elimination is a CRUCIAL first step.
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 8:47 am
  Hi Shannon, it's Jenna! Great information and reminder about how an elimination diet alone isn't the only piece in the puzzle in many cases. Thanks for sharing!
  Reply to this comment
Celestia
February 26, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Do you mind sharing what supplements you give Samantha?
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- Emily
  February 27, 2015 at 7:48 am
  I too am curious about the statement "also have nutritional deficiencies that can drastically alter their moods" and what you learned. My daughter's story is very similar. Thanks!
  Reply to this comment
  - Jenna
    February 27, 2015 at 9:12 am
    Hi Emily, it's Jenna. Your question about that statement is a good one. Understanding the science behind how nutrition affects mental health is what I have spent so much time trying to understand. I will be frank, there is not a lot out there in terms of research that helps to make that connection easier to understand which is why I was blessed to talk to a psychiatrist who is currently doing research in this area.Because I am not a specialist in this area by ANY means, I don't want to relay incorrect information but I will summarize the basic idea of what we learned.We learned that for Samantha, the chemical makeup of the petroleum ingredients may be altering her brain function by disrupting the neurotransmitters that the brain naturally produces. Neurotransmitters are naturally produced chemicals that send signals between the nerve cells in the brain. Basically, neurotransmitters are chemicals that facilitate countless functions in the body including emotions and impulse control. Samantha's triggers severely affect the natural chemicals that her brain is trying to produce. One study I read said that Red and Yellow dye structurally mimics the neurotransmitters in the brain and can cause some people to stop producing them because the brain thinks they are are already there.In terms of understanding how deficiencies may affect mental health, I am still trying to get a better handle on that myself. As I learn more about the science of this topic I will be sure to share it with you!
    Reply to this comment
    - Maren
      March 2, 2015 at 10:46 pm
      We learned a lot about nutritional deficiencies and behavioral/mental health from the story of this man, who has studied the effects of nutrition on our brains for twenty years. The supplement he developed has literally saved my life, and is helping my children so much! The video is long, but very informative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjldTvlw2dY
      Reply to this comment
- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 8:53 am
  Hi Celestia, it's Jenna! Sure! We were encouraged to try a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3 and a probiotic. Those three things are very effective so we're sticking with them for now!
  Reply to this comment
Elizabeth
February 26, 2015 at 4:57 pm
This is so awesome to finally find someone else with this problem, too. We are still learning. Our daughter's main problem were headaches. She would be bubbly one minute, but as soon as the headache started, she was sad, quiet, inactive, and would whine. She is moody, but nothing like what Jenna described. Our daughter (age 3 and on month 5 since discovery) was referred to a Pediatric neurologist that suggested we eliminate red dye. Natural red dye, such as the pigment in strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, etc., don't bother her. Water with flavoring bothers her except for lemonade. Cheeses like cheddar and colby only bother her if I buy a certain brand. Some but not all chocolate bothers her. Yogurts vary, too, but we know which ones to avoid. In the process, it was discovered that her tonsils and adenoids were abnormally large. She was oxygen deprived at night, and didn't know it. He referred her to an ENT, and those were removed. No more night terrors! At her last appointment, the neurologist suggested to try taking out MSG, and so far that's been working, too. We don't buy the "fun" cereal, and don't buy the flavored oatmeals. Shampoos, soaps, and toothpastes are watched for all dye. Prescription meds don't bother her, but OTCs do. We buy dye free acetaminophen and ibuprofen only. It's nice to know we aren't alone!
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 11:07 am
  Hi Elizabeth, it's Jenna! You are not alone!! I know it feels like a never ending battle trying to figure it all out, but you are doing a great job determining what bothers her and what doesn't and taking important steps toward wellness! I will be praying for you guys as you try and get it all sorted out!
  Reply to this comment
- Melissa
  February 27, 2015 at 10:25 pm
  Elizabeth - You may already know this, but there are two ingredients that might help explain why certain cheeses and chocolates cause your daughter trouble, but others don't. In the cheese, it is "annatto" coloring, which may be listed separately or grouped under natural colors. It is a naturally derived color, but many kids react as strongly to it as to the artificial colors. In chocolate, the issue is "vanillin" flavoring. This is an artificial version of vanilla that is, I believe, petroleum based like the dyes. It, too, can cause a fair amount of trouble. Good luck as you continue on your journey! :) Melissa
  Reply to this comment
Carlin
February 26, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Oh Jenna I cried when I read this! I remember the start of this journey but seeing it all laid out. Wow!!!! So thankful for you, thst sweet girl and some answers! And forwarding this right now to a friend with similar struggles. Thank you for sharing!!
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Lynne
February 26, 2015 at 7:06 pm
Yup. My girl (now 15) is seriously reactive to Blue #1. She becomes angry, then violent, then terrified/paranoid, and hides under furniture. (I should note that she hasn't reacted in over 4 years, because she's learned that BFC #1 is in EVERYTHING (white candy, toothpaste, laundry detergent, shampoo!!!!) that is not natural, and has learned to avoid it. She'd been fine for several years before the last attack but got fooled at camp because it was hidden in CHEESE on a pizza.
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Amanda
February 26, 2015 at 7:13 pm
This is my story, too! My daughters have the same reaction. We figured it out with a glass of Orange Fanta at age 3, but otherwise it is exactly the same. BHT, THBQ, BHA, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 are now household terms around here. I wrote about our experience on my friend's blog here: http://foodwithkidappeal.com/can-food-make-kids-angry/. Glad to meet someone else with the same experience!
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Kristin
February 26, 2015 at 7:54 pm
Thank you for sharing your story! We, too, have eliminated as many dyes from our diet as possible and have seen our oldest daughter make giant strides when it comes to behavior. What kind of supplements do you give your daughter? I would love to incorporate those as well.
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 9:29 am
  Hi Kristin! It's Jenna. We are incorporating a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3 and a probiotic right now. Those three things seem to be very effective for Samantha.
  Reply to this comment
Margaret
February 26, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Did you notice a sensitivity to petroleum based cosmetics as well? My daughter has terrible eczema that did not improve at all with an autoimmune paleo diet for three months, now I'm wondering if her petroleum based cream could be the problem. She had food dye for the first time last weekend and was kind of a nightmare, so she's definitely sensitive.
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 9:27 am
  Hi Margaret, it's Jenna. That's such a good question. We are still on the fence when it comes to knowing whether or not Samantha is affected by petroleum products that are absorbed through her skin. The jury is still out on that one. But if she were to ingest the petroleum product (like chap stick, or if she had cream on her hands and then put her fingers in her mouth) she is affected by it. I am so sorry to hear that your daughter struggles with eczema. I will be praying for you as you try and sort out what the cause and solution may be for her!
  Reply to this comment
  - margaret
    February 27, 2015 at 9:53 am
    Thanks, Jenna. It's really frustrating! She has some other health issues that complicate things, so it's so hard to know what causes some of her symptoms.
    Reply to this comment
    - Jenna
      February 27, 2015 at 11:14 am
      Margaret, I completely understand. It's exhausting and discouraging a lot of the time when you just can't figure it out and nothing you've tried seems to be working. I SO know that feeling, and that place. You are being such a good mama trying to figure it all out and whether or not you get the eczema figured out right away or not, you're daughter is so blessed. I really will be praying for you and for your daughter.
      Reply to this comment
Nancy Russell
February 27, 2015 at 7:56 am
I couldn't help but notice in a few of these pictures that Jenna's daughter could possibly be exposed to polyester. Polyester is also made from petroleum. Just thought I would share that little nugget of info. thanks for sharing Jenna's story. My sister also had to deal with red dyes with her son. And, for some odd reason, people trust the FDA. *smh*
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 9:32 am
  Nancy, it's Jenna! Thank you so much for pointing out that little nugget :) I did not know that! One thing that I can say with certainty is that we do NOT have everything all figured out yet when it comes to knowing where Samantha may be exposed to petroleum products and I am always on the look out for info like this! At this point, she doesn't seem to be affected by touching it but we do question whether or not she is impacted by petroleum that may be absorbed though her skin. I will keep an eye on the clothing though, thank you!
  Reply to this comment
Jennifer
February 27, 2015 at 9:54 am
I have the problems with my son, he is almost 8. I know that he is affected by all of the dye's etc. He is also a very extremley picky eater. What I would really really REALLY love to know is what are the supplements?? Thanks Jennifer
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 8:08 pm
  Hi Jennifer, it's Jenna. We are currently supplementing her each day with a multivitamin w/ minerals, omega 3 and a probiotic. I know it's hard when they are picky eaters!
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  - Kathy
    February 28, 2015 at 9:43 am
    Jenna, do you mind sharing the brand name of the multivitamin with minerals and the omega 3 and the probiotic. It would be very helpful to not have to do all that research myself.
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    - Kelley
      March 1, 2015 at 10:38 am
      We have almost the same story with our family. My child takes Natural Vitality Kid's Calm as his daily vitamin. It includes the magnesium , fish oil, and amino acids he needs for anxiety/calmness and brain function. It does taste nasty. He has been taking it for years and chases it w/ a small dye free candy or treat. I have not found a great daily for my other kids, but they take NOW brand probiotics and mini fish oil.
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Rosanne Bowman
February 27, 2015 at 11:13 am
We discovered our son had food dye allergies when he had a severe allergic reaction to eating a bunch of orange tic tacs. He broke out in hives and started having trouble breathing - talk about scary! I also noticed if I ever gave him any kind of red dyed drink or food, I could count down about 15 minutes and he'd become absolutely horribly behaved and mean. It was so strange because I could about say, "And go" and it would start. He sort of grew out of them, but he has had some anxiety issues. I think I definitely need to go back and cut all this kind of stuff out again and see if that helps! Thanks for this post! I'm glad you figured things out and your daughter is doing so well! :)
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- Jenna
  February 27, 2015 at 8:11 pm
  Hi Rosanne, it's Jenna! Yes, we used to be able to do the 15 minute countdown for Samantha as well. It takes longer than 15 minutes for it to kick in now... usually closer to an hour or two. We have found that getting some good counseling has been a great help in dealing with issues like anxiety in addition to her diet.
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Lori
February 27, 2015 at 4:00 pm
You mentioned supplements. Can you elaborate on that? My daughter has implemented a clean diet since Christmas for her 11 year old and it has helped tremendously but he is still having some issues. I'm wondering if the supplements would help?
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Barb
February 27, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Very interesting article. We have so many similarities. When my daughter was 3 years old, I was searching for a solution to some challenges. It was Dr. Fiengold's writings that helped me too. And that was over 30 years ago! I changed a lot in our families diet - cutting out all food colorings, reduced sugar greatly, added more fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains. I also gave her a Vitamin B supplement, crushed in a spoon with water. Now she is a mom of 6 children and continues to find ways to keep her family healthy with food.
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Jenny
February 27, 2015 at 4:25 pm
So familiar with this whole story...unfortunately! We've struggled for a long time before learning about the Feingold Diet which opened our eyes to the extreme problem with artificial colors, flavored, preservatives, and all corn products. It is amazing how this impacts behavior!!
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Charity Dreier
February 27, 2015 at 5:39 pm
Thank you for sharing your story. It brings me to tears. I found my four year old, beautiful, intelligent, and creative daughter dealing with the same thing. Feeling like I had done everything, I tried removing red dye from her diet the same week that I met with our pediatrician last summer and the results were the same. I have been trying different things and have tried to find her other triggers. Thank you for sharing the rest of your daughters triggers... They are the next to go for us! It's great to know that we aren't the only ones out there!
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Deana
February 27, 2015 at 6:10 pm
We have had to eliminate more than just the dyes and preservatives for my son. It has taken us a year but I think we finally have figured his issues out. I usually explain him as chemically sensitive. he cannot handle most fragrances so it is difficult when we are out in public and someone has perfume on. ( he says the fragrances Make his head spin. In addition to the preservatives and food dyes, we have had to go to a completely organic diet because not only will he pesticides and GMO's affect him behaviorally, his ears will actually start to burn and turn bright red about 1/2 hour after consumption. Most people look at me like I am crazy with what they perceive as an impossible diet but I am just glad I have my son back. I wish more people realized you really are what you eat.
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:12 pm
  Hi Deana, it's Jenna. You're son is so blessed that you are committed to keeping him as chemically free as you can! I am sorry that people look at you like you're crazy, because you are not. You are such a good Mom and you are not alone!
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Hilary
February 27, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Thank you a million times over for sharing your story. I felt like I was reading my own story about my own child. I needed this so desperately, thank you again
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:17 pm
  Hi Hilary, it's Jenna. You are so welcome. I know how much you just need to know that you have a friend on the same journey and that you are not alone. :)
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Jackie
February 27, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your story! It made me feel better about the time I put into feeding our two year old a very clean diet. I've seen these effects of our crazy food even on my mom, who ended up in the hospital twice after eating MSG (although it took a lot of research to figure it out). It just makes me so crazy that our government doesn't ban several of these items as they are banned in Europe and even some developing nations. It also makes me sad for the families who are maybe living closer to poverty and find the more processed food cheaper, then get frustrated with their kids who are misbehaving or resort to putting them on meds for ADHD that some medical person puts them on instead of thinking about their diet. Ooohh I get sad and frustrated!
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- Melissa D
  March 6, 2015 at 3:31 pm
  MSG really hits me hard as well -- within about 30 minutes of ingesting a small bit I get a horrible leaden feeling where I can hardly move my arms and legs -- then I get dizzy and generally have to lie down for about 2 days. It sounds dramatic, but it's a terrible feeling, and it's so consistent that I immediately know to check the fine print of anything I've eaten. (It's not always listed as MSG -- sometimes it's hidden under "spices" on a label.) If I take in more, as in Chinese food, until I figured out what was causing it, I end up vomiting all night. Ugh!And food dyes make my normally sweet kids break out in hives and start head-butting and weeping. It's a Jekyll & Hyde conversion, for sure.I'd love non-petroleum-based options for toothpaste, shampoo, and lotions, if anyone has any ideas!
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  - Laurie
    March 16, 2015 at 1:32 pm
    Melissa D, we have used Tom's Toothpaste with good success.
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  - Christina Arlington
    March 20, 2015 at 2:49 pm
    Coconut oil can be used for lotion and conditioner. I use Dr. Bronner's Organic & Fair a Trade Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. It treats my skin and hair very well. I also use it for "oil pulling" which is an ancient method for pulling bacteria and toxins from the mouth and teeth. Then I follow up with a natural toothpaste. Google "oil pulling" if that interests you. It's been known to clear up skin issues too. I also really enjoy the wellness mama website and blog. She posts many natural recipes for food and making your own lotions, etc. She's been on a mission to create better health for her family and kids since she learned that this generation is the first predicted to not outlive their parents. Check out her website if it interests you. I've found her site to be incredibly helpful. I'm so grateful we are all becoming so much more aware and making better choices for our children! Best wishes for everyone on this journey. Take care!! http://wellnessmama.com
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  - Joanna
    April 7, 2016 at 1:55 pm
    I make my own lotions and shampoos they are overall pretty easy to make when you have the right ingredients. Toothpaste: Tom's works great! Stay organic and GMO free! Also like Christina mentioned Coconut Oil is a great lotion and hair conditioner, wonderful substitute for butter ( if you don't make your own).
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Glenda
February 27, 2015 at 7:15 pm
my son is 8. We have tried hard to eliminate all artificial food coloring for the past year and a half. My son becomes very hyperactive when he ingests dye. Unfortunately he is still quite the picky eater. What kind of supplements did you give your daughter? Have you found the vegetable based food colorings ok?
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:18 pm
  Hi Glenda, it's Jenna! We supplement Samantha with a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3 and a probiotic! Hope that helps!
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Tracy
February 27, 2015 at 7:27 pm
We have 2 extremely selective eaters. One lives on one particular brand of yogurt and one particular brand of crackers. I could see myself explaining all this to the older one to see if she'd be willing to try a cleaner diet but I strongly believe the 3.5 yo would simply stop eating if I took away her safe foods. Has anyone dealt with such a situation? Any advice?
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:25 pm
  Hi Tracy, it's Jenna! Samantha wasn't an abnormally picky eater so I don't know if I am the best person to give you advice on this! I used to go along with the belief that kids will eventually eat when you give them, but I have had a few friends who's kids were truly horribly picky and actually wouldn't eat. Their weight and nutrition suffered. So I feel your pain. Our kids LOVE yogurt and we have found that Yoplait GoGurt (the kind in the kid friendly tubes) are awesome. They are naturally flavored and colored and you can freeze them or just serve them cold from the fridge.
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  - Lena Martin
    February 8, 2016 at 10:57 am
    My kids can't have the corn syrup in gogurt. I think the pesticide reside affects them.
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Dean
February 27, 2015 at 7:31 pm
I've been diagnosed with HFA (I hide it well, you'd never know if you met me), and I've noticed some sensitivities in foods myself. I feel much better when I avoid any highly processed foods such as the ones you discuss with the dyes and HFCS. One more ingredient you may look into is hydrogenated oils.
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Vickie
February 27, 2015 at 7:42 pm
In 1977, my daughter developed sleeplessness, hyperactivity, agressession along with other symptoms. I was at my wits end, she was 1 1/2 years old and has started eating the same diet as the rest of the family. My perfectly behaved baby had gone through a drastic change. I was watching the Phil Donahue show and an allergist was describing my child. He was discussing children's sensitivities to food colors, preservatives and other additives. I removed all these from her diet and one week later I had my perfect baby back. Through the years I have passed this information on to others but most don't believe it can make that much difference. I firmly believe that a large portion of the children that are on medication for ADHD now days could greatly benefit from a clean diet. I am glad that there are doctors now days that recognize this. That was not my experience back then.
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:27 pm
  Hi Vickie, it's Jenna. I think it's so amazing and admirable that you had this all figured out decades ago! Thank you for sharing your story!
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Dawn
February 27, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Thank you for sharing your amazing story. It goes to show that what we put in or on our bodies affects us deeply (some more than others). It's just another reason why we strive to eat more "real food". It's a slow progress, finding what we can afford, but it's a journey well worth it!
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Kimberly
February 27, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Thank you so much for posting this. My jaw was literally dropping open because if you took out Samantha's name and put our son's name in, I could have written the post. Amazing! We've just celebrated our one year "dye free" anniversary this month:) Such a great place to be. It's tricky at first but so worth it in the end. I truly hope we see a time where no child is fed petroleum based products. I'm interested to hear more about the supplement you talked about? How did you know what supplements? Thank you!!
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:30 pm
  Hi Kimberly, it's Jenna! I am not surprised that you have the same story.... there are many of us in the same boat even though it doesn't always feel like it! Congratulations on your one year dye free anniversary! We supplement Samantha with a multivitamin with minerals, omega 3 and a probiotic. These are extremely helpful.
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Amy
February 27, 2015 at 9:33 pm
That is so scary, I can't imagine what you and all these people who have commented have had to go through! My kids have never shown any signs of allergies to dyes, but it worries me. Have you heard anything where someone like me should eliminate these dyes from our diet even though we haven't had side effects?
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Jenny
February 27, 2015 at 10:02 pm
How do you handle social situations like birthday parties and class parties?
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- Christy
  February 28, 2015 at 7:53 am
  Most moms who avoid artificial colors and such do the same thing as a mom of a child with dairy, gluten, or other food allergies...BYOC. Bring your own cupcake, of course.
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:34 pm
  Hi Jenny, it's Jenna! For social situations that I know about in advance, I make sure to have an alternative for Samantha. Also, I make sure that her classroom teacher has a stash that Samantha can draw from when needed. I include a variety of candy, some cookies and some juice boxes that are all organic.For events that come up unexpected, Samantha just doesn't participate in the food or snacks. And our rule of thumb is that if we can't see the ingredients and we don't know for sure what's in it, it's a NO! :) We have an understanding that if she has to pass up something fun at school or a friend's house, she can come home and 'trade it' for something she CAN have. So basically we make sure to have plenty of alternatives available.
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Jacinda
February 27, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Wow! What timing! My 7year old just had the craziest tantrum ever. Screaming and crying and could not calm down. When I read this it clicked... I gave a fruit roll up earlier as a treat. I'm thinking that's what did it. I will investigate further. Thank you!
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Alison
February 27, 2015 at 11:46 pm
I'm so glad your daughter is doing much better. My son (7) is also affected by these additives/dyes. He has severe tree nut allergies and a few other like dogs, dust. Benadryl (pink) made it worse! We can only use dye-free medications. When my children were younger, they'd get sick from drinking red drinks or having red icing on cookies/cupcakes, so we cut those out long ago. I guess it's not so much that they are allergic as it is their bodies' rejecting the toxic chemicals! I've never understood the fascination with red velvet--it's a COLOR, not a flavor. I wonder if the sensitivity is hereditary? As a child, I was always sick and had terrible headaches after red drinks.
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Kate
February 28, 2015 at 3:33 am
Do you find that you must avoid petroleum based products such as Vaseline and aquaphor?
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:36 pm
  Hi Kate, it's Jenna! Yes, we avoid petroleum based products that are topical.
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Jennifer
February 28, 2015 at 4:16 am
I am so thankful you are sharing your story. It will help people change and understand that our food is not right. And doesn't have the nutrients we need ! Thank you. ! I'm sharing this article with everyone. The supplements you speak of are the same ones we recommend in my business. If anyone needs direction with that I 'd love to help! This is my passion. Thanks again for sharing.
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Lizzie
February 28, 2015 at 4:44 am
Hi Jenna... Wondering if you have a favorite brand of multivitamin that you use...finding a "clean" one of those can be tricky as well! Congrats on all your great success!
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Connie
February 28, 2015 at 4:48 am
Our daughter has a very serious reaction to not only Red 40, but ANY red dye followed by a number. She becomes very agitated, hyper, her speech sounds like someone who has been drugged, she sometimes gets a rash,and chest pains. But worst of all, her heart rate elevates dangerously. We were told the tachycardia could even result in a heart attack. Thank you for this article. Sometimes she will have a light reaction when I am positive there has been no red dye in what she has eaten. After you mentioned the other ingredients, I will check into them.
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Jill
February 28, 2015 at 5:02 am
Have you heard of the Feingold Association? They are a non-profit group helping families navigate just these kinds of food-related sensitivities. A real life-line! They can help greatly, have researched many products with "hidden" ingredients that can cause reactions, and have many members ready with advice and guidance. One of daughters has also shown food dye behavioral problems, Feingold is helping us figure it all out. Check it out if you like!
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- Sally
  February 28, 2015 at 10:28 am
  I was scanning the comments before posting because the Feingold Association is what helped me figure out what my son's reactions were. It starts you out with the very basics and you add things back in to find triggers. We were careful not to call it a "diet" because that has different implications. We can still have ice cream, we just get breyers all natural. We noticed a huge difference around food dye's but we also noticed that anything with initials (BHT , BHA etc). The feingold book helps you find things that you wouldn't realize is all natural - like Magic Shell (for the breyers all natural ice cream) and fig newtons! (just the regular kind) it really helps you shop and transition to an all natural diet without feeling like all you are feeding your finicky kids toast.
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  - Lena Martin
    February 8, 2016 at 11:05 am
    I did some research and it seems that BHT and BHA are pesticides, not really preservatives . They preserve the food so the bugs don't get to them.
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Lizzie
February 28, 2015 at 5:29 am
P.S. Checking to be sure you're familiar with the "Skin Deep" website for finding out what harmful stuff is in body and skincare products, household cleaning products etc.
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- Jenna
  March 2, 2015 at 12:38 pm
  Hi Lizzie, it's Jenna. Thanks for the website recommendation, I will check it out!
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  - Julie
    March 10, 2015 at 12:47 pm
    I have to say that "skin deep" can be a bit deceptive. They don't really have a scientific basis for their information and I think you should be aware of this before going there.Thank you for sharing your story, I'm sure it will help many people!
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paula k
February 28, 2015 at 5:38 am
Great post and comments. My husband has severe dye allergies--they magnified ten fold after a skull fracture. One comment above mentioned cheese...it could be the "natural" dye annatto. Hubby reacts as bad to annatto as any of the other dyes. His reactions are similar to a child's--hyperactivity, etc. but shows mostly as tremors, leg twitching and inability to sleep--sometimes for Days! Docs often do not believe us so i changed our first words to "Neurological reaction" and they seem to listen better. Dye and preservative free is not easy but it does become a way of life (20 years for us).
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Shannon Brooks
February 28, 2015 at 5:45 am
Thank you for posting this article. I am also allergic to Red 40. I figured it out in college. People thought I was crazy back then for reading every label! But it is amazing how many things we ingest contain Red 40. I forget on occasion and drink or eat something, then end up violently ill....I was unaware about the other petroleum based ingredients....so thank you again for great information.
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Julie Peake
February 28, 2015 at 5:56 am
I am considering Juice Plus for my child and myself. If an adult orders the child is free and they can be enrolled into the child study being held. I do not sell it but I am aware of the deficiencies we all have really. My son's allergy to dye was easier to discover unfortunately his lips blew up and I but the puzzle together with his behavior. I am on a mission to put this information out there as well. GREAT JOB on your parenting. Your angels are in good hands.xo Julie
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Melody Hammes
February 28, 2015 at 6:13 am
My son is 31. We stumbled upon the fact that he was allergic to red dye only two years or so ago. He started having daily if not hourly melt downs. Jumping, screaming, sweating, tearing his clothes off, crying. It was bizzar. My daughter was home from AK. She mentioned red dye. I thought , "Jeez, it couldn't be something that simple." Since then we have become dye free as possible in foods, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo. Red soap once sent him into one of the most unreal blow ups I have ever seen. He was wiping and wiping his skin like something was burning him. When I walk through the colorful candy isle, I see bags of poison.
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Dorothy
February 28, 2015 at 6:20 am
I recently started researching "clean eating" because all of the unnatural junk in our food and as a way to lose weight. My 6 yer old son has ADHD and his behavior is awful with violent meltdowns. It was so bad he was hitting & kicking classmates and teachers and destroying property on a daily basis. He just can't control his frustration and anger. Therapy isn't that helpful and I had to medicate him for everyone's safety & sanity. But it is still a struggle. I had been told artificial dyes could cause behavior issues but had no idea why it could be so bad and frankly didn't believe that could be the cause. Now that you explain how they come from petroleum and how they can affect the brain, I am stunned. I cried reading this! I am so glad you found success and am hopeful that I can try to change my son's diet and possibly see a difference!
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- Christy
  February 28, 2015 at 7:55 am
  Feingold.org has a ton of information that explains how and why artificial dyes and other additives can cause behavioral issues.
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Melissa
February 28, 2015 at 6:32 am
You're story is our story with my 8 year old daughter. Even the years line up. Once I figured out the food coloring caused her mood swings I the them all away. Different little girl in the matter of a day. She slept through the night, no longer screaming, uncontrollable tantrums and hitting, the "look in her eyes" changed. I was wondering what you are using as supplements. We do a DHA fish oil pill everyday and magnesium baths a couple times a week. We eat a fairly clean diet, mostly all natural and organic. I'd be interested in what you are doing. Thanks for sharing your story!
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Jana
February 28, 2015 at 6:55 am
We also have this issue with our son - so sad it took years and a lot of tears before we figured it out but happy to be on the right track. Wondering if you arrived at the BHA/BHT/TBHQ sensitivities simply by "association" (since they're also petrol-based like dyes) or did you "test" them in your elimination protocol? We've found that BHA/BHT/TBHQ presence is more difficult to identify due to labeling loopholes - I second the recommendation of Feingold for helping to find products safe from those often hidden preservatives. Thanks for sharing your story!
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Amy
February 28, 2015 at 7:05 am
I encourage everyone who suspets a possible reaction to some of these petroleum based ingredients like articial dyes or preservatives to check out the Feingold Association. The association has a well researched guide book of researched products that are free of these petroleum products. Some of which are often not even listed on ingredient lists and hidden on products. We found the Feingold Association website when my son was 3 1/2 and it changed our lives. My son is 8 years old now and I owe the sucess we have had to Feingold. The Feingold diet took all the guess work out of everything for us and made the biggest difference for us. It is a wonderful resourse for anyone who suspects sensitivities.
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Amy Nicholson
February 28, 2015 at 7:46 am
This is my son to a T, however I just removed red food dye related things I never thought toothpaste and shampoo because it is not entering his body. Where did you read to avoid that?
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- Susan
  February 28, 2015 at 9:52 am
  Your skin is an organ, and absorbs what you put on it within about 40 seconds, so yeah, use petroleum free products.
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  - Amy
    February 28, 2015 at 7:29 pm
    I feel so over whelmed I just looked through the house and almost everything my son uses or eats has it in it. I was not doing a good job keeping it away from him. Now I have no idea where to start to replacing all these things from his life style. Where do I even start.... What will I use now for toothpaste, shampoo, soap, chap stick, yogurt, Cheese, etc;. I am at a loss as what to do next and how to avoid these things. They are everywhere. Please Mom's help!!!!
    Reply to this comment
    - Markey
      April 10, 2015 at 1:20 pm
      Amy, Your question and those of so many posters here can be answered by being a member of the Feingold Association. Parents started this group back in 1976 to support each other and to help find brands that don't have dyes and the other nasty chemicals. Nearly everything a person wants can be found in a different brand, incl soaps, toothpastes, supplements, cheese, etc. Since reading labels isn't reliable (the chemicals is often in the product but not on the label), members in this great org. get a foodlist of products by brand name! The book is now 440 pages! The group has a facebook group too.
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Michele
February 28, 2015 at 9:23 am
Would you mind sharing the name / brand of the supplements you use? I completely understand that every child is different and these may not work with mine. Or my child may need a different combination of supplements.I just want help with a product and brand to try. I'm guessing these do not have dyes or the preservatives you mentioned so this would be a great starting place.
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Susan
February 28, 2015 at 9:49 am
Wow, almost thought I was reading my own story! Our now 8 year old suffered terrible debilitating migraines starting at age 4 and what was triggering them? Food coloring! And you have to be so careful because as you discovered, it isn't just in food but also in personal care products like shampoo and lotion and medicine and our skin absorbs what we put on it. . And until we started calling it a "food allergy" we had problems with people taking us seriously. And some people still look at me like I am crazy when I say she is allergic to artificial food coloring. Fortunately I did find an excellent company and all of their products are free from petroleum based ingredients. Thanks for your article, we need to tell this story!!
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mandolin
February 28, 2015 at 9:51 am
I discovered a little over a year ago that red 40 is a migraine trigger for me. I cut it out and my migraines have greatly reduced, but not completely disappeared. I may need to start researching other petroleum based products and see if this could be triggering them to. Thank you for sharing your story. I am so happy you discovered this and can enjoy your beautiful girl the way God made her to be!
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scott
February 28, 2015 at 10:18 am
I used to throw up after drinking anything with red in it, except for Big Red. thank goodness. I loved Big Red.
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- Michele Palmer
  July 10, 2016 at 4:35 pm
  My daughter (now 7) has always had random events of throwing up and I FINALLY figured it out that it coincides with large quantities of Red Food Dye. After she ate a bag of twizzlers was the ticket to helping me discover that was it. Now, our family eats a clean diet and we use natural and organic beauty products. It has been 6 months now and she does still get discouraged that she cannot have something, but we have not had any more vomiting!
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Caitlin
February 28, 2015 at 10:51 am
How many parents have lived this nightmare? I saw someone else mentioned the Feingold Association above, and I have to say that their info saved our lives over here. You join and they give you quarterly food lists of all the brands and products that are free of dyes, artificial flavors, and petroleum-based preservatives. They also have a handbook for rooting out other possible dietary triggers. After finding the Feingold Association and seeing my child change from my nightmare to my little buddy, I want to shout it from the rooftops: CHECK OUT FEINGOLD!
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- Amy
  February 28, 2015 at 7:25 pm
  Caitlin, how much is it to join feingold?
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Megan
February 28, 2015 at 12:52 pm
My step son whom I raise as my own now is six years old. I just had parent teacher conference and was told he is absolutely brilliant. His test scores are way above other kids and average but the teacher believes he is suffering from adhd. It is so hard to have a teacher tell you your son is very smart and advanced but they hate to say the bad news that there is just something not right and if we don't get it under control right away his social skills will not get better. My son use to never have these issues it has been very physically and emotionally tiring trying tofigure out why the sudden change this year. I have researched all I could find on adhd and I agree it is him to a T. I really don't want my son on medication we are going to try to balance him out with his diet any information of parents with children with adhd would be greatly appreciated!
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Kari
February 28, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for posting about this, Jenna! My son started a special diet to eliminate all possible triggers about a year and a half ago (Feingold Diet), and in the process I've discovered that not only does he have a huge list of chemicals in our food that he reacts to, but also that my daughter's eczema and my migraines went away after eliminating all those foods from our home. I saw the topic earlier about petroleum products being absorbed through the skin and I wanted to confirm that it is an issue here. Markers, play-doh, lotions, chapstick, finger paint, etc. can all cause reactions with not just my son but me as well.
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Shannon
February 28, 2015 at 1:00 pm
I have a 5 yr old son who has horrible tantrums, cries alot and is very anxious. He can be very aggressive at times. We've had him tested for autism only to find out his IQ is way above average. He's just different. Plain and simple. Very hard to deal with at times. We've asked our pediatrician for suggestions and they just say he's anxious. I am now very curious after reading your story if food may be the problem. I want to find out what triggers him. It's sad as a parent not to be able to properly help your own child.
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Kay
February 28, 2015 at 3:05 pm
I found this too be quite interesting, as an adult, I wonder if I may have some of the same issues as the kids. One thing I had was a severe case of eczema, and Mom had problems with severe ulcers. She found a book about Edgar Cayce, who was known as the sleeping profit. He, in the.1940's had recommended peanut oil be rubbed on the eczema. There is a research center in Virginia beach Virginia who has every thing Mr. Cayce spoke about you might want to check with them. The peanut oil worked, however, I stunk like peanuts during the treatments
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Markey
February 28, 2015 at 4:53 pm
Wonderful, wonderful article. I hope that many, many parents will read it. What is really cool is that parents started a support organization many years ago for the same reason as you. They had been in your shoes and now help others. I hope readers will learn that we cannot depend on what we see on the ingredient labels in order to avoid those additives. The org researches products beyond what we see on the label and shares the okay products with its members! The list is now way over 400 pages. I've been so grateful for the list and the organization. www.feingold.org
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Dianne
February 28, 2015 at 5:21 pm
my story is very similar to Jenna's. My adopted daughter was sick from birth, two gastrointestinal surgies by 6 months old, chronic ear infections, and now terrifying mood disorders. I had her on a restricted diet for 10 years after a naturopathic doc discovered she was allergic to wheat, soy, egg, dairy, and others. I baked every thing for her and rice, organic meat, and vegetables were the main staple in her diet. Two years ago we had her tested again. The doctors at Children's told us she was no longer allergic but sensitive to wheat still. We slowly started adding new foods into her diet to her delight. She always felt like the outcast with peers due to her diet restrictions. Anyway, she bascially started eating what ever she wanted without telling us. Her moods got so severe we had to hospitalize her and she now sees a therapist every week and a phyciatrist every a3 to 6 weeks. It has taken 3 medications to get her back under control. I always felt her diet was contributing but now I am more convinced. I just read her this story and she teared up. We are moving this summer, out of state, and have decided our cupboards in our new house will have nothing processed, dye-free, and wheat free to see if we can get her off some of the medications. Thank you so so much for sharing and I am so glad this issue is finally starting to be recognized.
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Olivia
March 1, 2015 at 5:49 am
Great article- my two kids have similar reactions to food colors. It's so hard to avoid them completely living in America. ( I'm from the UK) I'd love to know how you "Supplement" your daughter in the mornings- which supplements and vitamins you would recommend? Many thanks
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Elizabeth
March 1, 2015 at 6:40 am
This was me when I was a little girl! My mom took me to a natural minded allergist who discovered I was severely allergic to all forms of corn, especially corn syrup and also red dye. I'm so thankful she worked to find an answer for me while I was still young, and it breaks for heart for all the children that are still unnecessarily suffering. We need to spread the word that there is help and hope. Than you for sharing this!
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Sarah
March 1, 2015 at 6:55 am
From the other side of the fence... the kid you describe was ME. My brother and I had different collections of the symptoms described in the article and comments. He was sporadically aggressive, couldn't focus, and nowadays would be brushed into an ADHD diagnosis, I'm sure. Me? I was "only" moody, unpredictably emotional, had terrible excema, and under-the-radar depression (just what you want in a 6 year old, right?) But my brother's dramatic episodes (bit the school principal after snacktime gone awry, had seizures once when exposed to fumes from floor refinishing, new carpet in his classroom made him how in the coat room and bang his head on the floor) were what triggered my parents to look for solutions. They, too, heard of an allergist on the Donahue show, and her practice was nearby. My brother did extensive testing, and the family went on an elimination diet, followed by a rotation diet to minimize food reactions, and cut out artificial colors, flavors, perfumes, etc. TOTAL LIFE CHANGE. My brother improved (the bitten principal said he was an entirely different student, and even apologized for not believing it might be allergies). Unexpectedly, I improved right along with my brother. Even my dad found some foods that were affecting him. It wasn't easy. We switched pediatricians, and even schools at one point, when they pushed back on understanding and accommodating our allergy needs. As a kid, I learned to avoid my allergy triggers, and if in doubt, brought that birthday treat home so mom could assess it before I ate it. I DID feel excluded socially when my lunch looked so different from the hohos and fruit rollups of my friends, but I felt better physically and emotionally, and even then I knew the difference was worth it. I'm in my 30s now, and raising step kids with many of the dietary practices I learned. There's a wider range of dye free, perfume free, artificial flavor free choices now, but we're still vigilant. I strongly recommend the books my allergist wrote, they are great for picking up on oddball symptoms like under eye bags, red ears, excema, and "brain allergies" like emotional swings, dyslexia, aggressive behavior, inability to focus, handwriting changes, etc. She also looks at many types of consumed and environmental triggers - there can be lots of layers, most sensitive folks don't have just one trigger. Anyhow, I don't want to ramble, so check out "Is This Your Child", "Our Toxic World", etc by Dr. Doris Rapp. Amazing resources, I'm 30 years of proof. Lastly, thanks to all the parents reading and commenting here... it's not easy to find answers when so much of the world thinks "if it's in my food/lotion/clothing/furniture it must be harmless". Please keep looking. You CAN find answers, it DOES get better.
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- Jenna
  March 3, 2015 at 8:09 am
  Hi Sarah, it's Jenna! Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to share the story of your own family growing up. I appreciate the book suggestions and your thoughts about different triggers. You are an encouragement to me, and others! Thank you!
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Martine Walker
March 1, 2015 at 9:04 am
what an amazing story and kudos to figuring this out on your own. Issues like this seem to be occurring more and more and many traditional doctors dont make the nutritional connections nor is the subject studied at the rate it should be. I wanted to reach out and let you know that i also have an allergy to any petro/coal based products. I am sure you have studied the long list of other products with petro or coal based ingredients and you may have already researched the list of cross sensitivites that his allergy may cause. I became aware of my allergy after using hair dye and it nearly killed me. I am also weary of anything pigment based. The strange cross sensitivity that i found is that of "caine" products (novocaine for example)....i have heard of other people with the same coal tar allergy that went into anapahlactic shock after receiving an injection of a "caine" drug (ie: child birth). I also learned that people with this cross sensitivity were okay with lidocaine. So when i go to the dentist i always request lidocaine vs novocaine. I just wanted to share some of the things i learned as it took a lit of research to find this info. Of course none of it is researched or official but interesting none the less.
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Joy Rempel
March 1, 2015 at 9:28 am
I'm so curious to know what supplements you have your daughter on?! Your story is my story with my son. He is now 8. He's amazing. However, I am so excited to learn and research the BHT and other petroleum based products because I had NO idea they were related! Although he's so much better, and yes, astronomically is the PERFECT word, he's still a very emotional kid (which I love when he's smothering me with love). Now you've got me wondering if he is perhaps a little sensitive to a little more than dyes. Onto some research for me! Thanks for sharing your story! I CRINGE now when I see schools, doctors, restaurants, etc, giving out colored treats. Just....NO. It needs to stop.
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Jamie Rogers-Kirk
March 1, 2015 at 10:01 am
My question is, what do you do at birthday parties? They are laiden with dyes!
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Jennifer
March 1, 2015 at 1:13 pm
I am so sorry that this happened to your daughter. I have two boys ages 4 1/2 (soon to be 5) and recently just turned 3yrs old. My older son, has reactions to food dyes as well affecting his behavior but the yellow and blue #5 is what causes his night terrors. Which it has been scientifically proven that these two food dyes cause night terrors. He has also been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea which he has to get his tonsils and adenoids out which will more than likely be happening with my younger son too. I have found out so much more about food dyes recently but also knew about them in past years as I was a Nanny for 15yrs and it affected some of the children I nannied for. I just wish the FDA would ban all food dyes period as it is so harmful to our children and people in general. And what really makes me mad is when they try to use another "word" for the food dye to try to throw you off when your reading the ingredients? I have changed around both their diets but it is so hard to find things that don't have yellow #5 in them? But I have noticed a difference in his behavior and when he sleeps at night when I give him the foods that don't have the dyes or preservatives in them. Thank you so much for you article as it has been very helpful!
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The Healthy Apple
March 1, 2015 at 2:09 pm
LOVE this!!! So amazing; thank you for sharing. So great. xoxo Miss you!!!!
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heidi
March 2, 2015 at 9:28 am
could you share your hot chocolate and whip cream recipe?
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Lizzie
March 2, 2015 at 1:34 pm
Hi Jenna... You may want to check out the website, Mamavation. My friend just posted an article they did on Top 10 Kids Foods/Snacks that should be avoided but are marketed as healthy. One was the Yoplait GoGurt tubes as they have a few ingredients that are harmful for kids. They recommend switching to Stonyfield Natural.... Always on the hunt for tips! Lizzie
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Jacquelyn
March 2, 2015 at 8:00 pm
I'd love to know more about the supplements you added. We're currently in Stage 1 of doing the Feingold diet (yet to eliminate corn syrup, gluten etc). We've definitely noticed improvements with just the basic elimination of dyes, sweeteners, and the chemicals, but I feel like we need to do more. Thank you!
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Candice Logan
March 3, 2015 at 10:24 am
Supplemented? Why & how? My sister had a horrible reaction to red velvet cake. She loved the stuff but didn't realize she was allergic until she overindulged one day. She has since discovered so many other "allergies & sensitivities" & found ways to keep them out of her life. Neither I nor my daughter (knock on wood) have ever had a reaction to food like that but I still try to keep from giving her certain things like this in hopes that it never becomes an issue. Can't say I'm as diligent as you or my sister but I'm sure if in a situation like either of yours I would be. So glad you were able to figure it out!
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leslie potter
March 3, 2015 at 1:56 pm
I can relate to your description...especially the growling and tearing at her skin.....my little girl gets like that too when she has dye....like she's a wild caged animal. ***I was under the impression that blue dye is also petroleum based?? I can't find much about this and was wondering where you got the info that it's not.*** I'm also curious what kind of supplements or deficiencies you're referring to.
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Rachael @ Love Yourself Green
March 3, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Nope, you sure can't make this stuff up! I'm so happy that you've figured out how to give your daughter the life she deserves. Bravo, mama. ;) So inspiring!!! I'm sharing this for sure!
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Mortisse
March 4, 2015 at 3:21 am
I have known about adverse reactions to food dyes for years from my ex step mom who had her ece and worked in a drop in centre for children and took many classes for years and years to upgrade her teaching. I never actually thought about the yellow food dye because that was never mentioned although it makes sense because she always said red food dye brought out reactions in many kids but orange was the worse for any of it. What colours do you need to make orange? Red and yellow. This bears further looking into for me.
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Carena
March 5, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Thank you for sharing your story! Our daughter has the same sensitivity to dyes and eerily similar behavioral reactions. We were "lucky" that she also got hives when she was very young and we were able to figure out the dye sensitivity very early (starting with pink lemonade at 18 months and piecing it together from there). She still had times when it would seem like she had eaten something she shouldn't, but I hadn't been able to find the last piece of the puzzle, until tonight. She's had several rough nights lately and tonight was full on screaming, sobbing, thrashing, and kicking. The common denominator seemed to be brownies for snack at her sitters, so I called and had her read me the label. Bingo - BHT. I guess it's back to obsessively reading all labels to make sure we avoid those preservative too! Again, thank you for sharing!!!
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Suzanne Arena
March 5, 2015 at 7:56 pm
Great share Jenna. My daughter was allergic when she was a baby and the red popsicles would make her face inflamed and blood red and warm to the areas it touched. Red play dough etc., I omitted anything red for years. She also had chronic ear infections until 6 months with tubes and for years she was on antibiotics but always without red dye. The pharmisicist said he couldn't give it to me without the fake sweeteners which I wanted to avoid. Sometime around 6 or 7, the sensitivity lessoned and she is back to eating candy, cake and yes, red dye. She does have some behavior flair ups, this is a good reminder to re-evaluate.Where the hell is our FDA? Our government oversight groups are conflicted with commingling profits for our congress that is so heavily invested in the Big Pharma and then the companies that intentionally put things that cause cancer etc. in our skin, food and vaccine products. Ugh! But Jenna is write to limit that which we can control and dyes are not good.
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Christy
March 7, 2015 at 4:59 am
Reading this was a flashback to my son's younger years. I used to end every single day in tears because I didn't know why he acted the way he did & I had no clue how to help him. Finally when he was five, we had him evaluated by a neuropsychologist. It was during the few months between meeting her and getting him tested that I started reading about food dyes and behavior online. We already ate a pretty good diet of real foods and few processed foods, but like you mentioned above, many foods had dyes that we didn't even think about, such as salad dressing, crackers, etc. The final straw was when he ate a red sucker that he got in his preschool music class for good behavior that I let him eat on the way home from school. By the time he got home, he was wild, screaming, hitting his younger brother, and so so angry. I pinpointed that it must have been the sucker & from that day on, we eliminated all food dyes from his diet. It's been night and day. He does have mild ADHD, but his behavior now is manageable. He's not so angry all the time, just a very active 7 year old boy.
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jh
March 7, 2015 at 8:18 am
I'm so impressed by your tenacity! My daughter had a complete personality change from allergy medication, and I didn't figure it out until she stopped taking it (luckily it wasn't long and it's easy to avoid now). Imagine all of the people who have never solved the puzzle and who struggle daily with emotional, behavioral, and learning problems that could be resolved with a diet change! When I take this thought to the extreme, I wonder how many people are in prison right now because these sensitivities alter their behavior!
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Michelle Rushitaj
March 7, 2015 at 7:53 pm
wow! thank you for sharing, that was a really touching story. I shared it with my friends in hopes it can help someone with a similar situation. I just wanted to let you know that JuicePlus is an awesome whole food nutritional product that has chewables for kids with no artificial colors for any moms needing a good supplement for their kids. http://micheller.juiceplus.com
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Nina
March 8, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Hi there.. Same story here.. Amazing that it's possible to have some control over these behavioral issues.. My son is 4 and we found the red 40 trigger on Xmas when eating red and green seasonal nacho chips.. Best Xmas gift ever that I could finally make the connection as the lightswitch went off to 'spaz mode' 10 min later.. Anyway, i was wondering if you ever had Samantha go to a developmental pediatrician.? My sons pediatrician claimed he didn't know how to handle the situation and made an appointment for a developmental pediatrician which we are seeing on Tuesday. I have no idea what's going to happen there and will be traveling from Pennsylvania to Delaware for it. Its at AI DuPont Hospital. they said it should last half a day. I am told these doctor are specialized in knowing how to handle ADHD and autism.I wonder if they will get the connection with dyes and preservatives. So far all the doctors have looked at me like I have four heads.. They just don't get it!!
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Crystal
March 10, 2015 at 9:49 am
We are 4 years Red40 free! What a difference it has made for our child and our family. I forgot about the hair pulling. The moods swings will never be forgotten. My daughter is a great self-regulator. She clearly knows what it feels like inside her body when she eats Red 40 and does well in checking all ingredients.We discovered this through our own research of Austism, Asperger's, ADD, ADHD, ODD. I wish doctor's would consider food issues as a first step to determining an issue.
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Jessica
March 10, 2015 at 11:56 am
We are going through this now with our 9 year old. We haven't been at it long enough to narrow down the trigger. We literally just started 5 days ago. All processed food is locked in our bedroom closet and we spent hundreds of dollars on fruits, veggies and organic meat and that's all we're eating. We already see a huge difference in her (and ourselves, I feel great!). I think getting off the sugar was good for all my kids too. We were so desperate that we went drastic and cut out everything. We plan to go 10 days and gradually add in 1 food at a time (dairy or wheat) and see if we see her revert. I am so glad to not feel crazy, I haven't even told anyone what we're doing for fear of judgmental comments and I'm sick to death of people's recommendations that we medicate her. She doesn't need more chemicals, she needs less! Thanks for letting me share my 2 cents :-)
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Jennifer
March 10, 2015 at 11:12 pm
It's amazing that this topic still hasn't hit mainstream society, parents, or doctors. My daughter is now 18 and the desperation a parent feels when "failure" constantly flashes before you when your child is raging, hurting themselves, and others, doesn't even truly identify the feelings you feel. No one understands, you are alone. People label "the parent" as the problem, lack of discipline, over re-actor and the list goes on.I've told my story many times and I still get looks like I'm crazy but you and I know we're not; our children suffered from the "poison" our FDA approves to be added to food. I thought I had tried everything to figure out the problem, more discipline, less discipline, more sleep, structured play time, structured everything, but still nothing worked to get her in control. I had 2 older children who could eat anything and never had behavioral problems and because they were older they ate a little more junk. That being said, I was fairly health conscious and made healthy meals; it was the snacks!I had gone through years of turmoil and it wasn't until she was about 4, when I had gone to work, shut my door and just sobbed! My boss overhead me, pulled me into his office and asked me what is going on. I told him; I'm losing my mind, my daughter has something wrong. I explained all the symptoms, behaviors, and what I had tried to help her and how nothing worked.He opened his mouth and it was like he was a fly on my wall. He described exactly everything I had gone through, the feelings which surrounds a situation like this because he too experienced it with his daughter. However it took him much longer to pinpoint the trigger. His daughter was older, therefore bigger; and gave him black eye; had even tried to open the car door while on the freeway. It was suggested to him to remove Red #40, Yellow, Orange, and Blue, all at the same time. So he did and it was like your story; a miracle. A night and day difference but his journey wasn't over as their were other triggers. He suggested I try the same, I did; and I too saw immediate changes in my daughter.So strange how I had taken her to several doctors, had her tested for everything, including diabetes, or possible seizures, which all came back with an answer, she's fine, no one in the medical field ever suggested she could be allergic to something (the allergy blood test also came back fine). That was 14 years ago and to this day; doctors still are not too quick to believe the historical account of my journey.It saddens me to read stories like this but also makes me grateful at the same time to know progress is being made and mostly due to the internet! People being brave to share their stories and make it known. And hopefully helping others discover "other" triggers to behavioral issues they're experiencing.Thank you!
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Andrea
March 10, 2015 at 11:15 pm
Thank you SO MUCH! I have been supplementing my daughter and avoiding dye for a year and a half now, but there is still something there. I know she needs whole foods and I know preservatives are the culprit, but they are in everything and in so many forms. Thank you for pointing out the petroleum based ones and giving me a few to look for! I will have to look out for these and give this a try for sure. My sweet 4 year old is still aggressive, moody, impulsive, and dare I say depressed? She is very negative. Thank you again for listing those, and its amazing all the parents' comments who have children affected by food. How I wish our country would wake up and value nutrition over $. Done ranting. :)
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Shane
March 11, 2015 at 8:43 am
I read your post on food coloring and agree with the yellow's and reds and have experienced the yellow personally in shampoo. Have you any knowledge on what blues response in our system causes?
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Angela
March 11, 2015 at 9:00 pm
hi please give me the foods that your daughter can eat please I have a 7 year old boy With a lot of behaviour issues and the peditrician won't look at diet or refer me to a dietitian Please tell me all the foods that she can eat please thank you
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Nadia
March 13, 2015 at 2:31 am
I really appreciate your article! I just struggle with making the switch cause my 3 year old is now "hooked" to certain foods and I'm not sure how to replace them. Also not sure how to start. My husband and in laws are not on board and it makes it extremely challenging to do this for my 2 little girls. Any suggestions of help?Thanks!!!!!
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stephanie coombes
March 13, 2015 at 6:39 am
Good morning.Im from the UK and currently have taken sweeteners, msg out of my daughter sdiet as she was violent and aggressive... I am not sure if it is the sweteners that were doing it or other things in sweetened drinks and foods but she has improved greatly. she is currently on a referal list for ADHD but i am desperately trying to work out other food triggers as she can be so calm... SOMETIMES lol but it is very hard to find all th triggers. I am awaiting an elimination diet called FEINGOLD but i will look to see if the above are in anything she still has. thank you so much for telling your story. x
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Jeannie
March 15, 2015 at 7:35 pm
I had to deal with this as well when I was 41. It got worse and worse over time. I am a problem solver type and I just knew that if these sensitivities developed, then they should be able to be reversed. Life was so miserable I had to do something!I Googled like crazy and found out why it was happening. Food allergies and intolerances. Then I did more research and found that our liver is supposed to be taking care of allergies so we do not have physical symptoms aka allergic reactions. Food allergies and intolerances are all caused by the same thing. toxic buildup in the body, but especially in the liver.I did more digging yet and found that milk thistle is the most effective liver detox there is. It is natural and safe. I tried it and within 5 days I saw a difference. In one month, I was almost back to normal. In three months I was healthier than I had ever been in my entire life. No allergies whatsoever, including epi pen ones.I do not want to live a life where I have a restricted diet and have to live in fear of reactions. Thanks to the milk thistle I have been allergy free 100% for five years now. It can be tricky getting children to have it if they cannot take pills, but I cannot swallow pills so I just put it in my food. Milk thistle tastes about like cardboard and can be put in many foods. DO NOT use milk thistle if you have asthma from ragweed. Milk thistle is related to ragweed. Use organic turmeric for one month instead. It is less powerful but still effective. Then it is ok to use milk thistle since the reaction will be lessened. You will notice that your asthma is better after use of the turmeric.My heart breaks for the children who are prone to toxins building up in their bodies. Some die of allergies now that can be prevented by using the milk thistle or other liver cleanse remedies. I post this in the hopes that word will spread and there will one day be no more suffering at something that is so easily preventable when it's understood.Milk thistle is easy, highly effective, and safe. And with more and more people being affected, it is important to help others know how to repair the damage to their bodies.Our children are the future of the world. Let's give them the best chance possible to make it a good future!
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Merril Allen
March 17, 2015 at 1:54 pm
This is fascinating. Back in the day, we had so many emotional and behavioral issues with one of our four children, and looked into the possibility of sensitivity to artificial food dyes contributing to it. I wish we had pursued it more diligently, as you have. (This child is now a fine adult, so maybe outgrew the problem?) Another thing to watch out for is petroleum derivatives that are absorbed through the skin. How I wish I had known how easily substances enter the bloodstream through the skin! I have been working with a Christian company called Jordan Essentials Bath and Body for the past 3 years, and they are "religious" about keeping only safe ingredients in all their products. My family has definitely benefited from these healthier alternatives to the typical products that are out there--if only I had known earlier!
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Jodi
March 18, 2015 at 9:48 am
I was wondering what a normal day's menu looks like for your little girl? As sad as it is I couldn't imagine how to cook without using something with an additive, and snacks would really be difficult. Any suggestions?
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Denise
March 25, 2015 at 7:23 am
Thank you both for writing and posting this! It hits home as I discovered my son had a sensitivity to Red 40 as well, but that was about 15 yrs ago and the internet was not nearly as resourceful as it is now. Doctors just told me he had ADHD and gave me pills. I never realized that it went much deeper than the dye. My son is 20 now and doesn't believe he has this sensitivity. I hope and pray in the future that he will realize this affects him and will remove these from his diet. I'm realizing now that my 9 year old step-daughter may have this sensitivity as well. Thank you again. This is an invaluable piece of information.
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Kathy
March 28, 2015 at 8:10 am
SAME STORY! Red velvet cupcakes were our wake-up call too. We have completely changed to clean-eating. Our six-year-old finally sleeps through the night. Our eight-year-old, who had constant, horrible eczema since age one, has beautiful, clear skin. Social events and school parties/holidays are a challenge, but we work hard to make/bring our own food & snacks if necessary. I will look into supplementation today...the six-year-old only weighs 40 pounds and is a super-picky eater. It's sad that the medical community is not aware/on board with this. Both our pediatrician and allergist wrote off any connection to food dye. We are currently looking for medical professionals with more holistic views.
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Beverly
April 11, 2015 at 5:02 pm
My child is 8 and has been diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder. I am just now learning about the effects of food dye on a child's behavior. He loves anything sweet. My question is, how do I go about replacing those sweet items with healthier and dye free options. It will be a very hard adjustment for him. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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- Christie Morgan
  April 26, 2015 at 4:49 pm
  Fruits; natural sweets. Plain diet as so many things have dyes in them. Natural foods are best. At some point they realize they like how they feel without the dyes and will stay away from them on their own. Halloween and Easter are hard holidays and sometimes you have to accept that it will be a couple rough days.
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- Struggling Parent
  August 9, 2015 at 7:54 pm
  naturalcandystore.com will change your life
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Candy
April 13, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Wonderful article! Thanks for sharing.
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Car
April 21, 2015 at 11:00 am
Thank you for writing this! I also have allergies to red and yellow dyes, a pharmacist figured it out when I was little over some orange antibiotics that made me go insane. It took several years to figure out there seems to be a genetic component to mine, my dad has the same dye allergies.I have to describe the reaction to doctors as neurological or tell them that I get jitters (which is true, it feels completely out of control) in order for them to take it seriously and make sure any meds have a white or clear alternative. During my pregnancies, the glucola drink is another big dye culprit.To posters looking for candies, start reading labels, there are starting to be many more sweets colored with vegetable dyes (I have found lollipops, jellybeans, and gummies that are safe).
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Christie Morgan
April 26, 2015 at 4:46 pm
So true. We had major emotional issues with our son. After psych evals and speaking with doctors they wanted to put him on medicine. When I asked for clarification as to what was wrong with him and why did they feel this was the best treatment they responded with we don't know but we think this will help. We got to the point where he was going to be kicked out of public school kindergarten. My Mom brought up that she noticed he was angrier when he had milk so we decided to remove that from his diet. Within a week his kindergarten teacher asked us what we had done as he was a different child. It was time for his 5 year check up so I spoke with the doctor about our findings and was told; "if you think that works then put him on lactic milk". Our observations were completely discounted. Greg improved but we found at times that he still would be "Grumpy Greg". We began to track foods and found that food dyes were another trigger for him as well as chocolate. Poor guy had a limited diet but he wouldn't eat the bad foods because of how it made him feel. We went from a son when at 3 threatened to take a knife to my throat to a boy who for the most part was a our happy Greg.
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Kelly
April 27, 2015 at 1:38 pm
What supplements did the author use?
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Kourtney
May 18, 2015 at 8:33 pm
My son at a young age had a similar problem. He actually had/has Touretts. We were able to get it under control with diet and supplements. I am so excited to see a post like this because it shows people are starting to figure out just how important diet is to our children. It's amazing what a little dye can do to a child. Our son had horrible Touretts and is now perfectly fine. If you saw him you would never guess that 10 years ago he had such bad tics he couldn't even catch a baseball; or how he would growl and have absolutely no control when and where it happened. He is 17 so he does cheat on food now and again. When that happens it shows in his behavior, as you talked about, but thankfully he is careful what he puts into his body. I am so glad to hear how well your daunter is doing. I hope many see this post and are encouraged by what they read and that they realize that there is hope for their child.
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Mandi VanDusseldorp
June 8, 2015 at 10:32 pm
Both my children struggle with emotional reactions to food dye. I had no idea about the petroleum based preservatives etc... Thank you so much for sharing your story! My daughter is ten now and we still have daily emotional struggles. I know we need to be supplementing. What did you use for your daughter?
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Struggling Parent
July 19, 2015 at 6:54 pm
It is like you are telling my story almost verbatim. One question, what is the supplement your doctor suggested?
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Susan
August 14, 2015 at 5:04 pm
My daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 11 months ago. I decided to go to a naturopath instead of putting her on psychotic medicine. She did a mineral hair analysis, blood tests, and allergy testing. She is gluten free, egg free, yeast free, tomato free , mustard free, and yogurt free. She had a number of minerals in which she was deficient and has only been treated with nutrition and supplements and she no longer hears voices. Amazing!
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Katie
September 14, 2015 at 11:00 am
Thank you so much for sharing! The last time I ate red#40 I was hospitalized with a extreme migraine where I went deaf. That was a few years ago because I won't eat most anything red or even pink and I don't eat processed foods. I still struggle with preservatives and never thought that it would be connected to my red food dye allergy. If you have any suggestions on where or how to research this or what to do I would be so grateful. I recently atr preservatives while camping in a remote area and came home really angry for about a week. Thank yo . Thank you thank you for writing this article.
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Brittan O'Linn
January 6, 2016 at 9:12 am
Jenna, bless you for sharing this story. I realize it is almost a year old, but I just came across it today. This is our story to a T! Our experience started in 2011 when our sweet, complacent, quiet 3rd baby (our daughter Carsyn) went from breastmilk only to trying table food. She was 15 months old when we started seeing extreme swings in her behavior. I had NO idea it was from the "normal" soft foods I had started feeding her a few months before....yogurt, Nutri-grain bars, etc. My husband and I never knew which Carsyn would wake up in the mornings. The "crazy one" as we called her, or the sweet child. More often than not, it was the crazy one. I watched this downward spiral and couldn't even believe she was behaving this way. I video-taped her fits several times because people (including family) would not believe she acted the way we claimed. Her fits would last 90 minutes at a time, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. But never less than 30 minutes. She would have 3-4 a day. During her rages, she would claw at her face, pull her hair, bang her head, kick, scream, cry, yell "owie, owie". Nothing helped, but I resorted to holding her as tight as I could while she went through them just so she wouldn't hurt herself. I sobbed right along with her, praying the whole time for God to show us what was going on. Naturally I thought she had something wrong with her, though I never would have guessed food dyes. After all, she was eating nearly the same diet as my other kids (we have 5 now) and no one else was reacting this way. After multiple blood tests (within normal ranges), our pediatrician suggested a CT scan of her brain. We agreed. If you've ever watched your two year old be strapped down and scanned, than you know what I went through. I cried the whole time, praying that it would show something so it wasn't all in vain. The CT scan results were normal, of course, but her rages increased. We started tracking them, but couldn't figure out the trigger. Our next step was an EEG. (Our doctor thought maybe she was having mini seizures). That too, was normal. We were sent to a specialist on growth (she wasn't gaining weight), and a nutritionist, and neither one of them saw any problem with what she was eating. After all, she was eating fairly healthy, normal toddler food. I was told, "This is just how she will probably be the rest of her life." I walked away from the appointment in tears. I knew I would never go back to that specialist, and I also knew I would never stop researching what could be causing this behavior. This is just the tip of the ice burg, because it wasn't until another 8 months had passed that I ran across a book called, "What's Eating Your Child" by Kelly Dorfman. It was there that I was introduced to the thought that food dyes can be harmful. I immediately started researching "food dyes and tantrums" and suddenly my eyes were opened to what it could be. We immediately eliminated all artificial colors from Carsyn's diet and I continued to track her behavior. I kid you not, it took her about 3 weeks to detox. The fits continued and I began to question if that was even the issue. Than one day they stopped. Cold turkey. This monster of a child returned to the sweetest little girl I have ever seen. Unless you have seen a child go through this first hand, you can not fully understand. In case we needed a reminder, about a year after we stopped the food dyes, she had two bites of an Arby's sandwich that had Yellow #5 in it (the cheese sauce), before I grabbed it from her. We thought we had dodged a bullet, until less than 12 hours later the fit started. It lasted off an on for a full day. The results? A hole in her bedroom wall, scratches on her face, and clumps of hair on her bedroom floor. She often asks when she can eat certain treats like her friends. I don't know sweet girl, I don't know. But what I do know is that God put her in our family because He knew we wouldn't take the doctor's suggestions (medication), and that we'd never believe that "this is how she'll be the rest of her life". I love the 5-year old she is today and I praise God we discovered the triggers before she was put through more tests and procedures. If anyone is going through this, take heart! You are not alone. It will get better. Right now, it feels like the majority people and companies out there do not see the harm in food dyes and preservatives. But I believe it will gradually come more into light, the more we speak up for our kids. And on a side note, we do all our grocery shopping at Aldi. Not only can we feed a family of 7 for a month for just $500, they have committed to removing ALL synthetic colors and preservatives from their food. They started their plight of changing their products in 2015, and have almost completed everything in their store. As a treat, we bought Aldi's version of "Fruit Loops" for my daughter a few months ago (tastes the same and completely dye free!) The smile on her face was worth what we have gone through. This is a battle I'm willing to fight and I praise God there are other families willing to fight for their kids too!
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Elizabeth Boone
February 7, 2016 at 7:17 am
Deja vu.. This is so similar to my experience. My son could not hold eye contact, he could not function in everyday social situations. To this day I am saddened just reading your story and recalling the time and experiences my son was robbed of because of something in the food I was feeding him. When I discovered the issues were tied to red/yellow dye I felt deceived and violated. I have to read the box of everything I buy and, avoid a large number of resturants. I had always thought the FDA would do the right thing and our food was safe, some say "Ignorance is Bliss", in many cases thats probably true but not in this situation. I created a FB page "Parents Against Food Dye" to help spread the word to other parents. Every chance I can I tell parents about our story.
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Lena Martin
February 8, 2016 at 11:59 am
I spent 40 minutes reading through all of the comments and I think readers asked the author for the name of the supplement she uses more than 20 times but she never has answered. Is there a reason for this? I was hoping that if I read to the bottom of the comments it would be on there!!! Please help out! The only specific brand mentioned was gogurt which many of the children with sensitivity cannot ingest due to the corn syrup it contains. Please help!
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- Deliciously Organic
  February 8, 2016 at 1:27 pm
  She has Sam on a probiotic, fish oil and multivitamin. Gut Pro or MultiSpore are great choices for a probiotic, Green Pastures Cod Liver oil (for fish oil), and Biotics Bio-Multi Plus is a great one for a multivitamin.
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Kathy
March 15, 2016 at 9:56 am
The worst part of all of this is the doctor didn't suggest food additives could have been the cause...apparently he didn't know. Shame on the medical doctor for not knowing and simply suggesting sending the child to neuro specialist instead! Doctors need to make themselves aware if they truly want to help their patients, and they should stop prescribing all of the pink meds they rely on as well. Shame on them that parents have to be the ones to connect the dots and find this out for themselves. What has become of our medical professionals? Starting to look more like big phara pushers to me.
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Kimberly
April 4, 2016 at 6:38 pm
We discovered my child's behavioral issues were related to dye after taking him to be tested for autism and then a bout where at the age of two he did not sleep for four days even with a 104 fever. My doctor thankfully said remove dyes from his diet. We had a new child in two weeks although we saw an immediate change right away. It was life changing. Besides the behavioral change the one that really shocked us is he felt physical pain for the first time In his young life. Great article that I will share.
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Sascha
January 13, 2017 at 11:56 pm
Thank you for sharing your story! I hope more parents avoid food coloring! We had an eye-opening experience with red dye as well. I knew to avoid it before my kids were born. We had dye-free everything in the house. My twin boys had never had it until they found a 4 oz jar of red sprinkles left over from a once/yr cookie making with my older daughter. (An aunt had bought them) My boys were 3 at the time. One of the boys ate 1/2 the jar of red sprinkles before I caught him and almost immediately lost his speech. He couldn't spit out what he wanted to say and what he could came out with severe stuttering. It was scary to watch it happening. It lasted for hours. Now they know no red-dye ever.
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Laura
February 17, 2017 at 8:00 pm
In the 1980's, I was in 3rd grade and lived next door to a woman who was running the Feingold Association. She introduced me to "brown spaghetti" (whole wheat pasta) and taught me about the harmful effects of food colorings, preservatives, and additives all those years ago. It has been nearly 40 years, and it saddens me that these dyes are still allowed in our foods - specifically foods targeted at children. I am so glad that you were able to figure out the link for your daughter.
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Tena
February 18, 2017 at 11:30 am
Laundry detergent is also petroleum based. After 10 washings you are wearing a cup of laundry detergent on your clothes. And it only takes 26 seconds for it to begin absorbing into your skin. I use a laundry ball with ceramic beads. And the new Free and Clear is not free and clear! Just check for yourself.
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Missy
April 4, 2017 at 12:56 pm
How do you ensure that she doesn't get these things at school. Seems to me if it isn't an official "allergy" they don't really care. I think there are a lot of unhealthy ingredients in the school's food as well. I know I can send lunch but what about all the holidays, birthday's, etc. that they get treats? This is where I struggle. I try to educate my children but they are young enough they don't fully understand. I always let their teachers know but they often "forget" my request. I feel so strongly about this but it is hard to find support.Thank you! Missy
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Anna Cesnjevar
August 29, 2017 at 12:13 am
The hearing suggested that more study be undertaken to examine the effects of dyes on behavior but scientific study aside, there are many who report personal stories that artificial dye consumption results in behavioral issues including hyperactivity, attention deficit, irritability, and lack of attention. Arguably, these symptoms could also roll up to larger behavioral problems such as altered relationships with peers.
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MIchelle
November 8, 2017 at 8:16 pm
My son is 12 now and we was diagnosed ADHD when he was in 1st grade. WE tried medication but did not like the side effects. We then learned about ways to control with his diet. We have learned that BHT, BHA, TBHQ, MSG and all coloring sets him off. I truly wish there were professionals who would research this and learn to control it. He struggles with it not being fair and so he often wants to “test” out things, which leads to very difficult weeks. If anyone learns Of any professionals please let me know.
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