This blog is to advocate for children who seem to have behavior problems, but are really reacting to the artificial dyes found in foods and medicines. It is to help others to be more aware of how food affects your mood. Children and adults can suddenly become irritable, have headaches, and even become angry or aggressive after ingesting synthetic artificial dyes. I recommend avoiding all artificial colors. This blog was created to help you find the information you need.
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Artificial Colors - It Doesn't Just Effect Children
Children are not the only ones affected by red dye 40. Many adults never heard of or aren't willing to check into their diet to see if the things they are consuming are having an affect on them. I wonder how many marriages can be saved by people learning to stay away from the dyes that they are sensitive to. It can cause behavioral problems in adults. I believe that the best way to help our children is to find out more about ourselves. I realized that I was affected by red dye 40 as well. I would feel almost immediately irritable and I felt angry without a rational reason. People have the tendency to place blame on others for their behavior, but if you find yourself being excessively bothered by something that normally wouldn't effect you than it could be caused by consuming artificial colors - namely red dye 40. I would like to encourage people to look into their diet and see if there is a correlation between when they feel agitated, angry, or depressed and when they have consumed an artificial dye - red dye 40. If they are sensitive to it, then eliminating it would prove to be most beneficial in all aspects of their lives.
The Feingold Association, support group for those staying away from artificial dyes, flavorings, etc. has many adult members. Many of those kids that learned of their sensitities when they were little, still avoid them as adults.
ReplyDeleteI JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED I HAVE SENSITIVITY TO RED DYE#40 AND BLUE #1. THE BLUE GIVES ME MORE GASTRO INTESTINAL ISSUES...WORSE THAN THE FLU. I HAVE BEEN PUT ON MOOD STABILIZERS, DEPRESSION & ANXIETY MEDS ALL BECAUSE OF ANXIETY, NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT THIS WAS THE CAUSE. ALSO COMBATED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SEASONAL ALLERGIES & ASTHMA SYMPTOMS. THEN BECAME UNBEARABLY ITCHY FROM HEAD TO TOE EVERYWHERE-NO HIVES OR RASH. EVEN MY EYES ITCHED. MY NEUROLOGIST SUGGESTED IT MAYBE DUE TO THE DYES. I STAYED AWAY FROM FOR A WK END-THE CHERRY, FRUIT PUNCH & GRAPE KOOLAIDES I HAVE LIVED ON. IT DID SEEM TO SUBSIDE. SHE DID TELL ME BECAUSE I HAD SUCH LONG TERM EXPOSURE IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO FLUSH FROM MY SYSTEM THEREFORE ME CONTINUING SYMPTOMS. WHEN TRYING TO RELIEVE MY SYMPTOMS I DISCOVERED EVEN BENEDRYL-CAPSULES HAVE RED DYE 40. THE CLEAR PINK END OF THE CAPSULE..UNREAL...SO I CONTINUED TO "POISON" MYSELF. SHE SAID THE ITCHING WAS A SIGN THAT MY BODY HAS HAD "ENOUGH". SHE SAID THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE INFECTIONS POPPING UP EVERYWHERE. NOW HOW DO I UNDO EXPOSURE TO THIS OVER YEARS & YEARS OF DRINK, FOODS, MEDICINES THAT CONTAIN THIS??? I GUESS TAKES TIME BUT WHEN THEY ARE SO WELL HIDDEN IT JUST TAKES YOU A STEP BACK THEN. I EVEN LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL BENEDRYL PINK TABS-THEY HAVE RED #27. WHICH ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE I READ HAS BEEN BANNED BY THE FDA BECAUSE IT CAN BE "carcinogen" POSSIBLY CAUSE OF CANCER. JUST KEEPS GETTING "BETTER".....LOOKS AS IF ILL JUST BE LOOKING OUT FOR A NEW DIET. HOPEFULLY ONCE THIS IS UNDER CONTROL IT WILL EXPLAIN SYMPTOMS OF OTHER HEALTH ISSUES I HAVE HAD AND COVERED UP WITH MEDS.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog in a search to discover whether or not M&Ms all contained red dye or if only the red ones did. Thank you so much for your helpful answer! I was shocked to learn that ALL M&Ms have red dye simply to make them appear more chocolaty inside. I wrote to the M&M's company to let them know we'd appreciate if they could make Red 40, dye free M&Ms. This is the insulting reply I got from them (after several weeks):
ReplyDeleteDear Michele,
In response to your email regarding M&M'S CHOCOLATE CANDIES.
Thank you for your email.
It was thoughtful of you to offer your creative ideas. Unfortunately, it is our policy not to accept unsolicited ideas. At Mars Chocolate North America, we rely on our extensive Research and Development staff to design, develop and refine product concepts. Sometimes research and development can take years before a finished product can be marketed. To avoid confusion of ownership, we must refuse the thousands of suggestions we receive every year, many the same as yours. Although we appreciate your interest, we hope you will understand our business position.
Have a great day!
Your Friends at Mars Chocolate North America
MM/ROBIASHL011582330A
Please do NOT reply to this email. If you would like to respond to this message, click on the link below.
http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/mars/ContactUsFollowUp.htm?F1=011582330A&F2=ZZ
Feel free to reply to them that you will ALSO NOT be buying any M&M products either. LOL. :D It just really rubs me the wrong way to have my health concerns disregarded so callously.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele,
ReplyDeleteM&M's lost us as a customer soon after we discovered that artificial dyes were so harmful. It is a buyers market and more and more I am finding out that by not buying the foods that I find harmful that I am beginning to find alternative foods without harmful food color additives. I find that with some companies only the loss of revenue speaks to them and not the plea for healthier foods. Good job on making your voice heard. Someone else on this site might find your comment useful too.
We found out that my daughter was allergic to food dyes when she was only one and a half and, after removing all dyes from her diet discovered that my husband and I are affected also. My husband is particularly susceptible to yellow whilst red is the worst for me and my daughter (although all have some effect). Our reactions range from barely being able to control flashes of anger and irritation to being totally irrational (all of us) to having almost psychotic episodes (our daughter goes from being a sweet girl to wanting to hurt herself and wanting to punch everyone and throwing furniture around - to the point of needing restraint). Needless to say, we avoid it at all costs.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, thank you for your post. I think that many people would benefit from your testimonial. :)
ReplyDeleteI came across this site while looking for dye free m&ms or at least safe dyes and while I know this is an old post I just wanted to add that while mars doesn't sell safe candy here, they were forced to in other countries where dyes are banned but they still wanted to make money. It is my understanding that m&ms are sold with safe vegetable dyes in other countries they just don't look as bright.
ReplyDelete