Blue Dye Effects On Children

My Child’s Behavior or Sleep Issues: Could It Be Related to Food Dye(s)?

You might have wondered why your son or daughter became hyper and irritable after having a blue sports drink or eating a colorfully iced cookie or piece of cake.

The sugar in both the frosting and the sports drink could be part of the problem. But the dye may be another culprit. Food dyes can make some children and teens hyperactive and moody or irritable, according to available research.

And if they regularly eat food with dye, high-strung and anxious might become their norm.

Though food dyes don’t cause disorders such as anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), they could make those conditions worse.

Food dyes (as well as numerous other food additives, emulsifiers, and “natural flavors”) are a public health concern. Even children and young adults without a mental health condition could become agitated after having food dye.

An artificial rainbow

The average person in the United States drinks and eats five times as much food dye today compared to what was consumed in 1955. In cereals, frostings, sprinkles, candy, flavored syrups, condiments, some yogurts, some canned foods, and even some packaged salmon, we eat food dyes. And we drink them in some soft drinks and sports drinks.

Researchers have linked food dyes to three genes that not everyone has. One of those genes produces dopamine, the feel-good brain chemical that promotes focus and control over your impulses. But too much dopamine can cause “dysregulation” or disinhibited behaviors in children.

The two other genes produce histamine, a chemical made in your body that causes you to feel alert. But too much histamine can bring on allergy symptoms. Red dyes are particularly known to cause allergy symptoms in some children.

Regulations on food dyes are less strict in the United States than in some other countries. Some food dyes are banned in the United Kingdom. Any food products sold in Europe that contain dye must include a warning label. In the United States, manufacturers only must include the dye in the list of ingredients.

It’s a good idea to start skimming those long ingredient lists for Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and other dyes. You’d be surprised by how many products have them.

Is it certain that food dyes can cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in some children?

Not everything has been completely proven yet. Enough research has been done to make people take precautions.

If you see smoke, you should investigate whether there’s a fire, and in the meantime, you should evacuate the children, just to be safe.

Blue Dye No. 1

One widely used blue food dye is FD&C Blue No. 1, or disodium 2-[[4-[ethyl-[(3-sulfonatophenyl)methyl]amino]phenyl]-[4-[ethyl-[(3-sulfonatophenyl)methyl]-azaniumylidene]cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene]methyl]benzenesulfonate. What a long synthetic chemical name!

It is also commonly known as Brilliant Blue FCF (For Coloring Food), acid blue 9, erioglaucine, and Patent Blue AR.

In 1993, the FDA approved this dye for use in food generally (confections, beverages, cereals, frozen dairy desserts, popsicles, frostings, and icings), and in 1994 it was approved for use in externally applied drugs, including around the eye area, and in nontherapeutic cosmetics. It is believed that the greatest exposure to Blue No. 1 in the United States is through breakfast cereals, juice drinks, sport drinks, soft drinks, toothpaste, mouthwashes, condiments, yogurts, and frozen dairy desserts.

The effects of Blue No. 1 on metabolism and its genotoxicity, chronic toxicity, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenicity have been well studied. While it has not been found to cause cancer, it has been found to cause chromosomal defects and found to have potential for neurotoxicity (injury to brain cells). This is of particular concern for fetuses and babies under the age of 6 months.

Studies on laboratory animals suggest that synthetic food dyes may also be triggers of ADHD, irritability, and other behavioral changes It has also been found to potentially play a role in the development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and in disrupting the gut microbiome in general. Researchers have generally advised that caution must be exercised when using it for coloring food.

Unfortunately, as the amount of dye used in commercial products is often proprietary, it is difficult to assess dietary intake and determine exposure in humans.

Blue Dye #2

FD&C Blue No. 2—that is, disodium 5,5'-(2-(1,3-dihydro-3-oxo-2H-indazol-2-ylidene)-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-one)disulfonate—is also known as Indigo Carmine and indigotine.

Blue No. 2 is used in dessert powders, bakery goods, cereals, snack foods, confectionery products, candies, maraschino cherries, sausage, ice cream, sherbet, and dairy products, and as a dye for nylon, surgical sutures, foods, and ingested drugs. The color is also used in drug preparations, and in pet foods.

So, should I eliminate Blue Dye from my child’s environment?

There is an important principle in science that states “correlation does not equal causation”. Just because your child is exhibiting behavior changes or sleep changes (or both) does not mean that (s)he is reacting to food dyes. However, it is not uncommon for pediatricians to witness a child’s extreme behavior changes, or night terrors and other sleep-time issues, improve or even resolve upon elimination of blue dye from the diet and from the dental care regimen.

Why not try it? Change your child’s toothpaste, mouthwash, and fluoride rinse to be dye-free. Avoid all beverages that have food coloring. And read your food labels CAREFULLY: blue dye may be in your condiments, fruit snacks, candies, frosting, sprinkles, yogurt, snack foods, breakfast cereals, flavored syrups, and more! Blue dyes are also found in blue jeans, blue bedding (sheets, pillowcases), and even blue-colored stuffed animals! Good luck and let us know if an elimination of blue dye from your child’s environment makes some or all of the difference.