Printer-friendly format What about those "harmless" food dyes? Here are some studies that give a different picture of the "harmlessness" of the synthetic food dyes in our modern Technicolor diet.

• Sasaki 2002 - "All seven dyes induced DNA damage in the gastrointestinal organs at a low dose"

• Dees et al, 1997 - "Consumption of Red No. 3 (erythrosine), which has estrogenlike growth stimulatory properties…could be a significant risk factor in human breast carcinogenesis (cancer)."

• Tsuda et al, 2001 - "…the 3 azo additives we examined (three red dyes, including Red No. 3) induced colon DNA damage at a very low dose…"

• Vorhees 1983 - "Red-40 . . . produced evidence of both physical and behavioral toxicity in developing rats. . ."

• Abdel 1997 - Red No. 3 was shown to cause abnormalities and reduced mobility of sperm in mice.

• Koutsogeoropoulou et al 1998 - Two food dyes, amaranth and tartrazine (Red No. 2 and Yellow No. 5) were found to suppress the immune system. [Note: Red 2 is no longer allowed to be used in food in the U.S. but is still permitted in drugs and cosmetics.]

  While the insoluble form, Red No. 3 Lake, is now illegal, Red No. 3 itself is still very much in use.

• Red No. 3 is the notorious dye the Food and Drug Administration has tried, unsuccessfully, to ban. Containing iodine compounds, it has long been known to trigger thyroid cancer in animals. Now add estrogen-like properties, breast cancer risk, damage to colon DNA and reproductive abnormalities. Red 3 is used in many foods, including the cherries in fruit cocktail. It also doubles as a pesticide, being sprayed on manure piles to kill fly's eggs.

• More . . .

And here are a few studies about what these "harmless" dyes may be doing to our children. It is not an allergy but a side effect of these drug-like chemicals.

• Boris 1994 - Foods and Additives are Common Causes of the Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in Children
  

• Pelsser 2002 - "In young children with ADHD an elimination diet can lead to a statistically significant decrease in symptoms."

• Rowe 1994 - "Significant reactions [to tartrazine, Yellow #5] were observed at all six dose levels. A dose response effect was obtained."

• Egger 1985 - 81.6% of hyperactive children improved on an oligoantigenic [extremely limited Feingold-type diet] diet.

• Egger 1983 - "symptoms which improved [on an additive-free diet] in addition to headache included abdominal pain, behaviour disorder, fits, asthma, and eczema".

• More on ADHD. . .    More on Asthma . . .    and more . . .

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The comet assay with 8 mouse organs: results with 39 currently used food additives. Sasaki YF, Kawaguchi S, Kamaya A, Ohshita M, Kabasawa K, Iwama K, Taniguchi K, Tsuda S., Mutation Research 2002 Aug 26;519(1-2):103-19

We determined the genotoxicity of 39 chemicals currently in use as food additives. . . Of all the additives, dyes were the most genotoxic. Amaranth, Allura Red, New Coccine, Tartrazine, Erythrosine, Phloxine, and Rose Bengal induced dose-related DNA damage in the glandular stomach, colon, and/or urinary bladder. All seven dyes induced DNA damage in the gastrointestinal organs at a low dose (10 or 100mg/kg). Among them, Amaranth, Allura Red, New Coccine, and Tartrazine induced DNA damage in the colon at close to the acceptable daily intakes (ADIs). Two antioxidants (butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)), three fungicides (biphenyl, sodium o-phenylphenol, and thiabendazole), and four sweeteners (sodium cyclamate, saccharin, sodium saccharin, and sucralose) also induced DNA damage in gastrointestinal organs. Based on these results, we believe that more extensive assessment of food additives in current use is warranted.

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Estrogenic and DNA-damaging activity of Red No. 3 in human breast cancer cells. Dees C, Askari M, Garrett S, Gehrs K, Henley D, Ardies CM, Environ Health Perspect 1997 Apr;105 Suppl 3:625-32

"Exposure to pesticides, dyes, and pollutants that mimic the growth promoting effects of estrogen may cause breast cancer. ...Red No. 3 increased binding of the ER from MCF-7 cells to the estrogen-responsive element. Consumption of Red No. 3, which has estrogenlike growth stimulatory properties and may be genotoxic, could be a significant risk factor in human breast carcinogenesis."

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DNA damage induced by red food dyes orally administered to pregnant and male mice. Tsuda S, Murakami M, Matsusaka N, Kano K, Taniguchi K, Sasaki YF. Toxicol Sci 2001 May;61(1):92-9

" We determined the genotoxicity of synthetic red tar dyes (amaranth (food red No. 2), allura red (food red No. 40), or acid red (food red No. 106), new coccine (food red No. 18). currently used as food color additives in many countries, including JAPAN: ...The assay was positive in the colon 3 h after the administration of amaranth and allura red and weakly positive in the lung 6 h after the administration of amaranth. Acid red did not induce DNA damage in any sample at any sampling time. ...The 3 dyes induced DNA damage in the colon starting at 10 mg/kg. ... 6.5 mg/10 ml of new coccine, induced DNA damage in colon, glandular stomach, and bladder. . . Because the 3 azo additives we examined induced colon DNA damage at a very low dose, more extensive assessment of azo additives is warranted. "

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Developmental toxicity and psychotoxicity of FD and C red dye No. 40 (allura red AC) in rats. Vorhees CV, Butcher RE, Brunner RL, Wootten V, Sobotka TJ. Toxicology 1983;28(3):207-17

" Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing FD and C red dye No. 40 for 2 weeks and were then bred. The diets were continued for the females throughout gestation and lactation and were provided continuously to their offspring thereafter. T. . . Red-40 significantly reduced reproductive success, parental and offspring weight, brain weight, survival, and female vaginal patency development. Behaviorally, R40 produced substantially decreased running wheel activity, and slightly increased postweaning open-field rearing activity. Overall, R40 produced evidence of both physical and behavioral toxicity in developing rats at doses of up to 10% of the diet. (high doses) "

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A study on the reproductive toxicity of erythrosine in male mice. Abdel Aziz AH, Shouman SA, Attia AS, Saad SF, Pharmacol Res 1997 May;35(5):457-62

"... The potential adverse effects of erythrosine (ER, FD & C Red No. 3) on the spermatogenesis process were investigated in adult mice. ... sperm count as well as the percentage of motile sperms were significantly inhibited by about 50% and 57% respectively. Moreover, ER was shown to disrupt the normal morphology of the sperm head. ...it increased the incidence of sperms with abnormal head by about 57% and 65% respectively. The induced increase in sperm abnormalities could enhance the spermatogenic dysfunction and germ cell mutagenicity. These findings indicate that ER in the used doses has a potential toxic effect on spermatogenesis in mice and in turn, it may affect its testicular function and reproductive performance."

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Immunological aspects of the common food colorants, amaranth and tartrazine. Koutsogeorgopoulou L, Maravelias C, Methenitou G, Koutselinis A, Vet Hum Toxicol 1998 Feb;40(1):1-4

"We describe ... the cytotoxic and immunosuppressive effects of food colorants such as amaranth and tartrazine.... The results showed clear immunosuppressive effects from the 2 substances tested, although the concentrations chosen for this study proved to be non-cytotoxic..."

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Foods and Additives are Common Causes of the Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder in Children, M. Boris; F. Mandel, Annals of Allergy, May 1994, Vol. 72, pp. 462-8

73% of the children responded favorably.  "This study demonstrated a beneficial effect of eliminating reactive foods and artificial colors in children with ADHD. Dietary factors may play a significant role in the etiology of the majority of children with ADHD."

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Favourable effect of a standard elimination diet on the behavior of young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a pilot study Pelsser LM, Buitelaar JK, Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2002 Dec 28;146(52):2543-7

" .. children, 36 boys and 4 girls, aged 3-7 (average 4.8 years), who met the DSM-IV-criteria for ADHD, followed their usual diet for two weeks and thereafter for two weeks an elimination diet, based on the few foods diet (rice, turkey, pear and lettuce). ... 25 children (62%) showed an improvement in behaviour of at least 50% on both the Conners list and the ADHD Rating Scale at the end of the elimination diet. Nine children (23%) withdrew from the study because the parents were unable to stick to the diet or because the child fell ill. Among the 15 children with both parent and teacher ratings, 10 [66%] responded both at home and in school. CONCLUSION: In young children with ADHD an elimination diet can lead to a statistically significant decrease in symptoms. "

Note: This study was done in Holland where a Feingold Foodlist is not available. Their diet was very much more limited than the usual Feingold diet. Since 9 children dropped out, the number of children who completed the 2-weeks trial of the diet was only 31. Thus, 25 children improving would be 80.6% of them. This is in line with the results we see of those who try the Feingold diet, in spite of the fact that two weeks is a very short trial for any diet.

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Synthetic Food Coloring and Behavior:  A Dose Response Effect in a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Repeated-Measures Study, K.S.Rowe, K.J.Rowe, Journal of Pediatrics, November 1994, Vol. 135, pp.691-8

150 of 200 children [75%] improved on an open trial of a diet free of synthetic food coloring, and 63% of them responded to a single-item challenge of tartrazine. In the double-blind portion, the study identified 24 children as clear reactors, including 19 of the 23 "suspected reactors" [82.5%] . "They were irritable and restless and had sleep disturbance. Significant reactions were observed at all six dose levels. A dose response effect was obtained."

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Controlled Trial of Oligoantigenic Treatment in the Hyperkinetic Syndrome, J.Egger, P.J.Graham, J.F.Soothill, C.M.Carter, D.Gumley, The Lancet, March 9, 1985

62 of 76 selected overactive children (81.6%) improved; other symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, and fits, also improved.

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Is migraine food allergy? A double-blind controlled trial of oligoantigenic diet treatment., Egger J et al., Lancet 1983 Oct 15;2(8355):865-9

"93% of 88 children with severe frequent migraine recovered on oligoantigenic diets; ... the role of the foods provoking migraine was established by a double-blind controlled trial in 40 of the children. ... Associated symptoms which improved in addition to headache included abdominal pain, behaviour disorder, fits, asthma, and eczema. In most of the patients in whom migraine was provoked by non-specific factors, such as blows to the head, exercise, and flashing lights, this provocation no longer occurred while they were on the diet."

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