Possible red dye allergy

[Fairbanks]

My daughter is 5 now & when she was 3 we found out by process of elimination that she acted really crazy (hyper)& mean when she had anything with red dye in it! We visited the Dr. this week, & I was giving the nurse the symptoms of her illness. She then asked me what she is allergic to. I told her red dye.
She proceeded to ask me questions about it & said that my daughter was not allergic to red dye, that I just didn't want her to have it!
If she's not allergic, what kind of reaction is this? She is not allowed to have it at Pre-school, or I would have to go pick her up because of her behavior problem when this happens! I have read some things on the internet about this & it also concerns me that some companies don't list all the dyes used!

[This message has been edited by Fairbanks (edited 03-01-2001).]

[Babernethy]

It may not be an 'allergy' but instead a type of sensitivity to it. Her body probably rebels when anything with red dye is injested. Both myself and my son are the same. I never eat artificial ingredients, nor do we allow the kids to. 3 years back the neighbour gave my son a couple red licorice whips...a half hour later he was a different kid...weirding out, hyper, flushed etc. He has never had this reaction since, but had something similar with some candy eaten at the same house the year after. Rules are he eats nothing at this neighbours house unless it is natural.

When he started school, My son was given an allergy chart which we filled out...specifying no chocolate products. 1 Day when he was in kindergarten we got a call from his teacher about his behaviour that day...she had not been able to control him and she could not get his attention. When we had picked him up at the sitters, he was sound asleep...and then lethargic until dinner. I asked what the snack was ...chocolate milk, and chocolate chip cookies...she never read the chart!

From lots of experince I will say that you had better watch what she consumes or she will start having really bad reactions when you are not around. Don't bother having to look for what kind of red dye is in the product, don't give her anything with it in...this includes Jello, popsickles and any unnatural snack. If you need to buy some candy, buy at a GERMAN delicatessan, or health food store. No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives...and they taste better too!
Good luck
B

[Fairbanks]

Thanks for the advise! I have really been a stickler on keeping red dye out of her diet & made so sure that her pre-school teacher knows & those who help her. My daughter doesn't even like the way that red dye makes her feel & she will remind her teacher & even me (although that is the 1st thing I look for) "Does that have red dye in it?" She will start school this Fall & I know I will have to take precautions! Thanks again!