I think i am allergic to food coloring (or dye)..?

Question

For as long as i can remember, foods with a lot of food coloring have had a chemical taste that i disregarded as being normal. I thought everyone tasted it until a friend and i each had a decorative red-white-and-blue frosting-loaded cookie. I mentioned the taste, and she didn't know what i was talking about. I asked my dad if he did and he said the cookie tasted like tin foil. sounds like it must be genetic, but anyway, just wondering if there is a certain dye that some people are alergic to, and if so should i avoid it?

Answer 1

Hi, I'm an asthma/allergy nurse specialist.

I agree that you're not experiencing an allergic reaction to the dye, but rather a sensitivity reaction. Some people carry genes that allow them to taste things other people can't. I suspect you have this sort of "taste" gene.

But, it is possible for people to be allergic to dyes. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are: itching, rash, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling.

There is a type of coloring used in foods and medications that will NOT cause allergic reactions. These colorings are called "Lakes". A lake is not absorbed in the blood stream like a dye is. Lakes pass through your body intact, so they are considered to be inert (which means they won't cause a reaction).

Answer 2

I am allergic to blue and red. The red especially. It makes my gums red, swollen and irritated, and I will get an urinary infection from it if I eat much(like when I am craving red hots candy or cinnamon jolly ranchers). I also taste the food coloring and didn't understand as a kid why everybody liked the colored frostings better than vanilla. They just tasted the vanilla and I got yuck for a taste. Good luck and I hope your allergies don't worsen with age. Mine have and I am allergic to way too many things, even antibiotics!

Answer 3

An allergy causes a reaction in your body. What you have is a sensitivity. It's not uncommon, I know what you're talking about. Excessive amounts of red dye give me that tinny taste too, along with other types of dyes and chemicals added to our food.

Your best bet is to just try to stay away from processed, artificially sweetened, fried or other generally crap food for your body.

Answer 4

I used pink nutrition coloring on my domestic dog this previous weekend. I mixed one aspect nutrition coloring to three substances water, then sprayed it onto his dry hair with a astounding mist. I wore gloves, then rubbed it into his hair. I worked in sections, then blowed dried as I did each and each and every section. he's a Maltese with 6 inches of hair. It took me about an hour and an element. it is truly of a messy job, so once you've a gigantic floor self-discipline to do it, I propose this. it is going to rub off onto concerns, so conceal your furniture, and placed across teen wipes with you, to bathe your palms in certain circumstances. i do no longer forsee any impediment washing it out considering that the fur round his mouth is now white from each and each and every time he has taken a drink. do not pay interest to the animal rights nuts contained in the marketplace. My domestic dog is purely as happy being pink as he became once white. I dyed him for a Halloween contest and he received first challenge. i'm holding him pink till this weekend. he's been pink for 3 days and under no circumstances utilising a reaction to the nutrition coloring. Have some interesting, dye your domestic dog with nutrition coloring.

Answer 5

Certain dyes and sweeteners do indeed have an odd taste to them. And some people may not even notice it, though others will. And yes, it is possible to be sensitive or even allergic.

Answer 6

When I was in high school, my mom brought home some candy that was peach flavored. I ate some of it and got REALLY sick almost instantly. I looked at the packaging and noticed that it had Yellow #40 in it. I have noticed with other foods/candies that if it has that food coloring in it I get very sick (nauseated). I think that would account for me being allergic to it.

Answer 7

In a genetics lab class we had to do an experiment tasting different things. Your taste buds and what you are able to taste are indeed genetic - but alas - that is all I remember about that particular test.

Answer 8

if you think you have any allergy be take it out of ur menu then slowly introduce it again see what happens .. now that is long way or go to a food allergist and pay up the ying yang to find out.. homepopathic dr;s can test u for a visit no extra charge..no lab fees etc .. chiropractors now do this. i say go by ur own way and test it on urself give it 24 hrs to get out of ur sysytem. at least before introducing the culprit

Answer 9

try a couple home test. red no # 5 SOUNDS like the allergy. they switched dyes to no 40.so check the packaging........if its no 5 avoid.yes it is in some products,some store brand kool-aids ....type drinks....to see wash you inside elbow and apply some there put medical tape over it do it again the next 2 days.good luck......all so check to see if you allergic to red crape paper..............good luck.....