Food Dye Allergy: Symptoms, Treatment, and When to Seek Care
Key takeaways:
Dyes commonly used in foods and cosmetics can cause allergic reactions. While most will be mild, some cases can become life-threatening.
If you have severe food dye allergy symptoms that affect your breathing, heart rate, or blood pressure, seek medical care immediately.
Keeping a food diary can be helpful for figuring out what you may be allergic to.
Have you ever wondered if you had a food dye allergy? It’s possible. Allergic reactions to food dyes are rare but do occur. They can be quite difficult to pick up on, since food allergies are much more likely than food dye allergies.
But if you notice that you get reactions to different categories of unrelated foods that seem to have a food dye in common, then you may have a food dye allergy.
What are the most common dye allergies?
The most common food dyes known to cause allergies include Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. They’re often used in foods, medications, and cosmetics. These food dyes account for about 90% of the dyes used in food.
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Reactions to the dyes in foods and medications can include:
Hives
Nausea and vomiting
Flushing
Headaches
Common reactions to the dyes in cosmetics mostly involve the skin. These can include:
Itchy skin
Swelling
Flushing
Hives
What does an allergic reaction to food coloring look like?
An allergic reaction to food coloring may range from mild symptoms to severe reactions after eating a food made with the dye. Mild symptoms usually resolve on their own, like:
Flushing of the skin
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Severe reactions can include symptoms that require emergency care, like:
Trouble breathing
Chest tightness
Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
Abdominal pain
Low blood pressure
Fast heart rate
Persistent vomiting
Severe headache
These allergy symptoms can indicate a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency.
What’s the difference between a food dye allergy and intolerance?
The difference between a food dye allergy and food dye intolerance is the type of response and symptoms you get.
Food dye allergy
A food dye allergy activates your immune system and can lead to a more intense response affecting multiple body systems. True allergies can be life-threatening and affect these four body systems:
Skin (hives or rash)
Respiratory (breathing difficulties)
Digestive (stomach upset)
Cardiovascular (blood pressure or heart rate changes)
Food dye intolerance
A food dye intolerance usually just affects the digestive system and is limited to a local reaction.
Some food dyes are suspected to cause hyperactivity in children. But research is ongoing to determine if there’s a connection between food dyes and behavior.
What to do if you think you’re having an allergic reaction
As soon as you suspect an allergic reaction, your first step is to quickly assess the severity of your symptoms. Food-related allergies can worsen quickly, so you’ll want to be on the lookout for any serious symptoms that may start to develop.
The next step will always be to take an antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), which helps to calm down the body’s immune reaction.
What you do next will depend on your symptoms:
If you’re having mild symptoms (like hives and itching): You can monitor your symptoms and see if you get better with antihistamine treatment.
If you aren’t getting better and the hives are spreading: Seek medical care from your primary care provider, as your allergic reaction could continue to worsen.
If you’re having severe symptoms of anaphylaxis: Call 911 and seek emergency medical attention.
If you have a known food-related allergy and have an epinephrine pen on hand (like an Epipen), use it right away at the first sign of a food allergy reaction.
How do you test for a food dye allergy?
The usual way to check for food allergies is a blood test or skin test. But these don’t exist for food dye allergies. One method that can work as a “test” is to keep a food diary. This involves writing down everything you eat and noting when you develop a reaction. This can give your allergist a clue as to what you may be allergic to.
Your allergist may suggest a food challenge. This involves eating specific foods that contain the suspected allergen while under medical supervision. If you have a reaction, this may point to the likely culprit, and you can get swift treatment to treat it.
If you suspect a food dye allergy, talk to a healthcare professional so you can get direction on steps to take to make a diagnosis and get the proper treatment.
The bottom line
Dyes are commonly used in foods and can be potential sources of allergic reactions. While many food dye allergies are mild, they can occasionally become severe. Keep a food diary if you begin to notice mild reactions, take an antihistamine, and contact your primary care provider. Always call 911 or go to the ER if you have serious food allergy symptoms or anaphylaxis.
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References
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2023). Allergic to the fine print: Food allergy to additives, rare but real.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2023). Food intolerance versus food allergy.
Kobylewski, S., et al. (2010). Food dyes: A rainbow or risks. Center for Science in the Public Interest.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Hives.
Rambler, R. M., et al. (2022). A review of the association of blue food coloring with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children. Cureus.
Witkowski, M., et al. (2022). Hypersensitivity reactions to food additives—preservatives, antioxidants, flavor enhancers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
