Hives: Could they be caused by dyes in food?

Hives are a common symptom of an allergic reaction. People can be adversely affected by food dyes, although it is may not be an allergic reaction in the true sense. It is a rare condition, but it does exist. If you have noticed a relationship between when your son eats food dyes and the appearance of hives, you have most likely diagnosed the problem. It is very important to discuss this reaction with your son’s care provider.

The only treatment for this type of food allergy is to avoid the offending ingredient. In this case, you will need to avoid foods with the offending dye. You may find that some dyes are more of a problem than others. A yellow dye called tartrazine, also known as FD & C yellow #5, seems to be especially prone to causing reactions. You may want to keep a food diary to see if you can pinpoint which dyes affect your son.

There is absolutely no harm and lots of potential good, by cutting out food dyes from your son's diet. Food dyes are generally found in highly processed foods and are put there strictly for appearance sake. A diet without them would mean a more natural, wholesome diet, in which minimally processed foods, maintain their original color, flavor and nutrition predominate. That sort of diet is good for almost anyone.

Here are some tips to follow that will help you to avoid food allergy symptoms caused by dyes:

• Avoid prepackaged and processed foods as much as possible.
• Read labels carefully and learn which ingredients mean food dyes are present.
• Be wary of some fresh foods as well. For example, some oranges are dyed to enhance their bright orange color.
• When possible, buy from local or organic farmers where you can be sure no dyes or waxes have been used.
• Before eating in a restaurant, be sure to ask whether or not foods contain any dyes. If in doubt, ask to talk to the chef or manager of the restaurant.