The Hidden Cost of Food Color 

“If your child is labeled as aggressive, then it could be dyes,” Kay Robinson said. “Just try eliminating them and see if your life gets better by the end of the month.”

Parents who are baffled or frustrated by a child who swings wildly out of control at unexpected moments might relate to the story of Kay and her son, Rex. His terrible twos were a bit rough, but when Rex entered pre-school, Kay was getting regular calls from teachers.

“Some days he was fine, other days he was slapping kids, punching teachers, knocking over bookshelves, running out of the building,” Kay said. “One day, I found him under a table, maniacally laughing and crying. He said, ‘Mom, my brain feels fuzzy.’”

In desperation, Kay began an online hunt to find what caused the “fuzzy.” She learned what scientists have known for years; red dyes can cause immediate adverse reactions ranging from hyperactivity to explosive anger. Kay scoured her pantry ingredients, eliminating everything with red dye—and the difference was evident within days. Kay was ecstatic, but her dye journey was just beginning. 

Beware the Red… and Yellow and Blue and Green

Rex was better, but Kay still saw behavior spikes. Her quest revealed that Rex also had reactions to blue, yellow, and green dyes. The main culprit? Rex was receiving a colorful breakfast cereal at his daycare. By providing alternative foods and educating the teachers about his dye allergy, Rex’s behavior became more consistent, and the phone calls stopped. “My mom heart was so happy,” Kay said. 

Putting Rex under close scrutiny, Kay noticed anytime he had a flare-up. She was shocked to learn that dyes are used in children’s medications, too, including Rex’s prescription for ADHD. Ever since, she has become an advocate for the removal of these unnecessary dyes. 

“It was a steep hill to climb at first, but even Rex reads ingredient labels because he hates the way dyes make him feel,” Kay said. “For most products, you can find other brands without dyes.”

Kay also joined an influential Facebook page called Dye Free Family: Swaps, Recipes, and Resources, which helped increase her awareness. She learned that blue dyes help marshmallows look brighter, pickles often have green dyes, and many kinds of children’s toothpaste include dyes. 

To Dye For: The Documentary

Two years ago, the founders of the Dye Free Family page, Brandon and Whitney Cawood, asked Kay to share Rex’s story in a documentary they were creating. The film, To Dye For, was released on streaming platforms in January to good reviews. The film covers science, history, and current events relating to synthetic dyes, which remain prominent in America, although some countries have switched to natural fruit dyes. The prevailing reluctance to diminish the brighter colors is product attractiveness. 

“Finding alternative brands can intimidate people in the beginning, but I tell parents that going dye-free takes effort—but it’s not expensive or just for rich people,” Kay said. “I’m not trying to be an all-organic mom. I’m a single mom on a budget. Sometimes we eat junk food, but it’s dye-free junk food.” 

Kay shudders to think about nine-year-old Rex’s aggression if he was still consuming dye in his diet. “What if he couldn’t get through the day without hurting someone or himself because of a neurological reaction?” Kay asked. “If you are in this situation, just try. It’s changed our entire life. We will never go back.”

For more information, visit todyeforthedocumentary.com or the Facebook group /dyefreefamily.