Overconsumption of Common Red Food Dye May Lead to Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Allure Red AC, a synthetic dye found in popular foods like Skittles, Doritos, Gatorade, Jell-O, and Fruit Loops, has been linked to an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases (I-B D S) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis if consumed frequently. The dye, also known as FD & C Red 40 and Food Red 17, is thought to have negative effects on gut health and increase inflammation, according to a small study done on laboratory mice. The study, which was recently published in Nature Communications, found that the additive directly breaks the gut barrier, which helps keep bacteria from getting in, and that it also makes more serotonin, a hormone and neurotransmitter in the gut. According to the report, this reaction alters the microbiome of the gut, making people more likely to develop inflammatory bowel conditions. What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye may be a dietary trigger for I-B D S, said senior author W-A L-I U