Food colours/preservatives and bad sleep

[Phteven]

Yep, the yellow colours are deadly and they sneak into so much food. The red is easy to spot but the yellow is sneakier.

[christy]

Yeah I have to agree, yellow is a known nasty so it could have just been that. Also milk can cause restlessness, if there is an intolerance or allergy.

[Janie]

What would yellow colouring be listed as under the ingredients?

[Phteven]

Probably a number - it might also say artificial colour.

Name Quinoline yellow
Number 104
Linked to hyperactivity, skin rashes, asthmatics should avoid. Banned in USA and Norway - previously banned in Australia.


Name Sunset yellow FCF
Number 110
Suspected carcinogen, allergies, hyperactivity, upset stomach, skin rashes, kidney tumours, chromosomal damage. Banned in Norway

Name Beeswax white and yellow
Number 901
Occasionally causes allergic reactions in sensitive people

Name Tartrazine
Number 102
Linked to hyperactivity, skin rashes, migraines, behavioural probs, thyroid probs, chromosome damage. Banned in Norway and Austria.

[TheBear]

tartrazine, e102 or e110 - is a coal tar extract which causes lots of problems

Have you tried making some fresh custard from scratch to do a comparison without the colouring?

[Campari]

Thanks everyone.

I just looked at the custard packet, its got 110 and 102 in it, both nasties. Urgh.

I had been making egg yolk custard, just had a momentary lapse of laziness... but will definitely go back to that now. I'm pretty sure she's OK with dairy as she has always had a lot of cheese sauce, yoghurt, & other stuff made with milk, and sleep never used to be so bad as this dreadful custard period.

This is such an eye opener!

[TheBear]

The scary thing is when you research what does into some of these products....there is a red/orange colour that is made from ground up beetle shells!

[Astrid]

In the custard I think you will find it is a natural colouring 160b also called annatto. It is listed by Sue Dengate as one to avoid. We have had major troubles with it and DD1. She can tolerate small amounts, but in some foods it sends her completely hyper.