As far back as 1985 the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs listed many health problems known to be triggered by synthetic dyes and called for the listing of all these “inactive” ingredients in drugs.

Some of the dyes were linked with the following health effects:

FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine)

Urticaria (hives)

Anaphylactoid reactions

Angioedema (swelling)

Asthma

Reactivity with aspirin, sodium benzoate and indomethacin (pain killer)

FD&C Yellow No. 6 (sunset yellow)

Urticaria

Angioneurotic edema

Anaphylactic shock

Vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels)

Abdominal pain and vomiting

Purpura (bruising)

Cross reactivity with aspirin, acetaminophen, and sodium benzoate

FD&C Red No. 3 (erythrosine)

Phototoxity

Elevated levels of protein bound iodine