Our dd had an allergic reaction...

[Plaid Dad]

to a Topps Ring Pop. She's never had any kind of food allergy before. Her lips and the area around her mouth are red, blotchy, and swollen. She says the skin isn't itchy at all, and she's not having trouble breathing. We gave her some Benadryl and are hoping that will help.

Ring Pops aren't a regular part of her diet ;) but obviously we'd like to avoid whatever in them caused the problem. Here's the list of ingredients - can anyone identify the potential culprit? :confused:

sugar, corn syrup, buffered lactic acid, natural & artificial flavors, pear juice concentrate, red 40.

Many TIA!

[Virginia Dawn]

Red 40- definite possibility
Natural and artificial flavors- it's hard to say since it is so vague, but I wouldn't be surprised, they could be any number of things.
Buffered lactic acid ???? what is that?

[Scarlett]

I'd guess Red 40.

[GVA]

It's a common allergen that some folks want banned.

Lactic acid is "milk acid." It makes things sour, preserves them, and is used to adjust pH. Buffered lactic acid is more neutral though.

If she's been ill or very tired lately, the allergy may be more obvious than other times. I was allergic to citric acid as a child and got a wierd rash around my mouth. Now I only get it if I have a very bad cold or if my pollen allergies are over-the-top, maybe only once every other year or so.

[plain jane]

My initial thought was Red 40. Then I read GVA's post and I wanted to add an :iagree:. I've seen allergic reactions vary in intensity depending on how worn out one's immune system is at the time.

It's a common allergen that some folks want banned.

If she's been ill or very tired lately, the allergy may be more obvious than other times. I was allergic to citric acid as a child and got a wierd rash around my mouth. Now I only get it if I have a very bad cold or if my pollen allergies are over-the-top, maybe only once every other year or so.

[Plaid Dad]

Thank you all. The dye did seem the most suspicious to us. Dd has been under the weather for the last week or so, so it's also possible that her immune system just wasn't up to the challenge. We'll keep an eye on ingredient lists and skip anything with Red 40.

[LauraGB]

I would definitely say its most likely the Red #40.

[Laurie]

. We gave her some Benadryl and are hoping that will help.




!

I remember my ds used to get red/blotchy around his mouth when he ate strawberries or red dye. I was able to buy dye-free Benadryl, but I don't know if they still make that. I also bought dye-free Popsicles called "Sharks", but unfortunately I don't think they make those anymore.

[didasko]

I also vote for red dye 40 and "natural flavors". My son has very bad reactions to dye of any kind. We first noticed it after ingesting gatoraide. Last week he ate gummy bears (which he knows he's not allowed to eat) and actually got hives. He was then given children's chewable Benedryl, and his behavior worsened. He becomes very frustrated and upset easily after dye. I read the ingredients in the benedryl and it had 3 different dyes in it plus aspartame (sp'?)! I went to the drug store and was able to find dye free Benefryl. I googled food dye and allergies and a lot came up. There's even a movement to get dye's removed from food, it's pretty nasty. Trader Joes, by the way, has wonderful organic lolli pops that are dye free and they are yummy! The color comes from vegetables.

Kind Regards,

Denise