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Food Dye Use in Enteral Feedings: A Review and a Call for a Moratorium

James P. Maloney, MD^*
Tracey A. Ryan, RD, CNSD
Karen J. Brasel, MD
David G. Binion, MD
Deborah R. Johnson, MS, RN^||
Ann C. Halbower, MD^¶
Eric H. Frankel, MSE, PharmD, BCNSP^#
Michael Nyffeler, RPh^**
Marc Moss, MD

Divisions of ^* Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Surgery, and Gastroenterology, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Nutrition Services, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Departments of^|| Nursing and ^** Pharmacy, Meriter Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin; ^# Covenant Medical Center-Lakeside, Lubbock, Texas;^¶ Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; and the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Correspondence: Correspondence and reprint requests: James P. Maloney, MD, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53226. Electronic mail may be sent to jmaloney{at}mcw.edu.

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is common in enterally fed patients. Tinting enteral feedings with blue dye is thought to aid the early detection of aspiration in hospitalized patients. The blue-dye method is popular despite evidence that it is not sensitive. Reports of absorption of blue dye from enteral feedings in patients with sepsis and other critical illnesses are increasing. The presence of blue and green skin and urine, and serum discoloration has been linked with death. FD&C Blue No.1 and related dyes have toxic effects on mitochondria, suggesting that dye absorption is harmful. This study reviews the literature on the dye method and dye pharmacology, reports the results of a survey of current dye use, and describes 2 recent deaths associated with blue-dye absorption. We concluded that the use of blue dye in enteral feedings should be abandoned and replaced by evidence-based methods for the prevention of aspiration.

Nutrition in Clinical Practice, Vol. 17, No. 3, 169-181 (2002)
DOI: 10.1177/0115426502017003169


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