Two brothers suffered from hemolytic anemia suspected of eating sticky rice with food coloring.

Five days ago, the two brothers ate homemade sticky rice that had food coloring added. After eating, both had stomach aches and vomited, were tired for a long time, and had dark red urine. Their condition got worse, so their family took them to the hospital. The doctor diagnosed the two children with acute hemolysis, suspected to be caused by food containing food coloring.

The two children are being monitored and treated at the Emergency Resuscitation Department, Lang Son General Hospital, and their health is improving.

The doctor said that the use of food coloring is quite common. Many people use industrial coloring to process foods such as sticky rice, meat, candy, drinks... causing poisoning. Some people can get hemolysis even with permitted food coloring, usually due to congenital G6PD deficiency.

Abuse of dyes can lead to acute hemolysis, which can lead to death. In the long term, chemicals accumulate in the body, causing liver failure, kidney failure, cancer, etc.

Doctors recommend that people limit the use of food coloring in food processing, and should use plant-based coloring. Limit the use of foods with many unnatural colors, especially for children. In addition, screening tests should be done to detect G6PD deficiency.