(click photo for biodata and media contact)

“The mother of all food additive websites” - ABC Parenting magazine, UK

Hello and welcome to the Food Intolerance Network

My name is Sue Dengate.

 These web pages provide:

  • independent information about the effects of food on behaviour, health and learning ability in both children and adults.
  • support for families using a low-chemical elimination diet free of additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE) for health, behaviour and learning problems. Click here for an introduction to food intolerance.

 

BREAKING NEWS

20 December 2008 Smarties success!! 2½ years after the Food Intolerance Network started their Get Smarties campaign, Nestle have agreed to replace their artificial colours with natural colours. Thanks to our 6,200 families for their actions – now you can click on the link and say thanks to Nestle!  http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/classic-junk-food-gets-a-health-makeover/2008/12/19/1229189886151.html.

 

 

19 December 2008 Contrary to popular opinion, sugar does not cause children’s hyperactivity says a new study in the British Medical Journal and we agree, we have been saying that for years. However, we strongly disagree with the widely publicised and unscientific conclusion of these researchers that changes in children’s behaviour are all in the minds of parents – see new Factsheet: Sugar and hyperactivity.

 

12 December 2008 Australia’s food regulator FSANZ releases survey of colours in Australian food. http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/mediareleases/mediareleases2008/australianchildrenco4109.cfm.

 

See Food Intolerance Network response. EU countries have far less colours in their food supply, with only 34 foods containing them in Sweden, 119 in Austria and 344 in Denmark.  The UK had more than 1000 and so far in Australia we have found 638 products with these colours – see list of foods.

 

Two new Factsheets: Chest pain and heart symptoms; Head lice and nits.

 

The latest newsletter is Failsafe Newsletter October – December 2008 #58

 

23 November 2008 More on slushies: schools see red on dangerous food colourings and canteen associations starting to act http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/parenting/kids-health/schools-see-red-on-dangerous-food-colourings/2008/11/22/1226770801002.html

 

15 November 2008 Four colours either banned or in the process of being banned elsewhere in the world due to their harmful effects on children are making rapid inroads into Australian school canteens: http://www.smh.com.au/news/lifeandstyle/health/diet-experts-go-cold-on-icy-canteen-treat/2008/11/14/1226318927579.html

 

 

 

Six artificial colours, which are being removed from all food in the UK after scientists likened their detrimental effects to those of lead on children’s development, are the focus of a new campaign supported by over 100 influential health professionals, educators, food manufacturers and children support service providers.

 

The campaign unites the three leading food additive consumer advocates in the country, Julie Eady from Additive Alert, Sue Dengate from the Food Intolerance Network and Kathleen Daalmeyer from Additive Education.

 

The Kids First Campaign will demand that Australia’s Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) follow the UK’s lead by placing consumers first and banning the six additives in question from Australian food.

 

Please sign the on-line petition now! www.additivealert.com.au 

 

The importance of this Campaign is that, when successful, it will be the first time that food regulators have accepted the importance of behaviour and learning as criteria in approval processes.

 

These six colours (Tartrazine 102, Quinoline Yellow 104, Sunset Yellow 110, Carmoisine 122, Ponceau Red 124 and Allura Red 129) are in the process of being withdrawn in the UK and from the end of 2009 will carry a warning in the EU “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

 

You can help by signing the on-line petition now! www.additivealert.com.au 

 

  • Download flyer and/or small ad for your school magazine

 

                                                       

 

  • See more background information

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/colours.htm

 

  • See Australian list of foods with nasty colours

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/colourfoods.htm 

 

  • See letter to food regulator and our list of high profile supporters

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/FSANZ14.pdf

 

You can now buy the books and DVD through this website – click on covers

 

The long-awaited, fully updated and revised edition of Sue Dengate’s best-selling book Fed Up (2008) is back – click cover for details or to buy.

The revised and updated (2007) “Failsafe Cookbook” by Sue Dengate is available from bookstores in Australia and New Zealand and overseas, published by Random House Australia – click cover for details or to buy.

The DVD “Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour: how food and additives affect behaviouris also available – click cover for feedback from viewers, to see a preview or to buy.

 

See previous breaking news

 

Hello everyone

Thank you to all who have signed the Kids First petition against artificial colours - details above – and see The Slushy Story in the Failsafe58 newsletter. It’s a big win for parents!  We are also encouraged that a number of food manufacturers have contacted us looking for acceptable alternatives, see more about the ongoing battle below. Also in the latest newsletter: more extraordinary reader stories, interesting new products, what you need to know about nitrate-free hams and tempting recipes for Christmas treats. Many thanks to everyone who has helped to spread the word this year by contributing to the newsletter, joining groups, attending talks, contacting manufacturers or buying additive-free food. Howard and I wish you all a very happy and failsafe holiday season

- Sue Dengate- Sue Dengate (suedengate@ozemail.com.au)

The latest newsletter is Failsafe Newsletter October – December 2008 #58

Latest site update is 5 January 2009

 

 

Click on the blue Factsheets button to the left to access over forty Factsheets that answer many questions directly. Start with these if you're not sure what you want.

 

 

Click on the blue Failsafe eating button to the left for a step by step guide to getting started and keeping going.

 Failsafe features

Failsafe information

 

Failsafe support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which products have won Nasty Food Awards?

You can now buy the books and DVD through this website – click on covers

The long-awaited, fully updated and revised 2008 edition of Sue Dengate’s best-selling book Fed Up is in Australian and New Zealand bookstores and overseas – click cover for details

The updated and expanded 2007 Failsafe Cookbook is in all bookstores in Australia and New Zealand, and the UK and USA - click cover for details

The exciting and informative two hour DVD Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour is available. Click on the DVD cover below.  Also available by ordering at Angus & Robertson bookstores Australia-wide.  If you order from an NTSC format country you will automatically receive that format.

Fed Up with Asthma and Fed Up with ADHD are now out of print - check your local library for these and the other books and the DVD.

For the last 14 years, all proceeds from the sale of my books and talks have been used to run the Food Intolerance Network and I neither pay nor draw any salary.  Click on each book cover for more information:

         

Some of the many symptoms of food intolerance that can be helped by diet:

Airways: Asthma, Stuffy blocked or runny nose/ nasal polyps, Frequent nose bleeds,  Catarrh, chronic throat-clearing, Sinusitis, Frequent ear infections,  Frequent tonsillitis, Frequent colds and flu, symptoms of Samter’s Triad Skin: Eczema, Urticaria (hives), Cradlecap, Other skin rashes, Angioedema (swollen lips, eyes, tongue), Geographic tongue, Pruritis (itching), Allergic shiners (dark circles under eyes), Pallor (pale skin), Flushing, Excessive sweating, Body odour, Sore vagina in children  Digestive system: Recurrent mouth ulcers, Indigestion, Nausea, Bad breath, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Stomach ache, Bloating, Reflux in babies, adults, Constipation, Colic in babies, adults, Sluggish bowel syndrome (feeling of "more to come"), Soiling (sneaky poos)  Bladder: Bedwetting, Daytime incontinence, Urinary urgency, Recurrent inflammation (cystitis)  Skeletal: Growing pains, Arthritis  Eyes: Nystagmus (involuntary movement), Blurred vision  Muscles: Low muscle tone, Myalgia (muscle pain), Tics (involuntary movement), Tremor, Heart: Rapid heart beat, Heart palpitations, Cardiac arrhythmias, Pseudo heart attack (feeling of impending doom, chest pressure, pain down arm), Tachycardia (fast heart beat), Angina-type pain, HHT  Central nervous system: Headaches or migraines, unexplained tiredness, Chronic fatigue, Feeling 'hung-over', Confusion, Dizziness, Agitation, Tinnitus (noises in ear),  Hyperacusis, Paraesthesia (pins and needles), Dysaesthesia (numbness), Hypoglycemia, Epileptic seizures, Sensory symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Symptoms of lupus  Anxiety: Panic attacks, Depression, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, actions  Impaired memory: Vague or forgetful, Unable to concentrate, Won't persevere,  Unmotivated, Disorganised, Easily distracted, Difficulty reading and writing  Speech: Loud voice (no volume control), Speech hard to understand, Speech delay, Selective mutism, Stuttering, Repetitive noises, Talks too much (empty chatter)  Coordination: Poor handwriting, Poor coordination, Frequent accidents  Sleep: Difficulty falling asleep, Restless legs syndrome (RLS), Persistent night waking, Insomnia,  Nightmares/night terrors/sleepwalking  Mood: Mood swings, Premenstrual tension, Grizzly or unhappy, Cries easily or often, Irritable, Uncooperative  Oppositional defiance: ODD, Loses temper, Argumentative, Refuses requests,  Defies rules, Deliberately annoys others, Blames others for own mistakes,  Touchy, easily annoyed, Angry, resentful  Other behaviour: ADHD, ADD, Autism, Aspergers, Inattentive, easily bored, unmotivated, Restless, fidgety or overactive, Head banging, Fights with siblings, Difficulty making friends, Destructive, aggressive, Unreasonable, Demanding, never satisfied, Disruptive,  Discipline is ineffective. 

Thanks for visiting. Please come again!

Privacy policy: no details of correspondents are provided to any other parties; where names are used it is with the express permission of those whose names appear. Copyright:Ó Sue Dengate ABN 72 705 112 854. All information on this website and associated newsletter and discussion groups is protected by copyright and cannot be copied for profit. It can be reproduced by non-profit organizations with appropriate acknowledgement. Funding: Note that the Food Intolerance Network, this website and associated newsletter and discussion groups do not receive funding, services or goods from any industry or lobby group. Disclaimers: The information given is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your doctor for underlying illness. Before beginning dietary investigation, consult a dietician with an interest in food intolerance. Information is drawn from the scientific literature, web research, group members and personal enquiry; while all care is taken, information is not warranted as accurate and the Food Intolerance Network and Sue Dengate cannot be held liable for any errors and omissions.

Since this page started in 1999, you are visitor number