Systemic Absorption of Food Dye in Patients with Sepsis

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Abstract
Critically ill patients who are receiving enteral feeding are susceptible to pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents. Measures to enhance the early detection of aspiration include the tinting of feedings with the food dye FD&C blue no. 1.1 During sepsis, gastrointestinal permeability increases because of enterocyte death and loss of barrier function at intercellular gaps. Thus, substances that are otherwise nonabsorbable may be absorbed during sepsis.2 We report two deaths associated with the systemic absorption of blue dye no. 1 from enteral feedings; in both cases, the absorption was heralded by the appearance of blue or green skin and serum.

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