Ice lolly firm changes recipe after it turns four-year-old’s tongue and hands bright BLUE – and he had green poo too
A MUM was horrified after her little boy’s hands, mouth and tongue turned bright blue after eating an ice lolly – and his poo was an alarming shade of green.
Karen Brazier, 33, bought four-year-old Archie a Blue Raspberry Eezy Freezy lolly to keep him cool in the warm weather, but she wasn’t prepared for the clean up job that ensued.
Karen, from Margate, explained she picked up the treat from B&M and popped it in the freezer before giving it to Archie, but soon after he opened it he turned a lurid shade of blue.
The mum-of-two said: “I’ve never seen anything like it.
“We tried getting it off with a baby wipe at first but it wouldn’t budge.
“It took ages to wash and scrub the dye off and his poor little face and hands which were all sore.
“Not only was his mouth bright blue but the next day his poo was green which really upset him. God knows what it’s done to his insides?”
Luckily her other son, Finlay, wanted an ice-cream, so she only had one blue child.
She added: “I’d never bought them before but it was a hot day so I thought it would be a treat.
“Fortunately, his older brother Finlay wanted an ice cream instead so didn’t have the same problem.
“You have to freeze them when you get home but soon after Archie began eating the lolly, his mouth and tongue turned blue.”
Karen’s rug was also stained blue as she tried in vain to get the dye off Archie, who was extremely distressed by the event.
Outraged, Karen complained to the lolly manufacturers, Rose, who have said they’ll reduce the dye level in the wake of the incident.
The mum decided to raise a complaint as she doesn’t want other parents, or kids, to go through what she did.
Not only was his mouth bright blue but the next day his poo was green which really upset him
Karen Brazier
She explained: “I really don’t want another parent to go through this because it is really quite alarming.
“What worries me is that the product is still on sale and should be withdrawn. I certainly won’t be buying them again.
“My sofa and rug is also covered in the dye but when I complained, all they offered us was a goody bag for Archie, which I thought was a bit of an insult.”
Karen received a reply from Rose, confirming it was changing the ingredients.
A Rose technical assistant said: “I am sorry for the distress one of our products has caused you.
“We have sold Blue Raspberry for many years as a fun and novel tongue painter for kids but we do appreciate it is not to everyone’s liking and as such they are sold as part of a multipack of other fruit flavours.
“The colour used is E133 or Brilliant Blue and is a commonly used food dye. We dose at 100ppm, within the limits provided by the FSA, but I do accept that this might be a little high, so from the next production we will ensure this is reduced to ensure the colouring of the tongue is not as severe.
“I can suggest some remedies, but these are non specific and not from a professional point of view – I would use warm water and some form of soap / cleanser that you have in your house and that you have used on your/ your child’s face before, and use a cotton wool ball to rub lips.
“Again I am sorry for the distress. If you still have the packaging is it possible to send by return the best before date.
“I would like to offer you as a gesture of goodwill a goody bag for your little one to enjoy.”
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