Dye in Enteral Feedings

Scope and Impact of the Problem

Risk for poor pulmonary outcomes is greatly increased in patients who experience repeated micro-aspirations.¹ For this reason, clinicians strive to find a simple aspiration detection method to use at the bedside. Unfortunately, no such method is currently available.

It was once common practice to add blue food dye (FD&C Blue #1) to tube-feeding formula to facilitate aid in the detection of aspiration.² However, this method is no longer recommended.^3-10

A major reason for abandoning the blue dye method is potential for harm to some patients.^4;11 Another reason is ineffectiveness of the dye method in detecting aspiration.^12;13 Still another reason for discontinuing use of the dye method is reports of infection following the administration of contaminated dye to enteral feedings.¹⁴

Other blue dyes (such as FD&C Blue #2 or methylene blue) are inappropriate substitutes for FD&C Blue #1.^{15; 16}

Full Practice Alert & Tools

• Dye in Enteral Feedings Practice Alert - [PDF:  12/2009]

• Dye in Enteral Feedings Presentation - [PPT:  9/2010]

• Dye in Enteral Feedings Audit Tool - [PDF:  9/2010]