" We first started the diet as a family 2 years ago to support our baby when she was found to be allergic to peanuts and eggs. My eldest daughter (10) had been diagnosed with mild ADHD and her wild temper tantrums were controlled with sedative medications. On the diet suddenly she became a human being with so much personality. Gone were the temper tantrums, no more holes in walls, smashed toys and windows. For the first time in all her eight years she was able to sit calmly and talk to us. I cried with the realization of how much my little girl had been suffering since birth just because I was feeding her the wrong food.

During the holidays, she went to the local shop to buy a Peters dixiecup icecream. She found they were all sold out so she bought a Cadburys icecream cup containing the dreaded 160b. I was very upset when she got home and told me what she had eaten. I prepared the family for the coming storm. One hour later it hit with a vengeance. I had to stay in her room with her to protect her from hurting others as well as herself - punching her head, head butting the walls, trying to scratch her skin and flesh off and screaming all sorts of abuse. After an hour and a half of this with patches of having to restrain her, we put her into a soothing bath which usually means the worst of it is over. Not this time. She was worse when she came out and none of us could control her. She tried to run away with only a towel on. She got frustrated when she couldn't undo the gate as well as keep herself covered with the towel. I had locked the back door to stop her from getting inside to me and our three old as I could no longer physically control her. I thought this would give my husband time to come from the lounge room to help me with her. He arrived at my side just as she put her fist through our porch window. We were all showered with glass and my daughter had dozens of little cuts all over her arm. At this moment she lost the crazed look in her eyes and seemed to go into shock. I showered the glass off her, cleaned and dressed her wounds and spent the next hour with her curled up on my lap almost empty of emotion. This episode has affected both my husband and myself in a huge way. We no longer take ANY chances with anything creeping into our diet, especially 160b. If we hadn't known the trigger of her psychotic episode we would have without a doubt had many more days like this that I am sure would have become too much of a strain on our otherwise very happy family. We owe you much gratitude for the knowledge you have shared and continuing efforts to give us up to date information." – reader, by email

Remember that yellow colour annatto 160b is not used in Europe - instead they use the alternative 160a, which is harmless. We are told it is too difficult and expensive to use. European food manufacturers must be cleverer and more compassionate than their Australian counterparts. Not everyone reacts as badly as this child - next day irritability is more common. Headbanging, even in toddlers, seems to be a feature of this additive. This episode demonstrates yet again that here is a harmful additive with the potential to affect many others in more subtle ways. 160b can cause any of the usual reactions. We've even had a report of arthritis associated with this additive.