A fitness influencer was left crippled with stomach cramps and with a red glow after dining purely on foods laced with a controversial coloring agent.

Red 40 is petroleum-based dye set to be phased out in the US under Robert F Kennedy Junior after studies linked it to hyperactivity in children and cancer.

A debate has brewed across America for years over how strong that evidence is and how dangerous the dye actually is.

YouTuber Michael Alves decided to put that to the test.

The 6ft 5in influencer and from San Diego embarked on a three-day experiment in which he only ate foods coated with the dye.

The dye is most commonly used in sweets and candies, so to incorporate it into his meals he had to get creative. 

Mornings were simple, beginning with a Red 40-laced fruity pebble cereal. For lunch he decided to have meatballs marinated in a neon-red strawberry sauce. 

Coming up with dinner was difficult - he opted for pasta cooked in red Gatorade.

Michael Alves ate only foods that contained Red 40 dye for three days and was quickly left with stomach cramps

Between meals Alves snacked on Doritos and Takis containing the dye, alongside raspberry Zinger Dingers — mini cakes covered in a Red 40-laced glaze and coconut shards.

For drinks, he only consumed neon red beverages — more red Gatorade, red 7up and red-tinted sodas from his local grocery store.

No fruits or vegetables were consumed, with Alves suggesting it was 'too hard' to add the Red 40 dye to them.

By day two of his experiment, the content creator told viewers: 'I am super tired and my stomach is killing me'. By 7.30am on day three, he added: 'My stomach is on fire.'

At the end of the three days, it even appeared his face had taken on a slightly redder hue.

He did not gain any weight and didn't say if he'd become hyperactive. However, he did complain about how unhealthy the diet was — saying he'd eaten 4,000 calories of potato chips in three days.

Alves said: 'The Red 40 challenge is going to get a solid overall three out of 10. I'm not a big fan for the Red 40.'

He revealed the experiment on his YouTube channel, where it has been viewed more than 1.7million times.

Alves continued going to the gym during his experiment, doing a mixture of weights and cardio.

He is also shown talking from a hot tub and a cold plunge.

He did not say whether the dye-drenched diet had affected his workout routines or fitness, but he did mention feeling much more tired than normal.

Red 40, or Allura Red AC, is a petroleum-based dye made by extracting hydrocarbons from petroleum that are then processed and have salts added to create a brilliant red color.

This is added to foods to make them more appealing to consumers, with Red 40 being the most commonly used food dye in the US — in more than 36,000 products according to campaigners.

But over recent decades, studies have suggested the coloring could be linked to hyperactivity, irritability and trouble focusing in children.

A 2023 paper in mice suggested the dye can damage DNA and cause inflammation in the colon, potentially raising the risk of colon cancer — which is currently surging among young adults.

But the FDA said there was not enough evidence that it poses a risk to health, despite the European Union restricting its use in 2010 and California and West Virginia approving bans on the coloring.

In Europe, products that contain Red 40 must now carry a warning label — amounting to an effective ban as many companies switched out the color for natural alternatives.

Pictured above are some of the Red 40-laced foods that Alves consumed while on the diet

Yesterday, RFK Jr and new FDA leader Dr Marty Makary revealed they were planning to phase out and eventually ban the dye in the US within the next two years — alongside seven others.

Dr Makary, a trained surgeon, began his remarks by calling attention to an oft-cited review in The Lancet, which reported on ties between artificial food dyes and hyperactivity in children.

'So, why are we taking a gamble,' he said rhetorically to the assembled crowd of reporters and MAHA moms clutching signs calling for the dyes to be banned.

The Trump administration is now telling food companies to phase out six dyes by the end of 2026: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2 and Green 3. 

They have also revoked approval for two others: Citrus Red 2 and Orange B.

Officials are telling businesses to switch to natural alternatives, such as beet juice.

It follows a ban on Red 3 revealed by the administration in January, and moves in the states to also ban the dyes over fears they could be harmful.

Alves did not research the dye before starting the experiment, and it is unclear whether he was aware of the alleged health risks.

Alves did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail.