Can Tomato or Vegetable Juice Change a Bowel Movement to Red?

One of the most unpleasant parts of being a mom of young children is, perhaps, the fact that you spend so much time changing diapers and wiping bottoms. While it can certainly be gross, keeping an eye on your child's bowel habits is important because changes can signal certain health problems. It's a good reason to pay attention to your own habits, too. If you notice that a bowel movement is red, consider the things your family has eaten recently because certain ones, such as tomato juice, can noticeably change the color.

Normal Bowel Movement Colors

There is a wide range of normal when it comes to bowel movements. Because food can influence what color a bowel movement is, most colors are nothing to worry about. All shades of brown and green are considered completely normal, according to MayoClinic.com. Brown, green and mustard-colored are all normal for babies. The exact color depends on the amount of bile you have in your digestive tract because bile interacts with enzymes produced during the digestive process and produces a variety of hues.

Tomato and Vegetable Juice

Dark Stool in Infants

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The appearance of red in a stool can be immediate cause for alarm because it often looks bloody. Bloody stool warrants immediate medical attention, but before you rush yourself or your child to the emergency room, keep a few things in mind. Drinking tomato juice or vegetable juice blends that contain tomatoes can cause stool to turn a reddish hue, according to MayoClinic.com. If the entire stool is red, it's likely because of the juice. If there are streaks of red along the sides, it could be blood caused by conditions such as hemorrhoids or a rectal injury.

Additional Food Culprits

Additional foods, such as beets, red gelatin, red fruit juices and red frozen desserts, can also cause stool to take on a reddish hue. Again, if the entire stool is the red color, it's likely because of the food. Tomato soup, cranberries and foods that contain red food dyes can also cause stool to change to a reddish color.

Tips and Considerations

Diarrhea Color in a Baby

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If you're unsure about the red color or if you or your children haven't consumed tomato juice, seek medical attention right away. Bloody stool can be caused by mild conditions, such as a bleeding hemorrhoid, but it can also be caused by more serious conditions, such as food poisoning. Keep track of how often it's happened so you can give the doctor as much information as possible, MayoClinic.com recommends. Your or your child's doctor might ask for a sample, so be prepared to collect one, if possible, before heading to your appointment.