This topic is about a person with an ileostomy who experienced a scare after eating red velvet cake, which contains red food dye. The dye caused the output in their ostomy pouch to appear bright red, resembling blood. This led to a moment of panic until they remembered that food dye can mimic the appearance of blood. Here are some helpful insights and advice shared from this experience:

1. Be aware that commercial red food dye can make the output in an ostomy pouch look like blood, sometimes even more dramatically than foods like beets.

2. To check if the red color is blood, you can use the "peroxide fizz" test. Apply hydrogen peroxide to a swab with the red output; if it bubbles, it indicates blood. If not, it's likely just food coloring.

3. Consider choosing treats without red dye to avoid such scares. Options like white cake with vanilla frosting or plain chocolate cake are good alternatives.

4. Remember that several foods and drinks can turn the output red without it being blood. These include beets, red Gatorade, red Powerade, and red velvet cake, especially those from bakeries that might use extra dye.

5. If you're unsure whether the red color is blood, the hydrogen-peroxide fizz test can provide a quick at-home check before deciding to visit the emergency room.

6. Many people with ostomies have experienced similar panics. Over time, learning how different foods and colors affect your output can help prevent unnecessary hospital visits.

7. It's common to occasionally indulge in "forbidden" foods. Just be prepared for possible symptoms like color changes, flare-ups, or stomach discomfort, and decide if the enjoyment is worth the temporary consequences.