Information about Sue Dengate, BA. Dip. Ed.

Sue Dengate is a psychology graduate and former high school teacher who became interested in the effects of food additives after the birth of her first child 20 years ago. Since then, Sue has focused on the effects of food chemicals on children’s behaviour, health and learning ability. She is author of the bestselling Fed Up series, published by Random House Australia. In 2001, Sue completed a round the world 'supermarket tour' to compare the use of food additives in 15 countries. Her groundbreaking study about the behavioural effects of a common bread preservative was published in a medical journal in 2002. Sue, helped by her husband Dr Howard Dengate, a food scientist, runs the Food Intolerance Network through the website www.fedup.com.au. The Food Intolerance Network provides independent information about the effects of food on behaviour, health and learning ability in both children and adults, and support for families using a low-chemical elimination diet free of additives, low in salicylates, amines and flavour enhancers (FAILSAFE) for health, behaviour and learning problems. Sue was nominated as Australian of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and was NSW finalist in 2010. 

 

 

 

Contact for media interviews: Sue Dengate is usually available on 02 6654 9544 (business hours), fax 02 6654 9566, email suedengate@ozemail.com.au, or mobile 0408 801 490.

Recent media releases:

·         Groups welcome food labelling review: call for better labeling (October 2009)

·         Food warning labels (August 2009)

·         FSANZ colour report misses the real issue says consumers (Dec 2008)

·         High profile Australians push campaign to ban harmful additives (Sep 2008)

·         Time for action on kids and food colours (Sep 2007)

·         Food additives again shown to worsen children’s behaviour – when will regulators act? asks Network (Sep 2007)

·         Let’s halve asthma rate in children, says Network (Feb 2007)

Media enquiries can also be addressed to:

PLEASE NOTE: Contrary to attributions sometimes made by the media, Sue Dengate is not a nutritionist but a food intolerance expert.

Photos for media (each 200-400Kb)

Sue Dengate, author and food intolerance expert, 2009

 

Sue Dengate receiving her finalist award in the Australian of the Year from the Deputy Premier of NSW, 18/11/2009.

Sue Dengate at NSW finals of the Australian of the Year, with supporters Jenny Ravlic and Kathleen Daalmeyer of Additive Education in Melbourne, husband Dr Howard Dengate, and long-term failsafe contact Sheryl Sibley from Canberra, 18/11/2009.

Sue Dengate with display of nasty foods, 2009.

Sue and Howard Dengate with a display of nasty foods, 2009.

Sue Dengate at Nana Glen Primary School additive-free trial, 2008.

Books

·         Fed Up, Random House, 1998, 2008.

·         The Failsafe Cookbook, Random House, 2001, 2007.

·         Fed Up with ADHD, Random House, 2004.

·         Fed Up with Asthma, Random House, 2003.

·         Different Kids, Random House, 1994.

DVD 

·         Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour  ISBN 0-646-45925-2, 2006.

Other publications

Dengate S and Ruben A, Controlled trial of cumulative behavioural effects of a common bread preservative. J Paed Child Health, 2002;38(4):373-376.

Dengate S, Dietary management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Aust J Early Childhood, 1997; 22:4, 29-33,  

Some presentation highlights include

  • In 2008 Sue spoke to over 3,500 people in a program remarkable for its warm support and increased level of knowledge of food intolerance in Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Devonport, Launceston, Hobart, Frankston, Mornington, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Mt Gambier, Adelaide, Woy Woy, Castle Hill, Ipswich, Brisbane, Maclean, Armidale and Coffs Harbour.

 

  • In 2007 Sue spoke to over 1,800 people, including more than 200 school children, in Newcastle, Wodonga, Frankston, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Cooma, Canberra and Coffs Harbour during May and in Maitland and Forster in November.

 

  • In 2006 Sue spoke to 2,000 Year 6 and Year 7 students from 80 schools in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, to 550 of their parents and to 200 parents at Leongatha, Victoria, to 100 parents in South Grafton and 120 parents at Narranga Primary School.

 

  • In 2005 Sue addressed over 4,500 people in Christchurch NZ, Coffs Harbour NSW (Coffs Harbour NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children), Caloundra QLD (Fostercare Qld Annual Conference), Brisbane Qld (Autism Spectrum Disorders Carers Support Group and Mansfield State School P&C), Melbourne VIC, Mullaway-Woolgoolga (Rainbow Cottage), Gladstone Qld (Calliope School Tuckshop Committee and a Healthy Schools Initiative Grant), Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns Qld (Playgroup Association of Queensland), Canberra ACT (Fadden Primary School and Australian Primary Principals Association National Conference), Coffs Harbour (Southern Cross University), Alice Springs NT, Newcastle NSW (Federation of P&F Associations in Catholic school system), Sydney NSW (Kesser Torah College P&F Association in Jewish school system, University of NSW School of Food Science and Technology food safety class, NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children), Wollongong NSW and Grafton NSW (South Grafton High School), Melbourne VIC  (Biennial National GymbaROO Conference), Sale VIC (Catholic College Sale, Ozchild, Parentzone Gippsland and Anglicare Victoria), Bairnsdale VIC (Bairnsdale Steiner School), Yeppoon QLD (Brumby’s 2005 Conference), Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast QLD (Playgroup Association of Queensland).
  • In 2004 Sue addressed over 1500 people on the east coast of Australia (Sydney, Penrith, Newcastle, Albury, Burnie, Moe) and many others.

 

·         Keynote speaker, Australian Association of Special Education national conference, Darwin, September 2003

·         Keynote speaker, Food Intolerance National Conference, Launceston, Tasmania, September 2003

  • Keynote speaker, Women in Agriculture and Business state conference, South Australia, July 2003
  • Fed Up with Children's Behaviour, preschool teachers professional development, Canberra, June, 2003
  • Food Intolerance, sponsored by Allergy NZ, Christchurch New Zealand, 2003
  • The Breeding, Reading and Feeding Speakers Tour, Queensland Playgroup Association, Brisbane 2002
  • Children's Access and Equity Resource Support Unit workshop, Brisbane 2002
  • Children's Services Resources and Advisory Program presentation and workshop, Canberra 2002
  • Fed up with restless babies, Australian Breastfeeding Association/Australian Lactation Consultants Association, Victorian Branch conference, Melbourne, 2002
  • Food for Kids, 8-event tour of Tasmania for the Tasmania Playgroup Association and Tasmanian Asthma Foundation, 2001
  • Motherinc, Sydney, 2001
  • Hyperactive Children's Support Group, London, UK 2001
  • Effects of food on children's behaviour, sponsored by Derry PTA, New Hampshire, USA 2001
  • Youth at Risk Conference, Australian Federal Police, 2000
  • National Asthma Conference, 1999

 Sue also appears frequently on national television, including A Current Affair and Today Tonight

Links for Howard Dengate and Taghairm Research

  Website: www.fedup.com.au