Is the dye from red chili enough to cause red stool? Less than a year ago I had a hemicolectomy to remove a cancerous tumor from my colon. The surgeon was confident in having removed the mass and no lymph nodes were affected. I opted against chemo. Lately (for several weeks) I've noticed dark spots in my stools and last night red. I'm not sure if it was from the red chili in the tamales I had at lunch, or if there is real reason for concern.