Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Sunday, January 01, 2012
A new Corn-Free Magazine
Due to difficult economic times, which has lead to a lack of time I can devote to the list. I've started an online newsletter/magazine to help pay some bills, so I can devote more of my time here. The first edition will be out on the 15th of this month.
I have great plans for this newsletter, and the more subscribers the more I will be able to do. It should be a time-saver for those of you who aren't able to spend 24/7 in the forums. And while I'm not yet setup for it, I do plan publishing in the newsletter anything I remove or add to "The List" so you won't have to scan the entire list to see what's new (in the future anyway).
I also get offers now and then, and those that subscribe will get first notice/chance at it.
I have great plans for this newsletter, and the more subscribers the more I will be able to do. It should be a time-saver for those of you who aren't able to spend 24/7 in the forums. And while I'm not yet setup for it, I do plan publishing in the newsletter anything I remove or add to "The List" so you won't have to scan the entire list to see what's new (in the future anyway).
I also get offers now and then, and those that subscribe will get first notice/chance at it.
For only $2.99 an issue, direct to your email inbox.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Top 10 Signs You Might Have a Corn Allergy
Top 10 Signs You Might Have a Corn Allergy:
10. You have a non-life-threatening condition with no cure and no tests that prove the disease, but a long list of complicated symptoms, and a bunch of tests which say what it isn't.
9. You find it nearly impossible to maintain/reach your ideal weight no matter what you do.
8. You look at people strange when they aren't sleepy or don't have heartburn, reflux, diarrhea, or digestive distress after eating.
7. You're completely addicted to sugar, especially at night.
6. You've heard more than once that it's just "stress".
5. You take allergy medication like candy.
4. You have eczema or other skin condition which never goes away nor improves.
3. You have a tendency for mood swings or impulsive behavior.
2. You routinely suffer from migraines or cluster headaches.
1. Your doctor (and possibly your friends/family) is pretty sure you're a hypochondriac.
What do you think? Did I miss anything? What were your top 10 signs looking back that should have clued you in that you had a corn allergy?
(also bonus points if the treatment for #10 includes steriods or corticosteriods.)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Organic labels don't mean allergy-free for corn allergies
There's a trend today among those allergic to corn to look for the easy way out. Easy signs on boxes or keywords to look for that increase their chances of something being corn-free. (Personally I really wish we had trustworthy signs on packages, but that isn't going to happen any day soon.)
Over the last few posts here, we've tried to tackle the "corn-free" label on foods issue expressing our concerns that "corn-free" wording means very little to the corn allergic.
However, we've yet to tackle the "Organic" issue that seems to be bandied about today as the be-all of corn-freedom.
"You must look for Organic"… "Is it organic?".. "If it's not organic it'll contain corn."
There was a time when "Organic" actually meant a farmer grew it safely in his field without harmful chemicals and it was delivered to you without waxes or preservatives. During this time, hunting for "organic" foods was a wise choice for people with a corn allergy.
Then Big Business got ahold of the "Organic" label. Now organic can mean a lot of things and even include nasty things.
What Organic means today is generally that almost any nasty thing that was once made with petroleum is now made with ethanol (corn) which can be sourced "organically".
I don't want to get into the debate of which is healthier for you or which foods have more nutrients. If "organic" on labels actually meant what it should, this wouldn't even be a post.
What I do want to make sure to point out is that "organic" labeling today essentially ensures that if a preservative or wash was used, it was corn-based (or soy). Wax coatings on organic fruits - corn-based. Washes on organic veggies - corn-based. Even foods at farmers markets labeled organic can use pesticides made from organic corn or corn in the fertilizer and corn-based washes.
Organic canned goods.. will have corn-based "organic" citric acid. Organic meats are still processed/washed with corny acids most of the time.
I've even seen organic potato chips laden with corn-based dextrose and maltodextrin.
If you want to eat "organic", I have no problems with your choice. I would even encourage it.
However, if you're eating "organic" in hopes of being corn-free, you'll be sadly mistaken.
Over the last few posts here, we've tried to tackle the "corn-free" label on foods issue expressing our concerns that "corn-free" wording means very little to the corn allergic.
However, we've yet to tackle the "Organic" issue that seems to be bandied about today as the be-all of corn-freedom.
"You must look for Organic"… "Is it organic?".. "If it's not organic it'll contain corn."
There was a time when "Organic" actually meant a farmer grew it safely in his field without harmful chemicals and it was delivered to you without waxes or preservatives. During this time, hunting for "organic" foods was a wise choice for people with a corn allergy.
Then Big Business got ahold of the "Organic" label. Now organic can mean a lot of things and even include nasty things.
What Organic means today is generally that almost any nasty thing that was once made with petroleum is now made with ethanol (corn) which can be sourced "organically".
I don't want to get into the debate of which is healthier for you or which foods have more nutrients. If "organic" on labels actually meant what it should, this wouldn't even be a post.
What I do want to make sure to point out is that "organic" labeling today essentially ensures that if a preservative or wash was used, it was corn-based (or soy). Wax coatings on organic fruits - corn-based. Washes on organic veggies - corn-based. Even foods at farmers markets labeled organic can use pesticides made from organic corn or corn in the fertilizer and corn-based washes.
Organic canned goods.. will have corn-based "organic" citric acid. Organic meats are still processed/washed with corny acids most of the time.
I've even seen organic potato chips laden with corn-based dextrose and maltodextrin.
If you want to eat "organic", I have no problems with your choice. I would even encourage it.
However, if you're eating "organic" in hopes of being corn-free, you'll be sadly mistaken.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Company's Corn-Free Claims - Why you can't trust it.
I hear often, especially in regards to our Corn-Free List, that the company says it's corn-free so it's corn-free.
Corn-free means a lot of different things to different people. If you ask an every day normal by-stander if their hamburger is corn-free, they'll tell you yes. They're looking for corn kernels, and since there are none it is corn-free. A few might say that they don't know thinking there may be corn syrup or corn starch in the bun or condiments.
This is not sufficiently corn-free for the corn allergic.
A letter posted on a Delphi-Member's site from the University of Nebraska - The Food Allergy Research & Resource Program, which is often asked to test foods for proteins so companies can make "-free" claims, had this to say about corn-free claims in the USA:
"...in the U.S., there is no regulatory definition for terms such as corn-free on product labels. Thus, companies can establish their own definitions and there can be considerable variability. Obviously that is not a desirable situation as such terms can sometimes be quite misleading."
This is very truly the case with corn-free labels on packaging as it's been tested by corn allergic human subjects, sometimes successfully and sometimes disastrously. It's hit and miss, which is why we require human-testing for any product that we suspect to be corny or that would be high risk. As much as we'd love to, we cannot just take a company's word for corn-free status.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't contact companies though. As companies can confirm for you that something definitely is corn, which can save you from trying it out. It simply means that even though a company has said "Yes this is corn-free" you should still use caution until you've tested it yourself.
As I've posted once before, we don't believe that companies are using false corn-free claims in order to do harm, but merely that they lack understanding of what constitutes corn-free and/or that their suppliers are not well informed.
University of Nebraska - The Food Allergy Research & Resource Program "does not have an analytical method to test for corn so we would certainly not have performed any testing for corn." So if you see FARRP mentioned as the source for their corn-free claim, please notify the FARRP organization at UNL (here).
Please also keep in mind that tests for "-free" claims do allow a certain amount of proteins to be present (parts per million - ppm) so if it's made from corn, and claimed that the corn is processed out of it, there still could be a protein left (your allergy may not even be protein based, but that's another story).
Corn-free means a lot of different things to different people. If you ask an every day normal by-stander if their hamburger is corn-free, they'll tell you yes. They're looking for corn kernels, and since there are none it is corn-free. A few might say that they don't know thinking there may be corn syrup or corn starch in the bun or condiments.
This is not sufficiently corn-free for the corn allergic.
A letter posted on a Delphi-Member's site from the University of Nebraska - The Food Allergy Research & Resource Program, which is often asked to test foods for proteins so companies can make "-free" claims, had this to say about corn-free claims in the USA:
"...in the U.S., there is no regulatory definition for terms such as corn-free on product labels. Thus, companies can establish their own definitions and there can be considerable variability. Obviously that is not a desirable situation as such terms can sometimes be quite misleading."
This is very truly the case with corn-free labels on packaging as it's been tested by corn allergic human subjects, sometimes successfully and sometimes disastrously. It's hit and miss, which is why we require human-testing for any product that we suspect to be corny or that would be high risk. As much as we'd love to, we cannot just take a company's word for corn-free status.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't contact companies though. As companies can confirm for you that something definitely is corn, which can save you from trying it out. It simply means that even though a company has said "Yes this is corn-free" you should still use caution until you've tested it yourself.
As I've posted once before, we don't believe that companies are using false corn-free claims in order to do harm, but merely that they lack understanding of what constitutes corn-free and/or that their suppliers are not well informed.
University of Nebraska - The Food Allergy Research & Resource Program "does not have an analytical method to test for corn so we would certainly not have performed any testing for corn." So if you see FARRP mentioned as the source for their corn-free claim, please notify the FARRP organization at UNL (here).
Please also keep in mind that tests for "-free" claims do allow a certain amount of proteins to be present (parts per million - ppm) so if it's made from corn, and claimed that the corn is processed out of it, there still could be a protein left (your allergy may not even be protein based, but that's another story).
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
What is a Corn Allergy?
When people think of food allergies, they often think of peanuts. Or possibly lactose intolerance (take a pill). Some of the more well-educated individuals are aware of the top 8 allergens; Peanuts, Tree nuts, Shell fish, fin fish, Soy, Wheat, Dairy and Eggs. Few realize that any food can be an allergen.
The normally thought of as 'hypoallergenic', corn is actually an increasingly common culprit of food allergy complaints.
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) has this to say about corn allergy: Allergic reactions to corn are rare and a relatively small number of case reports can be found in medical literature. However, the reports do indicate that reactions to corn can be severe. Reactions to corn can occur from both raw and cooked corn. Individuals who are indeed allergic to corn may also react to corn and grass pollens. Cornstarch may also need to be avoided.
To those of us with reactions, the story is much deeper. While there may be individuals who react just to the raw and cooked forms of whole corn and cornmeal, but can ingest cornstarch and undefined derivatives, we began this blog for the individuals who have worked hard to fit the jigsaw pieces of their reactions together in order to finally discover the cause of consistent reactions and come up with...corn.
Like Jenny Connors, we were on our own but not alone. The definitions and mechanics of corn mediated reactions are still blurry. There are some who have a definitive diagnosis of corn allergy (blood work or scratch test positive); and many who have only been diagnosed through the less-comfortable elimination and blind introduction method. Or self diagnosed based on food diaries and symptoms; and deliberate elimination diets and exposures.
A common thread among our medical and popular information sources seems to be that corn derivatives such as microcrystalline cellulose and xanthan gum should not cause any reaction, but these actually cause reactions that are very uncomfortable. And it isn't that people with corn allergies react to just cellulose, or dextrose. There seems to be a consistent low level reaction to just about every derivative.
The new Food Allergy Guidelines state that a Food Allergy is any adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly on exposure to a given food. (and food is defined as a substance intended to be ingested; whether in it's pure form or a processed one) For the purpose of this blog and the associated ones, the term "corn allergy" will refer to the consistent adverse reactions experienced on exposure to any corn derivative, regardless of the presence of corn protein via food lab tests and/or measurable antibodies in the corn allergic person. (The guidelines themselves say that diet challenge is the only definitive way to diagnose a food allergy.)
We are not doctors or medical professionals. Just part of a small group of individuals with a common medical condition, learning from experience. Our intent is to pool our experiences and research to protect one another, and help those just entering the world of corn-mediated reactions have a smoother transition.
I encourage our readers to find their own level of sensitivity and tolerance.
Companies who make great strides in protecting their food allergic customers have very little to go on when it comes to corn allergies. When we make recommendations or suggest using caution, it is because multiple people (who already have reproducible reactions to confirmed corn derivatives) trace their reactions to a single product. It doesn't mean every corn allergic individual is going to react to it, but it sure does help to know that product A has failed being safe for multiple corn allergic individuals and placed on a suspect list when you're planning a pre-graduation dinner or looking for a bite to eat before a job interview. Hives don't make a good impression, and neither do GI reactions.
If a product is on a suspect list but looks safe...contact the company to verify it's safety for your own tolerance level and then try it out when you don't have big plans in an hour, or the next day. If you can enjoy it, celebrate. And if not, at least you had a "heads up" and don't have to add humiliation to discomfort.
We may not be able to cure this condition, but we can manage it.
Good luck!!!
The normally thought of as 'hypoallergenic', corn is actually an increasingly common culprit of food allergy complaints.
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) has this to say about corn allergy: Allergic reactions to corn are rare and a relatively small number of case reports can be found in medical literature. However, the reports do indicate that reactions to corn can be severe. Reactions to corn can occur from both raw and cooked corn. Individuals who are indeed allergic to corn may also react to corn and grass pollens. Cornstarch may also need to be avoided.
To those of us with reactions, the story is much deeper. While there may be individuals who react just to the raw and cooked forms of whole corn and cornmeal, but can ingest cornstarch and undefined derivatives, we began this blog for the individuals who have worked hard to fit the jigsaw pieces of their reactions together in order to finally discover the cause of consistent reactions and come up with...corn.
Like Jenny Connors, we were on our own but not alone. The definitions and mechanics of corn mediated reactions are still blurry. There are some who have a definitive diagnosis of corn allergy (blood work or scratch test positive); and many who have only been diagnosed through the less-comfortable elimination and blind introduction method. Or self diagnosed based on food diaries and symptoms; and deliberate elimination diets and exposures.
A common thread among our medical and popular information sources seems to be that corn derivatives such as microcrystalline cellulose and xanthan gum should not cause any reaction, but these actually cause reactions that are very uncomfortable. And it isn't that people with corn allergies react to just cellulose, or dextrose. There seems to be a consistent low level reaction to just about every derivative.
The new Food Allergy Guidelines state that a Food Allergy is any adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly on exposure to a given food. (and food is defined as a substance intended to be ingested; whether in it's pure form or a processed one) For the purpose of this blog and the associated ones, the term "corn allergy" will refer to the consistent adverse reactions experienced on exposure to any corn derivative, regardless of the presence of corn protein via food lab tests and/or measurable antibodies in the corn allergic person. (The guidelines themselves say that diet challenge is the only definitive way to diagnose a food allergy.)
We are not doctors or medical professionals. Just part of a small group of individuals with a common medical condition, learning from experience. Our intent is to pool our experiences and research to protect one another, and help those just entering the world of corn-mediated reactions have a smoother transition.
I encourage our readers to find their own level of sensitivity and tolerance.
Companies who make great strides in protecting their food allergic customers have very little to go on when it comes to corn allergies. When we make recommendations or suggest using caution, it is because multiple people (who already have reproducible reactions to confirmed corn derivatives) trace their reactions to a single product. It doesn't mean every corn allergic individual is going to react to it, but it sure does help to know that product A has failed being safe for multiple corn allergic individuals and placed on a suspect list when you're planning a pre-graduation dinner or looking for a bite to eat before a job interview. Hives don't make a good impression, and neither do GI reactions.
If a product is on a suspect list but looks safe...contact the company to verify it's safety for your own tolerance level and then try it out when you don't have big plans in an hour, or the next day. If you can enjoy it, celebrate. And if not, at least you had a "heads up" and don't have to add humiliation to discomfort.
We may not be able to cure this condition, but we can manage it.
Good luck!!!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Lactic Acid Washes on Beef - not safe for corn allergies.
Just in case you had your doubts, it looks like lactic acid washes on beef in the processing is going to be continuing if not getting more widespread in the future.
An article on the verdict of “the safety and efficacy of lactic acid when used to reduce microbial surface contamination on beef hides, carcasses, cuts and trimmings”. (Isn't looking good for those of us allergic to lactic acid.)
Lactic acid can come from milk, but most often comes from corn-based sources now.
In industry, the production of lactic acid is done by lactic acid fermentation performed by lactic acid bacteria.
Lactic acid fermentation is a biological process by which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, are converted into cellular energy and the metabolic byproduct lactate.
This practice isn't just for beef alone though. All meats these days tend to get a good "chemical" wash.
So if you have corn allergy and meats are causing you problems, you'll want to look into purchasing them locally from a farmer who can get them processed safely without acid washes for you.
An article on the verdict of “the safety and efficacy of lactic acid when used to reduce microbial surface contamination on beef hides, carcasses, cuts and trimmings”. (Isn't looking good for those of us allergic to lactic acid.)
Lactic acid can come from milk, but most often comes from corn-based sources now.
In industry, the production of lactic acid is done by lactic acid fermentation performed by lactic acid bacteria.
Lactic acid fermentation is a biological process by which sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, are converted into cellular energy and the metabolic byproduct lactate.
This practice isn't just for beef alone though. All meats these days tend to get a good "chemical" wash.
So if you have corn allergy and meats are causing you problems, you'll want to look into purchasing them locally from a farmer who can get them processed safely without acid washes for you.
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