Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources: Delaware Hospitals/Health Systems Contacted

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Delaware Hospitals/Health Systems Contacted

(Updated 3/19/22)

I continue to read personal testimonies from members of our corn allergy support groups documenting that medical personnel continue to administer corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose)-containing IV fluids to corn-allergic patients in direct violation of the contraindication warning on the package insert. It is also apparent that too many medical professionals do not understand that dextrose is the chemical name for corn sugar produced from cornstarch (D-glucose), 21CFR184.1857, which can prove fatal to anyone with an IgE-mediated allergy to corn.

Glucose: blood sugar (lifeblood of all living organisms)

D-Glucose: synthetic glucose (lab-created from cornstarch); analog/enantiomer of glucose (NOT identical)

L-Glucose: synthetic glucose (lab-created), analog/enantiomer of glucose (NOT identical)

The most heartbreaking testimonies are from parents of corn-allergic infants, many of whom have been diagnosed with "failure to thrive" due to the lack of corn-free infant formulas. Hospitals have NO alternative safe sources of corn-free nutrition to feed to these struggling babies, and their pediatricians/dietitians cannot offer any assistance to parents of corn-allergic infants.

In summary, the corn allergy population can consume very few processed foods; and no commercially-processed non-organic meat, poultry, seafood, produce, or fruit due to government-authorized corn-derived acid washes. Many corn-allergic patients must have their medications compounded to exclude corn; and since tap water may contain corn due to corn-derived purification chemicals, many are forced to purchase other sources of corn-free water. In addition, it is difficult trying to find a water filtration system that is not manufactured with corn-derived components.

Therefore, the primary message I am sharing with these hospitals/health systems is that it will now be their responsibility to provide corn-free foods, fluids, and medications (compounded to exclude corn-derived ingredients) to corn-allergic patients. Otherwise, it could be interpreted that hospitals are discriminating against the corn allergy community.

After one of the state hospital associations informed me that it was not their responsibility to contact their member hospitals with our corn allergy awareness message/documentation, and instructed me to contact every hospital within the United States; I have been contacting hospitals/health systems in each state on behalf of the corn-allergic patients.

DELAWARE HOSPITALS/HEALTH SYSTEMS:

American Medical Association, @AmerMedicalAssn

American Red Cross, USA, @RedCross

Ascension, USA, @Ascensionorg

Bayhealth, Dover/Milford, @BayhealthDE

Beebe Healthcare, Lewes, @BeebeHealthcare

Cancer Research Institute, USA, @CancerResearch

Children's Hospital Association, USA, @hospitals4kids

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, USA, @cmnnj

Christiana Care Health System, @christianacare

Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, Wilmington/Claymont, @HJMCdelaware

Kent General Hospital, Dover (see Bayhealth)