Non-FDA-Compliant "Corn-Free" Claims (Revised 11/16/17)

Title 21 U.S.C. - Section 343, Chapter 1 - Adulterated or Misbranded Foods or Drugs

The FDA representative I spoke with this morning explained that if a company advertises a product as "corn free" when, in fact, it contains derivatives of corn; this constitutes false labeling, and is illegal; e.g., corn-derived xanthan gum, corn-derived ascorbic acid, etc.
This is why it is very important that you call your state FDA representative to file an adverse reaction report by telephone if you experience an allergic reaction to products labeled as corn free, or if a company representative has verbally claimed that a product is corn free.  Note that the FDA requires photographs of each side of the container to be submitted to them electronically.  It would also be helpful if you save your receipt, so you can let them know the date of purchase and from where the product was purchased. FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators https://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators/default.htm
If you discover a product that is labeled as corn free; but it is apparent that it contains corn derivatives, refer the company to the following U.S.C. regulation: Title 21 U.S.C. - Section 343, Chapter 1 - Adulterated or Misbranded Foods or Drugs https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title21/html/USCODE-2010-title21-chap1.htm

CORN PRODUCTS & DERIVATIVES TO BE AVOIDED

(Note that these lists are not all-inclusive, so extreme caution must be exercised.)

“Corn Products and Derivatives List,” Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), 6/6/17

https://responsibletechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Corn-Products-Derivatives-06-06-17.pdf

"Ingredients Derived From Corn - What to Avoid," By Sharon Rosen, Live Corn Free
http://www.livecornfree.com/2010/04/ingredients-derived-from-corn-what-to.html

"Corn-Free Diet," Golisano Children's Hospital, Pediatric Nutrition
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/nutrition/corn-free.aspx

REMOVING A FOOD PROTEIN DOES NOT GUARANTEE

 AN ALLERGEN HYPOALLERGENIC

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/12/removing-food-protein-does-not.html

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate

Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/

@CornAllergy911

AAAAI, Ask the Expert, Phil Lieberman, M.D., 3/22/13

"Elimination of corn maltodextrin in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis who have a positive skin test to corn"

"Corn is not one of the common “Big 6” allergens that are felt to worsen eosinophilic esophagitis . . ."

". . . the fact that your patient has a positive skin test to corn or to any other food would not automatically suggest removal of that food from their diet."
http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/elimination-of-corn-maltodextrin


In response to Dr. Lieberman's statement, I sent him the following documentation:

"Maize/Corn," Thermo Scientific, 2012
"Maize has been implicated as one of the causative foods of eosinophilic esophagitis, a disorder with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease but unresponsive to conventional reflux therapies (58)."
http://www.phadia.com/en/Products/Allergy-testing-products/ImmunoCAP-Allergen-Information/Food-of-Plant-Origin/Grains/MaizeCorn/

Maltodextrin, Wikipedia
"Maltodextrin can be enzymatically derived from any starch. In the US, this starch is usually corn; in Europe, it is commonly wheat."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltodextrin

My Personal Story:
From 2008-2011 I suffered daily reactions to nearly everything I consumed--it felt like I was being poisoned.  Since I did not realize that I had an allergy to corn (ubiquitous), I did not take an antihistamine to resolve my symptoms; and these reactions lasted for up to 7 hours every day.  When I was finally referred to an allergist, I only tested at 1+ for corn per skin-scratch testing; yet my reactions to corn/corn derivatives are severe; e.g., I experienced one of my worst reactions after consuming a small amount of iodized salt with corn-derived dextrose, and my reactions to corn-derived citric acid and corn-derived ascorbic acid are just as severe.

Therefore, no medical professional should ever encourage anyone to consume their allergen in any amount, unless they are in the presence of their physician.  Based on the personal testimonies I read on a daily basis--particularly from those who are anaphylactic to corn, anything derived from corn can cause an allergic/anaphylactic response.

STRICT AVOIDANCE OF ALLERGEN IS ADVISED:

Food Allergy & Anaphylaxsis Connection Team (FAACT)
"Although food allergy desensitizations are being studied, these are not yet proven treatments, so strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction."

"Trace amounts of an allergen can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals."

https://www.foodallergyawareness.org/foodallergy/

"Patient education: Food allergy treatment and avoidance (Beyond the Basics)," Scott H. Sicherer, MD, FAAAAI, UpToDate, April 25, 2017

"People with food allergies can have serious or even life-threatening reactions after consuming certain foods. The most important strategy in the management of food allergies is to avoid eating these foods."

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/food-allergy-treatment-and-avoidance-beyond-the-basics

December 31, 2017, Notification to American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI):
Since the advice offered by Dr. Phil Lieberman can endanger the lives of corn-allergic patients, I sent a request to the AAAAI to remove this paper from their website.

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate

Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/

@CornAllergy911

Expert Commentary Regarding Corn Allergen (Revised 11/6/17)

Update, 11/6/17:  After speaking with a representative from AAAAI, they have agreed to remove this article from their website.  It can endanger the lives of corn-allergic individuals.  I wish to thank the AAAAI for their efforts on behalf of the corn allergy population.


Many corn-allergic individuals are probably familiar with these articles which are detrimental to the corn allergy population due to the claims by the authors, and the fact that many physicians read and believe their statements without questioning the validity of their opinions.  I have respectfully contacted each scholar with critical corn allergy documentation/statistics, and am providing you with their contact information if you would also like to send them a respectful rebuttal.

     1.  Phil Lieberman, MD, Allergy & Asthma Care, Germantown, TN, 901-757-6100
     2.  Scott H. Sicherer, MD, Email: scott.sicherer@mssm.edu
     3.  Steven Taylor, PhD, FARRP, Email: staylor2@unl.edu
     4.  Food Allergy Research & Resource Program (FARRP), University of Nebraska, Email: faarp@unl.edu
     5.  Daniel More, MD, Central Coast Allergy & Asthma, Salinas, California, Facebook message
https://www.facebook.com/CentralCoastAllergy/

“Avoidance of Corn Allergen," AAAAI, Ask the Expert, 2012

https://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/avoidance-corn-allergen

Statement by Phil Lieberman, MD

". . . the issue is complex because some products, such as corn oils, are labeled as having corn, but actually do not contain corn allergen."

Statements by Scott H. Sicherer, MD

"From a clinical perspective, we use formulas that contain corn syrup and corn syrup solids without difficulty for patients who are allergic to corn. We therefore do not restrict a formula with these ingredients for a patient with corn allergy. However, we are not aware of specific allergenicity studies on these ingredients.

Corn starch is an ingredient that may have a very trace amount of corn protein (which probably has no clinical relevance for most people with a corn allergy). Baking powder contains corn starch, but the amount of baking powder ever used in a product is so small that the amount of corn starch would be even smaller, and, therefore, the amount of corn protein would be extremely miniscule- almost surely undetectable in a serving of such a product.

Corn starch (already with only very trace protein) is the starting material for corn syrup. The final products of corn syrup, glucose syrup, dextrose (granular) or high fructose corn syrup should have undetectable corn protein."

Statements by Steven Taylor, PhD (FARRP)

"Corn syrup (also known as glucose syrup), corn syrup solids, glucose, dextrose, maltodextrin, corn oil, and high fructose corn syrup (note I have added a few ingredients) have no detectable corn protein residues and should be quite safe for someone with IgE-mediated allergy to corn. Corn starch can contain up to 40 ppm (ug/g) of corn protein but that is a small amount in most applications of corn starch and is probably tolerated by most individuals with corn allergy."

Article by Daniel More, MD

Central Coast Allergy & Asthma

Salinas, California

[Note the statement in fine print at the top of the article: "True allergy to corn is rare."]

"Corn Allergy and Following a Corn-Free Diet," Daniel More, MD, February 20, 2017, verywell.com

"Unlike wheat, though, which is a common food ​allergen, there are relatively few reports of allergic reactions to corn.

However, the reports that do exist show that reactions can be severe. These reports include anaphylaxis as a result of eating corn and corn-related foods, as well as severe reactions after exposure to cornstarch in surgical gloves."

https://www.verywell.com/corn-allergy-82895

Findings Based on My Research:
Among some of their questionable findings, their claim that corn allergies are “rare” is clearly false and misleading as a result of my own research:

"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed to me that their in-home surveys do not address food allergies, and no allergies for anyone over the age of 18.  After conducting my own research, I discovered that physicians and/or hospitals are exempt from reporting allergy statistics/allergic reactions into any state and/or government database; therefore, it is dangerous and irresponsible for any person, medical professional, government agency, or professional organization to declare that an allergy to a particular food is rare; e.g., maize (corn).  As a result, my state FDA representative encouraged me to track the statistics of one of many corn allergy groups representing a "sample population."  The alarming growth statistics are indicative of an emerging corn allergy crisis; and should far exceed the threshold for declaring corn an official allergen; thereby, subject to FDA labeling requirements."

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/04/corn-allergy-statistics-monthly.html

United States Hospitals/Health Systems Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/07/united-states-hospitalshealth-systems.html

Baxter Labs specifically warns against administering dextrose IV fluids to corn-allergic patients.

"Solutions containing dextrose should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with known allergy to corn or corn products." - Page 3
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/06/product-information-sheet-warns-against.html

"Probable anaphylactic reaction to corn-derived dextrose solution."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1808842

BCPharmacists, "Warning: corn-related allergens . . ."

http://library.bcpharmacists.org/6_Resources/6-7_ReadLinks/ReadLinks-MayJun2007.pdf

Published Corn Allergy Studies/Statistics (“. . . Maize major allergen . . .”)
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/05/published-corn-allergy-studies.html

CORN PRODUCTS & DERIVATIVES TO BE AVOIDED

(Note that these lists are not all-inclusive, so extreme caution must be exercised.)

“Corn Products and Derivatives List,” Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), 6/6/17
https://responsibletechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Corn-Products-Derivatives-06-06-17.pdf

"Ingredients Derived From Corn - What to Avoid," By Sharon Rosen, Live Corn Free

http://www.livecornfree.com/2010/04/ingredients-derived-from-corn-what-to.html

"Corn-Free Diet," Golisano Children's Hospital, Pediatric Nutrition

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/nutrition/corn-free.aspx

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate

Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/

@CornAllergy911