February 25, 2018
U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services (Certified
Mail)
200 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Room 639G
Washington, DC 20201
Re: Corn
Allergy: A Potentially Life-Threatening Diagnosis
U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services:
A corn allergy is potentially a life-threatening
diagnosis, since hospitals are not mandated to stock corn-free foods, liquids,
or medications (except saline-only IV fluid).
After my surgery in March, 2017, the hospital could not comply with the
surgeon-ordered, liquid-only diet since all of the liquids they offered me
contained corn derivatives; e.g., corn-derived ascorbic acid, even though my
allergy to corn was clearly documented in my medical records. The hospital failed in their responsibility
to contact the manufacturers to inquire if the liquids contained corn/corn
derivatives (corn allergen warnings are voluntary on product labels).
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 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 [1] representing
a "sample population." The
alarming growth statistics (633.6% increase in the last 55 months) 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. [2]
As you are aware, the corn allergy
population can consume very few processed foods, and no commercially-processed
meat, poultry, seafood, fruit, or produce due to government-authorized corn-derived acid
washes. Organic products must be
thoroughly washed in a bath of filtered water (tap water may corn due to
corn-derived purification chemicals, and it is difficult finding a water
purification system that is manufactured without corn-derived components),
Bragg’s apple cider vinegar (white vinegar is derived from corn), and baking
soda to remove any corn residue due to cross-contact through the many stages of
shipping, processing, handling, and packaging.
As a result, hospitals are ill-equipped to treat/nourish corn-allergic
patients; particularly since corn is ubiquitous and corn allergen warnings are
voluntary. Therefore, we are currently required to supply our own sources of
corn-free products while hospitalized. What
would happen if our hospital admissions were due to an emergency?
I recently completed my 3-year
project of contacting the majority of United States hospitals/health systems addressing
the protocol for treating corn-allergic patients, [3] due to the alarming number of personal testimonies confirming that many
medical professionals are not aware that corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose)-containing IV fluids are contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients in the package insert. Among other critical corn allergy reference
links, I provided each hospital with a copy of the product information sheet
for corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose)-containing IV fluids from Baxter Laboratories, since many medical
professionals insisted on administering dextrose IV fluids to corn-allergic
patients in direct violation of this contraindication warning.
[4]
Due to the false and dangerous
claims published on the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI),
“Ask the Expert,” and American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI),
“Ask the Allergist,” websites related to corn allergies, I also contacted the
majority of world-wide pharmaceutical companies after a compounding pharmacist
actually told a corn-allergic patient that “cornstarch is not really corn.” [5] As a
result, I have been challenging their "expert" opinion articles; and
was successful in having one "expert" paper removed from the AAAAI,
"Ask the Expert" website. I
went so far as to personally contact each contributing "expert." I am now challenging an extremely dangerous
statement on the ACAAI website that can endanger the lives of the corn allergy
population:
"Most corn-derived products,
like cornstarch and high-fructose corn syrup, do not contain corn protein. If
you have a corn allergy, you do not need to avoid these products."
However,
since they have declared that they have no intention of removing this false and
misleading claim, I filed a petition with MoveOn.org demanding that they remove
or revise their statement. [6],
[7], [8] These two associations advocate for strict avoidance of a person’s
allergen, with the exception of corn allergies. My concern is that their major
contributors may represent the corn industry which would constitute a conflict
of interest. I am appealing to the U.S. Department
of Health & Human Services to immediately demand that the ACAAI remove this
statement for the safety of the corn allergy population. For your information, I only tested at 1+ to
corn on skin-scratch testing in 2011; yet my allergic reactions to cornstarch,
corn syrup, and all other corn products/derivatives are quite severe.
In an effort to protect
corn-allergic patients during hospitalization, I have also appealed to The
Joint Commission [9]. Hospitals
must understand that they are responsible for contacting manufacturers directly
to inquire if food products, liquids, and drugs contain corn/corn derivatives.
I would like to offer a
recommendation that Congress, in conjunction with the FDA, issue an emergency
mandatory labeling order for corn/corn derivatives contained in “ingestible”
products at this time for the safety of the corn allergy population; otherwise,
corn allergy warnings would be required on clothing, paper products, cleaning
products, personal hygiene products, etc.; however, those who are
inhalation-reactive or contact-reactive to corn/corn derivatives would still
experience difficulty navigating this devastating allergy. If this recommendation is not feasible, I
would like Congress to issue an emergency mandate requiring that hospitals
stock corn-free food products, liquids, and drugs (compounded to exclude
corn/corn derivatives) for the safety of corn-allergic patients.
On behalf of the corn allergy
population, thank you for your attention to this growing concern. Please feel free to email me at cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Corn
Allergy Advocacy/Resources
@CornAllergy911
cc: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Certified Mail)
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20993
[1] Corn
Allergy & Intolerance (Maize, Zea Mays)
[2] “Corn Allergy Statistics (Monthly)”
[3] “United States Hospitals/Health Systems
Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients”
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/07/united-states-hospitalshealth-systems.html
[4] Baxter Labs specifically warns about
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
[5] Pharmaceutical
Companies Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients
[6] Demand
that the ACAAI Remove False Statement Re: Cornstarch/High Fructose Corn Syrup
[7] ACAAI - My Rebuttal Concerning Cornstarch
and High Fructose Corn Syrup
[8] “Removing
a Food Protein Does Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic”
[9] My
Submission to The Joint Commission on Behalf of Corn-Allergic Patients
UPDATE JUNE 25, 2018, REPLY FROM SENATOR BILL
NELSON:
"Thank you for contacting me regarding legislative
proposals to require the Food and Drug Administration to better regulate corn-derived
products in hospitals and other healthcare establishments. I am always
interested in hearing from Floridians who provide me with perspectives about
the problems facing our State and nation. These issues are of considerable
importance to me, and I am glad that you took the time to send me your
thoughts."
UPDATE JUNE 28, 2018:
The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicated in my phone call to them
that they are still in the process of responding to my February 25, 2018,
letter.
Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/
@CornAllergy911
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/
@CornAllergy911
