March 27, 2018 [REVISED MARCH, 2019]
American College of
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (Certified)
85 West Algonquin
Road, Suite 550
Arlington Heights,
IL 60005
American College of
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology:
For the safety of the corn allergy
population, I am appealing to your organization to remove the following
statement from your website:
“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.”
This
statement is false and misleading (per my own personal allergic reactions), and
contradicts other declarations by the ACAAI related to corn allergies:
1.
“Overview”
“Allergic symptoms of a corn allergy develop when a person’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts after eating corn or foods containing corn-based ingredients, or after being exposed to corn pollen. Corn and corn-derived products are used in many processed foods, as well as in many other everyday items.”
“Allergic symptoms of a corn allergy develop when a person’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts after eating corn or foods containing corn-based ingredients, or after being exposed to corn pollen. Corn and corn-derived products are used in many processed foods, as well as in many other everyday items.”
2.
“Corn Allergy Management
and Treatment”
“Avoid corn and corn-derived products.”
“Avoid corn and corn-derived products.”
3.
“Symptoms”
“Published case reports have reported life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to corn-based products such as a dextrose intravenous solution and cornstarch used to powder surgical gloves.” [Why would cornstarch be safe for consumption?]
“Published case reports have reported life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to corn-based products such as a dextrose intravenous solution and cornstarch used to powder surgical gloves.” [Why would cornstarch be safe for consumption?]
4.
“Management and
Treatment”
“Corn-based ingredients can also be found in nonfood items as diverse as shampoo, toothpaste, IV solutions, vitamins, cosmetics, crayons, dishwashing liquid, clothing,
“Corn-based ingredients can also be found in nonfood items as diverse as shampoo, toothpaste, IV solutions, vitamins, cosmetics, crayons, dishwashing liquid, clothing,
paint,
plastics and pet food. Cornstarch, for example, can serve as both an adhesive
and a coating in paper products, and is even used in disposable diapers.”
I
was so alarmed by this declaration by the ACAAI concerning cornstarch and high
fructose corn syrup, that I initiated a petition with MoveOn.org [1] requesting that your
organization remove or revise this statement from your website for the safety
of the corn allergy population. To date,
we have received 180 signatures with personal testimonies confirming that
cornstarch and corn syrup must be avoided by anyone allergic to corn. In addition, I also wrote a blog post
refuting your claim regarding corn protein, “Removing a Food Protein Does Not
Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic.” [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; therefore, it is a daily struggle to survive with
this devastating allergy. The
testimonies from parents of corn-allergic infants are heartbreaking, since
there are no corn-free formulas to provide to these struggling babies. Many corn-allergic individuals must have
their medications compounded to exclude corn (used as a common filler), and struggle
just to find safe, corn-free drinking water (tap water contains corn due to
corn-derived purification chemicals). I
was diagnosed with a corn allergy in December, 2011; and only tested at 1+ to
corn on skin-scratch testing; yet my reactions to corn/corn derivatives can be
quite severe. On March 15, 2018, I
conducted an oral challenge of Argo cornstarch (documentation enclosed); [3] and based on my
allergic reaction, I can only conclude that cornstarch must be avoided for
anyone allergic to corn. I was also
going to conduct an oral challenge of corn syrup; however, based on my prior
allergic reactions to corn syrup, I have decided not to proceed with this oral
challenge.
Since hospitals are not mandated to stock corn-free foods, liquids, or medications (compounded to exclude corn); corn-allergic patients are required to supply their own corn-free products while hospitalized. What if our hospital admissions were the result of an emergency? I have appealed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, my state congressional representatives, and the FDA to issue an emergency mandate requiring that hospitals stock corn-free products for the safety of corn allergy patients. [4], [5] Due to disturbing personal testimonies confirming that the majority of medical professionals do not understand the critical, potentially life-threatening difference between ascorbic acid and corn-derived ascorbic acid, citric acid and corn-derived citric acid, or that dextrose is corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (D-glucose), etc., I recently completed my 3-year project of contacting the majority of our nation’s hospitals regarding the protocol for treating corn-allergic patients. [6] After a compounding pharmacist told a corn-allergic patient that “cornstarch is not really corn,” I then immediately contacted the majority of world-wide pharmaceutical companies with an urgent appeal that they educate pharmacists about the dangers of NMIs (non-medicinal ingredients) in drugs. [7], [8]
From my own research, strict
avoidance of one’s allergen is always advised; because it may lead to an
anaphylactic reaction, which is also confirmed on your website: “Symptoms of a food allergy can range from
mild to severe. Just because an initial reaction causes few problems doesn’t
mean that all reactions will be similar; a food that triggered only mild
symptoms on one occasion may cause more severe symptoms at another time.” Therefore, I urge the ACAAI to advocate for
strict avoidance of one’s allergen, which includes any derivatives of an
allergen.
Thank you for your attention to this
critical issue. Please feel free to
email me at cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/
Email: cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/
Email: cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com
Twitter: @CornAllergy911
Encl.
References:
[1] This petition has since been deleted.
[2] “Removing a Food Protein Does Not
Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic”
[3] “Argo Cornstarch Oral Challenge
to Test Hypothesis Presented by the ACAAI”
[Conclusion: If you are allergic/intolerant to
corn, do NOT consume cornstarch. I suffered a significant allergic reaction as
a result of this oral challenge.]
[4] “My February 25, 2018, letter to
the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Re: mandate that hospitals
stock corn-free foods, fluids, & drugs for the safety of corn-allergic
patients.”
[5] “My Submission to The Joint
Commission on Behalf of Corn-Allergic Patients.”
[6] United States Hospitals/Health Systems
Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/07/united-states-hospitalshealth-systems.html
[7] “Pharmaceutical Companies
Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients”
[8] “BCPharmacists, "Warning:
corn-related allergens . . ."
APRIL 16, 2018, UPDATE:
Since the ACAAI has not
redacted their potentially life-threatening declaration regarding cornstarch
and corn syrup, I filed a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's office
requesting this statement be amended.
APRIL 20, 2018, UPDATE:
I filed a report with the
Illinois Better Business Bureau against the ACAAI, since they are endangering
the lives of corn-allergic individuals with this false statement.
APRIL 25, 2018, UPDATE:
I filed a report with the FTC against the ACAAI, since they are endangering the lives of corn-allergic individuals with this false and potentially life-threatening declaration.
I filed a report with the FTC against the ACAAI, since they are endangering the lives of corn-allergic individuals with this false and potentially life-threatening declaration.
JULY 16, 2018, UPDATE:
My
Tweet to the ACAAI, @ACAAI:
I
have informed you with certified documentation that your statements regarding
cornstarch/corn syrup are false. You are
endangering lives.
"Whoever
engages in any conduct with intent to convey false or misleading information .
. ."
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1038
JULY 27, 2018, UPDATE:
My Tweet to the ACAAI,
@ACAAI:
Board-certified physician
warns against consuming cornstarch and corn syrup if you are allergic to
corn. What other proof do you need?
"Corn Allergy and
Following a Corn-Free Diet," Daniel Moore, MD, June 15, 2018,
verywellhealth
AUGUST 29, 2018, UPDATE:
The U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services indicated in my phone call to them that I will most likely
need to seek legal counsel to address these false statements posted on the
ACAAI website.
In my numerous contacts with
the ACAAI, I appealed to them to cite at least one source supporting their
claim regarding cornstarch and corn syrup (I provided the ACAAI with numerous
articles refuting their claim). The
ACAAI indicated that there were too many articles to cite, and told me they are
not required to cite these sources. This
is incomprehensible to me, since they are endangering the lives of
corn-allergic individuals. Many
medical professionals refer to the ACAAI website, and believe these claims
without questioning their validity.
AUGUST 31, 2018, UPDATE:
My Tweet to the ACAAI, @ACAAI
"Corn Allergy,"
Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital
"Any of the following
ingredients listed on the label indicate the presence of corn protein, and must
be avoided: . . . Cornstarch, Corn sweetener, Corn syrup, Corn syrup solids,
High fructose corn syrup"
I called the ACH Food
Company, 1-800-723-3648, regarding the presence of corn protein in Argo
cornstarch. They confirmed that Argo
cornstarch contains 0.26 grams of corn protein per 100 grams of
cornstarch. I then called the ACAAI with
this information
MARCH, 2019, UPDATE:
The ACAAI revised their
statement to: “Most corn-derived
products, like high-fructose corn syrup, do not contain corn protein. If you
have a corn allergy, you may not need to avoid these products.”
Although I appreciate them
removing the reference to cornstarch, they should also remove this statement
based on my own research. They continue
to jeopardize the lives of the corn-allergic consumer.
Removing a Food Protein Does
Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/12/removing-food-protein-does-not.html
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/12/removing-food-protein-does-not.html
ADDED APRIL, 24, 2018:
(Blog posts
organized into one post for easy reference.)
Critical Corn Allergy References, Studies, Statistics,
& Petitions
(Includes my submission to
The Joint Commission, Congress, FDA, & U.S. Dept. of Health requesting
emergency mandate that hospitals stock corn-free foods, liquids, & drugs.)
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