It is a daily
struggle to survive with an allergy to corn.
We can consume very few processed foods, and no
commercially-processed non-organic meat, poultry, seafood, fruit, or produce
due to government-authorized corn-derived acid washes. Due to the high probability of corn
cross-contact, all organic foods must be soaked in a bath of filtered water,
Bragg’s apple cider vinegar (in the U.S. white vinegar is derived from corn),
and baking soda. Many people allergic to
corn struggle just to find safe drinking water due to corn-derived purification
chemicals, and many are required to have their medications compounded to
exclude corn (used as a common filler). Most insurance companies will not cover
the cost of compounded drugs. The
testimonies from parents of corn-allergic infants (many of whom have been
diagnosed with “failure to thrive”) are heartbreaking. There are no
commercially-manufactured corn-free infant formulas, and hospitals are
ill-equipped to treat/nourish these poor babies.
Reprinted with
permission: A mother’s desperate
struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant son.
M.R., Wausau, WI
“My corn allergic son (F.R.) cannot tolerate ingesting any bottled
water or tap water. We had to purchase a ProPur Nomad with G2 filters. All food
preparation and cooking or any oral contact (oral hygiene) has to be used with
this safe water. I am breastfeeding him and I cannot ingest any other source of
water either. We also use a ProPur shower head filter for showering/bath due to
his open skin/sores with eczema (reaction to corn).
Anytime we travel, we have to take both filters with us.”
Additional Testimonies Reprinted with Permission:
J.V.,
San Antonio, Tx
“I bought bottled water in Port Saint Lucie, FL and continue to buy here in San Antonio TX. I end up with stomach issues when drinking tap water. I just moved away from PSL but I also had contact reactions and sometimes airborne when they would "purify" the water more.” “. . . this area that we are talking about also had issues with water (algae).”
K.B. Port Saint Lucie, FL
“I’m also in Port St Lucie! My son is ingestion reactive and I am contact reactive. It’s VERY bad with the algae! This summer was rough for us with respiratory issues from both the blue green algae and than red tide”
“I bought bottled water in Port Saint Lucie, FL and continue to buy here in San Antonio TX. I end up with stomach issues when drinking tap water. I just moved away from PSL but I also had contact reactions and sometimes airborne when they would "purify" the water more.” “. . . this area that we are talking about also had issues with water (algae).”
K.B. Port Saint Lucie, FL
“I’m also in Port St Lucie! My son is ingestion reactive and I am contact reactive. It’s VERY bad with the algae! This summer was rough for us with respiratory issues from both the blue green algae and than red tide”
A.M.
“My
baby reacts to tap water and brita filter as well.”
A.L.,
Pueblo West, CO
“We
have to filter our water or it causes stomach distress. Prior to that, I had
1-2 brands of bottled water.”
M.A.G.
“The
water at the ski areas is good. Denver not so much. The only safe water is Voss that I've found
so far. You know what, my legs will physically burn when the tap water hits my
legs. It's crazy.” .
M.P.,
Texarkana, TX
“I
have to buy distilled water since it’s the cheapest safe water for me to drink
and to wash my face with. Tap water causes hives, skin discoloration, and
itching. I have to keep a towel beside the shower so I can dry my face in case
it gets wet (which causes my face to burn).”
“Update.
We live in the DFW area now. I can wash in tap water now with no
itching/burning. A ZeroWater pitcher has been a game changer and I don’t have
to have distilled water any more. If the water has not been filtered and I
ingest it I still get sick, but it doesn’t cause a bad topical reaction. We are
hoping to move soon so there’s no telling what the next tap water will do to my
skin.”
T.G.B.
“We
can not drink Brita filtered water or chlorinated/floridated water- corn
allergy kids react. We have safe well water or spring water.”
L.J.
“I
can’t drink tap water or bottled. I have a zero water filter pitcher, so far
it’s safe. The filters are on the
expensive side, compared to a Brita.”
W.T.
“The
Zero is worth it tho - they give you a tester so you can see how much is taken
out of the water - it's amazing - and that helps with knowing when to replace -
and I like the spigot on the bottom for filling your glass right out of the
fridge.”
B.P.,
Lewiston, ME
“My
son is allergic to corn and I wasn't aware it could be in the water and could
be the underlying reason of why he is still being triggered thank you for this
information I will get on getting a water purifier asap,”
E.Y.B.
“My
doc thinks I’m allergic to my tap water. I’ve had success with the Crystal
Geyser brand that I have to drink and cook with. Currently looking into getting
a house filter and have to get shower filters as I’m skin reactive in the
shower and washing dishes.”
“Does anyone have any recommendations for a whole house filter? I ordered a shower filter and I'm doing Crystal Geyeser Springs water for drinking and dishes right now, but I'm super skin reactive to the water in my house. My Doc recommended a whole house filter but I'm getting overwhelmed with all the choices and the price points. I'd preferably like something without activated carbon but at this point I need SOMETHING! Thanks in advance for your suggestions! I appreciate them!”
“Does anyone have any recommendations for a whole house filter? I ordered a shower filter and I'm doing Crystal Geyeser Springs water for drinking and dishes right now, but I'm super skin reactive to the water in my house. My Doc recommended a whole house filter but I'm getting overwhelmed with all the choices and the price points. I'd preferably like something without activated carbon but at this point I need SOMETHING! Thanks in advance for your suggestions! I appreciate them!”
A.S.,
Vandemere, NC
“I react to tap and bottle water. Lips, tongue and throat burn. I have a filtered pitcher in my fridge that I use for cooking and drinking. We are trying to decide on a whole house system that will do the job without breaking the bank.”
“I react to tap and bottle water. Lips, tongue and throat burn. I have a filtered pitcher in my fridge that I use for cooking and drinking. We are trying to decide on a whole house system that will do the job without breaking the bank.”
B.B.
“Last
year, I was so, so scared because I could not find a water safe for me to
drink. I had one quart of safe water left that I sipped on for four days, while
trying to find some, when I actually should have been drinking way more than
the quart every day because I have a problem with very painful kidneys without
a lot of water.
I
finally learned about Crystal Geyser and that many people tolerated it. I had
to drive to another town like 25 miles away to find some though.
It
would take very little to bring us to the point of having no safe food or
water! Just add corn to the rest of what little we have left, and Boom!That is
unacceptable!”
T.C.
“Im currently taking compounded benadryl and claritain daily while I try out bottled water and water filters to find water that is safe for me to drink. I had to stop eating for a day just to figure out it was the water that I was drinking that caused me having allergic reactions, feel miserable, and extremely fatigued daily for two weeks.”
“Im currently taking compounded benadryl and claritain daily while I try out bottled water and water filters to find water that is safe for me to drink. I had to stop eating for a day just to figure out it was the water that I was drinking that caused me having allergic reactions, feel miserable, and extremely fatigued daily for two weeks.”
Diane H., Corn
Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy
Advocacy/Resources
Twitter: @CornAllergy911
Reference Documents:
Corn Allergy For Newbies
Corn Allergy: A Potentially
Life-Threatening Diagnosis
Corn products/derivatives to avoid if you are allergic to corn
Corn Allergy Statistics
(Monthly)
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.)
Removing a Food Protein Does
Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic
"Corn: It's
Everything," Iowa Corn
Vinegar
"Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and
trace chemicals that may include flavorings. .... Apple cider vinegar is made
from cider or apple must, and has a ... or sukang basi), although it also is
produced in France and the United States. .... regions, because of its low
cost, is barley malt, or in the United States, corn."
Cross-Contact
of Allergens:
Cross-Contact or Cross-Contamination: What’s the
Difference?
Avoiding Cross-Contact
"Learn how to prevent cross-contact, which happens
when an allergen is accidentally transferred from one food to another."
"The problem is compounded by the fact that few
outside the allergic community understand the danger of cross-contact, the term
used when trace of an allergen that is not an ingredient finds its way into a
product causing the potential for a reaction. As such, it is imperative that
organizations and businesses that serve the allergic community take the
initiative to fully vet the products they recommend with their respective
manufacturers. To do otherwise is to put the community risk."
https://snacksafely.com/2019/11/advisory-to-those-preparing-holiday-meals-for-guests-with-food-allergies/?fbclid=IwAR0WazdB37INNG132nQ3tq1chWxijcQMSieH9tDm1MFnvfB5J29R7vGBoAQ
Update April 15, 2020
This blog post has been forwarded to all Senators of the 116th
Congress, in addition to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Such a simple thing is so easily overlooked. Close to about two years ago at age 38 my body pretty much went crazy. As best as I can tell it was a combination of a chronic illness I've had since I was 12 getting drastically worse and genetic disposition (my grandfather had over 25 different food allergies, my family has distinct issues with dairy, mom can't eat wheat/gluten, and my sister can't have wheat/gluten and cannot tolerate corn.) Over the course of about 6-8 months I went from a normal American vegetarian diet to no longer being able to tolerate most dairy, wheat/gluten/oats, yeast, and the most overwhelming was the corn. Never in my life had I thought that corn was literally almost in EVERYTHING. I've been tested for food allergies after this all set in (except for the wheat/gluten because I hadn't eaten it in 6+ months by that point) but no *true* food allergies were found outside my honey and pineapple allergies I knew I already had (they both give me hives.) It really baffled me of having to say I have an extreme intolerance to what/gluten and corn, when the reality is even the unbelievably smallest trace amounts leave me crippled in bed with stomach pain (bad enough that breathing is difficult), fevers and chills if it is really bad, cramping stomach that often makes my back cramp as well, and sinuses completely stuffed up so I can't hardly breathe through my nose. But I can't technically call it an allergy. And the water issue was frightening before I figured it out of how it is contaminated with corn. I've had a severe sunlight allergy for about 8 years (also gives me severe hives) and for a couple weeks I was really starting to believe I was becoming allergic to water. For a short while bottles water was fine until I became sensitive to the corn in there as well, my best guess is from whatever charcoal filters they use. I literally felt like I was counting down the days I had left to live. It was making me so violently sick that I lost about 60 pounds in 4-5 months because I was too sick to eat much of the time. I was hugely grateful to finally discover that distilled water was safe for me and it was easily available. Eventually we bought a countertop distiller that has been a total blessing. Due to the corn issue I'm terrified of if/when I'll have to be in a hospital because no one really seems to believe or understand how widespread the corn issue is, nor that it is micronic amounts of it that can make me very sick. My doctor was nearly pulling his hair out trying to find a Vitamin D supplement I could tolerate taking for more than 3 days. Very few people really understand the extreme sensitivity I have to corn. The only other allergy I have that is worse is to baking soda (also popped up about 2 years ago) and I start going into anaphylactic shock within 2 minutes from as little as 1/64th of a teaspoon and requires me to keep an EpiPen on hand. But I can't say I have a corn allergy because I don't exhibit traditional allergy symptoms to corn, and often people assume that since it is just an intolerance, extreme or not, that "A little is okay, right?" >:| I really have zero confidence that any medical personnel would be any different because to them, all water is just water.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story. First of all, I want to point out that allergy tests can result in false negatives/positives. Oral challenges are the "gold standard" of testing, followed by skin-prick testing, with blood tests being the least accurate method. If you are failing oral challenges, then you can actually declare an allergy to that food product. You may also want to consider getting a second opinion.
ReplyDeleteMy oral challenges to corn were positive; my skin-prick test only registered 1+ to corn (my reactions are quite severe); and my blood test was negative to corn.
I have never heard of an allergy to baking soda, and my heart goes out to you. Before I eat ANY fresh organic foods, I soak/wash them in a bath of filtered water, Bragg's apple cider vinegar (white vinegar is derived from corn), and baking soda to remove any corn residue through cross-contamination. You would have to exclude the baking soda in your wash. I feel fortunate that I can drink my tap water; however, I usually filter it. I can also tolerate Zephyrhills bottled water if I'm traveling.
The testimonies from members of my corn allergy groups of 11K+ members are simply heartbreaking, and I received permission from this member to post her story about her struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant son. I just want you to know that I'm fighting to get corn declared an official allergen subject to FDA labeling requirements.
Keep me posted on your results if you have further allergy testing.
Thank you for sharing this informative article. I found the points you discussed to be both insightful and practical.Overall, great job on this article, and I look forward to reading more from your blog. Keep up the fantastic work!
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For the safety of corn-allergic citizens, thank you very much for visiting my blog.
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