WARNING:
I strongly recommend that you
do not attempt any oral food challenges unless you are in the presence of your
physician. Although I have not yet experienced an anaphylactic
reaction to corn, I do have epinephrine auto-injector pens available
(prescribed for my allergy to most antibiotics and petroleum/petrolatum).
Since corn/corn-derived ingredients are ubiquitous and corn allergen warnings are voluntary, anyone allergic to corn must first contact manufacturers to confirm if their products contain corn-derived ingredients. I have not been able to find any safe-for-me
pasta since my corn allergy diagnosis in 2011, which I believe is due to corn cross-contact
which can occur through the many stages of shipping, processing, handling, and
packaging.
Even
though this was a failed oral challenge, which I believe was the result of corn
cross-contact; I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Ronzoni® for
their extraordinary efforts on my behalf prior to conducting my oral challenge.
They were extremely patient and forthcoming in answering all of my inquiries. If
I did not have an allergy to corn, I would gladly purchase their products.
Since
I am not allergic to wheat or eggs, I conducted an oral challenge of Ronzoni® Organic
Penne Rigate pasta on September 20, 2019. Prior
to consuming this pasta, I had fasted for 12 hours due to fasting labs earlier
in the morning, so this guaranteed that my oral challenge would not involve any
other food product that may have been cross-contacted by corn. Sadly,
I have deemed this product as unsafe for me; and I would advise anyone with a
corn allergy to use extreme caution in trialing this pasta.
Ronzoni® Organic Penne Rigate
Non-GMO Project Verified
USDA Organic
Certified Organic by ECOCERT ICO
UPC 071300055571
Best if Used By Date:
AUG3121
Product Code: VAR08 16
12:25
pm: After cooking ¼ box of this pasta in
2 quarts of double-filtered tap water with safe-for-me Himalayan (non-iodized) sea
salt, I consumed one-half of this cooked pasta, seasoning it with safe-for-me
butter and sea salt.
12:55
pm: My corn allergy reaction began with
pounding heart, elevated pulse rate, severe abdominal swelling (“corn baby”), and
overall discomfort (my normal reactions to corn ingestion). My resting pulse rate is normally 60 bpm, and
registered at 92 bpm (confirmed with “Pulse Oximeter”) even though I was
resting during this period.
2:15
pm: I took an antihistamine, since my
symptoms were escalating.
2:40
pm: Pulse rate was 96 bpm.
5:30
pm: My allergic reactions ceased.
Diane H., Corn
Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy
Advocacy/Resources
Twitter: @CornAllergy911
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."
