Sunday, September 29, 2019

September, 2019, Month-End Corn Allergy Statistics


In one corn allergy group of 9,394 members (170* of whom are anaphylactic to corn), there has been an 839.4% increase in corn allergies in the last 75 months, with an average of 111.9 new members/month.

*Poll taken in May, 2017:  Members prescribed epinephrine auto-injector pens as a result of their allergy to corn.


Corn Allergy Symptoms:
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

WebMD

Healthline


Corn products/derivatives to avoid if you are allergic to corn


Data Collection Methods:



Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
@CornAllergy911


Source:
“Corn Allergy,” Wikipedia
“External Links: Corn Allergy and Intolerance Online support group for corn allergy and intolerance.”

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Ronzoni® Organic Penne Rigate Failed Oral Challenge


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."







Grape Sugar: [alpha]-D-glucopyranose

The FDA and the NIH NLM believe that vine grapes are produced from (grown on) corn stalks!   Grape Sugar: [alpha]-D-glucopyranose Grape suga...