(Refer to my June 20
and June 24, 2020, Emails to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
[DISCLAIMER]
Each person should consult with their physician concerning vaccinations.
My only goal as
a corn allergy advocate is to protect corn-allergic patients through the respectful
education of medical and academic professionals as it relates to the complexities
of navigating an allergy to corn.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
April
20, 2020
To: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Email: flynnfagad@email.chop.edu
Re: Corn Allergies and Vaccines
I
have been a full-time corn allergy advocate for over six years; and I recently
discovered that the information contained in the following article on your
website addressing corn allergies is incorrect, which can endanger the lives of
corn-allergic patients.
"News
& Views: Vaccines and Allergies"
Published
on May 28, 2014 in Vaccine Update for Healthcare Providers
I
mean no disrespect; however, since the majority of medical professionals are
unfamiliar with the complexities of navigating an allergy to corn, it took me
three years to forward corn allergy documentation to our nation's hospitals,
colleges of medicine, colleges of pharmacy, CDC, FDA, AMA, NIH, U.S. Department
of Health & Human Services, all 535 members of Congress (six times),
etc. My
own allergist and primary care physician admitted they were not familiar with
the complexities associated with navigating an allergy to corn, and willingly
learned with me.
Please
understand that vaccines should be contraindicated for corn-allergic patients,
since the majority of the excipients are derived from corn.
Thank
you for your attention to this critical concern on behalf of corn-allergic
patients.
Diane
H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn
Allergy Advocacy/Resources
Twitter: @CornAllergy911
References:
“Corn
Products and Derivatives List,” Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT),
6/6/17
DEXTROSE
(CORN SUGAR), CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATION 21CFR184.1857
PETITION: DRUG PRODUCTS W/DEXTROSE MUST BE UNIFORMLY
CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENTS
Many
medical professionals are missing this critical contraindication warning.
LACTATED
RINGER’S IN 5% DEXTROSE CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENTS
"Probable
anaphylactic reaction to corn-derived dextrose solution."
BCPharmacists,
"Warning: corn-related allergens . . ."
Dextrose
(corn sugar derived from cornstarch) is NOT a drug, but is an ingredient added
to drug products.
My March 5, 2020, Email to the FDA Re: Dextrose (Corn Sugar), Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857, vs. Glucose (Blood Sugar)
My
February 25, 2018, certified 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.
My
Submission to The Joint Commission on Behalf of Corn-Allergic Patients
The
ACAAI redacted their false statement regarding cornstarch a year after
receiving my certified letter; however, we continue to appeal to them to redact
their equally-false statement regarding corn syrup.
My
March 27, 2018, Certified Letter to the ACAAI
Re: Cornstarch and Corn Syrup
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.]
Petition
to Demand that the ACAAI Remove False Statement Re: Cornstarch/High Fructose
Corn Syrup
Removing
a Food Protein Does Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic
Oral
Challenge of Mazola Corn Oil to Test Hypothesis Presented by Dr. Phil Lieberman
[Thankfully,
the AAAAI removed this opinion paper from their website.]
Published
Corn Allergy Studies/Statistics (“. . .
Maize major allergen . . .”)
United
States Hospitals/Health Systems Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating
Corn-Allergic Patients
Colleges
of Medicine Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients
Colleges
of Pharmacy Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients
Pharmaceutical
Companies Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients
March,
2020, Month-End Corn Allergy Statistics: 910.7% Increase in 81 Months
(Corn
is ubiquitous and corn allergen warnings are voluntary.)
"A
mother's desperate struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant
son."
I
have to amend the following blog posts, since I recently began reacting to
organic fresh-food products. After
contacting the FDA and USDA, they confirmed that ALL fresh food products
(including organic) are treated with government-authorized corn-derived
antimicrobial chemical washes.
Twitter
message to our state Senators yesterday:
"Confirmed
by the FDA/USDA: All fresh food products are treated w/government-authorized
corn-derived acid washes; therefore, corn-allergic consumers have no safe source
of fresh foods (meat, poultry, seafood, fruit, produce). Please advise!
Corn
Allergy: A Potentially Life-Threatening Diagnosis
Corn
Allergy for Newbies
--------------------------------------------------------------
To the readers
of this blog post:
Please
take the time to compare the following corn-derived ingredient list against the
CDC’s Vaccine Excipient Summary.
Vaccines contain many corn-derived ingredients; and, therefore, should
be contraindicated for corn-allergic patients.
“Corn
Products and Derivatives List,” Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT),
6/6/17
Vaccine
Excipient Summary
--------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATES:
My June 20,
2020, Email to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Re: Contraindication Warnings Based on “Source of
Excipients” in Drug/Biologic Products
The
FDA incorrectly advised me in 2018 that corn is NOT exempt from FDA labeling
requirements. Based on factual evidence
presented to the FDA, they recently reversed their opinion; and confirmed that
corn IS EXEMPT from FDA labeling requirements.
Therefore, allergic reactions to corn are currently categorized as
idiopathic, resulting in underreporting and suppression of corn allergy
statistics.
We
continue to receive reports from the 12K+ members of our corn allergy support
groups that physicians continue to prescribe drug/biologic products which
contain excipients derived from corn, even though their allergy to corn is
documented in their medical records, resulting in allergic reactions (including
anaphylaxis). This is due to the fact
that drug/biologic products containing corn-derived excipients do not contain
contraindication warnings for administration to corn-allergic patients (with
the exception of only a few IV fluids to which dextrose (corn sugar derived
from cornstarch) has been added). This
lack of contraindication warnings does not exempt physicians from potential
liability for prescribing drug/biologic products to their patients with
documented IgE-mediated allergies to the excipients. It is the responsibility of physicians to
contact drug/biologic manufacturers to confirm the source of all excipients
prior to prescribing these products.
Therefore,
in an effort to protect physicians from potential liability, in addition to
protecting patients with IgE-mediated allergies, I have requested that the FDA
issue an emergency mandate that all drug/biologic products contain
contraindication warnings based on the "source of excipients.”
Thank
you very much for your attention to this critical concern.
Diane
H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn
Allergy Advocacy/Resources
Twitter: @CornAllergy911
References:
FDA
CONFIRMS THAT CORN IS EXEMPT FROM FDA LABELING REQUIREMENTS
My
June 5, 2020, Email to the FDA Re: Emergency Mandate Requiring Contraindication
Warnings be Listed for Drug/Biologic Products Based on the "Source of
Excipients"
My
June 16, 2020, Email to the FDA Re: Corn Labeling in Drug/Biologic Products
My
June 8, 2020, Appeal to My State Congressional Representatives Requesting
Contraindication Warnings for Drug/Biologic Products Based on the “Source of
Excipients”
[I
have also forwarded the requisite documentation to Dr. Offit, contributor to
this article.]
My
April 20, 2020, Email to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Re: "Corn
Allergies and Vaccines"
My
May 11, 2020, Email to the FDA Re: Corn-Derived Excipients in Vaccines
My
June 2, 2020, Email to the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Re: Prescribing
Drug/Biologic Products to Patients with IgE-Mediated Allergies to Excipients
My
March 5, 2020, Email to the FDA Re: Dextrose (Corn Sugar), Code of Federal
Regulation 21CFR184.1857, vs. Glucose (Blood Sugar)
PHARMACISTS
CONFIRM THE STUDY OF NMIs (NON-MEDICINAL INGREDIENTS) IN DRUGS IS NOT PART OF
CURRICULUM
PETITION:
DRUG PRODUCTS W/DEXTROSE MUST BE UNIFORMLY CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC
PATIENTS
DEXTROSE
(CORN SUGAR), CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATION 21CFR184.1857
LACTATED
RINGER’S IN 5% DEXTROSE CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENTS
Vitamin
K1 Injection Contains Corn-Derived Dextrose [NO CONTRAINDICATION WARNING]
Additional
References:
FDA
AND USDA CONFIRM THAT CORN-DERIVED ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMICALS APPLIED TO FRESH
FOOD PRODUCTS ARE EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
FDA
CONFIRMS CORNSTARCH USED IN PACKAGING MATERIALS IS EXEMPT FROM PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE
FDA
ADDRESSED MY INQUIRY RE: ABSORBENT PADS USED FOR FRESH FOOD PRODUCTS
FDA
ADDRESSED MY INQUIRY RE: FALSE CORN-FREE CLAIMS BY COMPANIES WHOSE PRODUCTS
CONTAIN INGREDIENTS DERIVED FROM CORN
FDA
CONFIRMS STARCHES IN FOOD PRODUCTS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY THEIR COMMON OR USUAL
NAME
An
Allergy to Corn May Contribute to Vitamin/Iodine Deficiencies, in Addition to
Dehydration Due to the Lack of Access to Corn-Free Water
If
you are reacting to clothing, carpeting, bedding, etc., you may be allergic to
CORN!
A
mother's desperate struggle to find safe water for her corn-allergic infant
son.
Corn
Allergy: A Potentially Life-Threatening Diagnosis
Corn
Products/Derivatives to Avoid with a Corn Allergy
[Imagine if
this article was entitled: "Sesame Seed: It's Everything"]
Corn:
It's Everything, Iowa Corn
Corn
Allergy References, Surveys, 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.)
---------------------------------------------------------
My June 24,
2020, Email to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Re: Physicians are Liable for Prescribing
Drug/Biologic Products to Patients with IgE-Mediated Allergies to Excipients
This
is the email I sent to the FDA/CDC today addressing this critical issue. In summary, even if a physician prescribed a
vaccine to his/her corn-allergic patient based on the incorrect statement on
your website regarding corn allergies and vaccines; that physician is still
liable if his/her patient suffers an allergic reaction to corn-derived
excipients in vaccines. It is the
physician's responsibility to guarantee that drug/biologic products contain no
corn-derived excipients PRIOR TO PRESCRIBING these products to their
corn-allergic patients.
The
fact that the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is not aware of the dangers
of NMIs (non-medicinal ingredients) in vaccines is quite alarming. It is for this reason that we, the corn
allergy population of the United States, have had to assume the role of
respectful educators to medical and academic professionals. Based on your statement regarding corn and
vaccines, I would also be concerned that physicians with the Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia may not be cognizant of the contraindication warning
for administration of Lactated Ringer's w/5% Dextrose to corn-allergic
patients.
My
June 24, 2020, Email to the FDA and CDC Addressing Contraindication Warnings
for Drug/Biologic Products Based on the Source of Excipients
LACTATED
RINGER’S IN 5% DEXTROSE CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENTS
BCPharmacists,
"Warning: corn-related allergens . . ."
Diane
H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn
Allergy Advocacy/Resources
Twitter: @CornAllergy911
---------------------------------------------------------
STRICT AVOIDANCE OF ALLERGENS IS ALWAYS ADVISED:
The FDA recommends strict avoidance of
one's allergen.
"Each year, millions of Americans
have allergic reactions to food. Although most food allergies cause relatively
mild and minor symptoms, some food allergies can cause severe reactions, and
may even be life-threatening.
There is no cure for food allergies.
Strict avoidance of food allergens — and early recognition and management of
allergic reactions to food — are important measures to prevent serious health
consequences."
The ACAAI also recommends strict
avoidance:
“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.”
"Patient education: Food allergy
treatment and avoidance (Beyond the Basics)," Scott H. Sicherer, MD,
FAAAAI, UpToDate, April 25, 2017
"People with food allergies can
have serious or even life-threatening reactions after consuming certain foods.
The most important strategy in the management of food allergies is to avoid
eating these foods."
"Even a tiny amount of the
allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms . . ."
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis
Connection Team (FAACT)
"Although food allergy
desensitizations are being studied, these are not yet proven treatments, so
strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction.
Trace amounts of an allergen can
trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals."
