Saturday, December 26, 2020

Confirmation that dextrose (corn sugar/D-glucose) is only derived from corn. Dextrin (usually derived from corn) may be derived from food products other than corn.

Submitted to my state FDA consumer complaint coordinator:

After providing Wikipedia contributors with indisputable documentation confirming that dextrose (corn sugar/D-glucose) is only derived from corn, I was permanently banned from my Wikipedia talk page. They, in turn, stated that dextrose can be derived from sources other than corn; e.g., tapioca. However, they provided no documentation supporting their claims. 

Based on the statements by Wikipedia contributors, I contacted a distributor of "Organic Tapioca Dextrose" who sent me a complimentary sample of their product. Since I am not allergic to tapioca, on November 19, 2020, I consumed one level teaspoon of this product dissolved in a glass of filtered water in the presence of a witness (in the event my corn allergy reactions were to escalate to anaphylaxis). I suffered a severe 8-hour allergic reaction to this product requiring two antihistamines and two prednisone tablets. The cause of my allergic response was due to the fact that corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch, in the form of dextrose equivalent (DE), was ADDED TO this product. The dextrose was NOT DERIVED FROM TAPIOCA as the product label implied, thereby endangering the lives of corn-allergic consumers.

Dextrose (corn sugar/D-glucose) is only derived from corn:

Pursuant to Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857:

Dextrose = corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch = D-glucose
Dextrose = D-glucose = corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch
Corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch = dextrose = D-glucose
Corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch = D-glucose = dextrose
D-glucose = dextrose = corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch
D-glucose = corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch = dextrose

In addition, since dextrose/D-glucose is corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch, it cannot be naturally occurring; therefore, it cannot be naturally present in any other food/drug/biologic products.
 It is always an ADDED ingredient to these products.

Confirmation that dextrose is only derived from corn.
Corn Sugar (Dextrose/D-Glucose), Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1857

Confirmation that dextrose equivalent (DE) is only derived from corn.
https://www.austradeinc.com/products/sweeteners/

Confirmation that dextrose is only derived from corn.
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/scientific-guideline/draft-information-package-leaflet-regarding-dextrans-used-excipients-medicinal-products-human-use_en.pdf

Confirmation that the "D" in D-glucose represents "dextrose" (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch).
"Corn must first be converted to corn sugar (dextrose, the common commercial name for D-glucose) . . ."
https://polymerinnovationblog.com/from-corn-to-poly-lactic-acid-pla-fermentation-in-action/

 D-Glucose Monohydrate (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch to which molecules of water have been added) is contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients.

"CONTRAINDICATIONS
Solutions containing dextrose may be contraindicated in patients with known allergy to corn or corn products."
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/017521s068lbl.pdf

Intravenous solutions to which corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose) has been added are contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients in the package insert.
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2020/08/corn-sugar-dextrose-iv-fluids.html

False claims by food manufacturers/distributors: 

The following food manufacturers/distributors are falsely implying that dextrose is derived from tapioca. [An Internet search of wheat dextrose and rice dextrose should also be conducted, since these claims would also be false.]

Certified Organic Tapioca Dextrose, Parchem
[Documentation forwarded to them via email, 12/15/2020.]
https://www.parchem.com/chemical-supplier-distributor/Certified-Organic-Tapioca-Dextrose-006117.aspx

Tapioca Dextrose, Mike’s Mix
[Note that they are also claiming this product is corn free, which endangers the lives of corn-allergic consumers. I have exchanged over 35 emails with this company since September, 2020, and they refuse to redact their corn-free/tapioca dextrose claims.]
https://mikesmixture.com/products/tapioca-dextrose?_pos=1&_sid=2b7cb53cb&_ss=r

Tapioca Starch Dextrose, Alibaba.com
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/tapioca-starch-dextrose-fufeng-dextrose_62108273451.html?spm=a2700.7724857.normal_offer.d_image.3a3d1eb9747CbL

Tapioca Starch Dextrose Monohydrate, Alibaba.com
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/tapioca-starch-dextrose-monohydrate-bulk-glucose_62108429284.html?spm=a2700.7724857.normal_offer.d_image.3a3d1eb9747CbL

Tapioca Dextrose, A. G. Commodities, Inc.
[Sent email 12/27/20, and it appears they are in the process of correcting their website.]
http://www.tapiocadextrose.com/

Tapioca Dextrose, Protein Muffins, Trader Joe’s
https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/068421

Organic Tapioca Dextrose, Nature’s Flavors
[Sent email 12/30/20.]
https://www.naturesflavors.com/organic-ingredients/63825-organic-dextrose-powder-kosher-vegan-gluten-free.html?search_query=tapioca+dextrose&results=4

Tapioca Dextrose Monohydrate, Essex Food Ingredients
[Sent documentation to them on 12/2/2020 via online contact form.]
https://essexfoodingredients.com/product/tapioca-dextrose-monohydrate/

Dextrose (Tapioca Derived)
[Sent documentation to them on 11/25/2020 via email.]
http://www.ffi-corp.com/products.asp

It appears that these food manufacturers/distributors are confusing "dextrin" with "dextrose." 

Dextrin, Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1277
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1277

Conflicting molecular formulas:

Since I am challenging the molecular formula for corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose) as defined in Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857, the FDA recently advised me to file a citizen’s petition addressing the following conflicting molecular formulas. I am in the process of drafting this petition.

The NIH National Library of Medicine informed me in an email that blood sugar present in all living organisms (glucose) and corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose) are "one and the same." Blood sugar (glucose) cannot provoke an allergic response; whereas, corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose) can prove fatal to anyone with an IgE-mediated allergy to corn. Therefore, based on the following molecular formulas in PubChem documents, I am requesting that the FDA provide documentation confirming that corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose) and blood sugar present in all living organisms (glucose) are biochemically identical ("one and the same") as defined in Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857. It is my contention that molecular formula C6H14O7 should be applied to corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose) to accurately reflect the critical difference between blood sugar present in all living organisms (glucose) and corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose). 

Corn Syrup, Molecular Formula C6H14O7
[Note that corn syrup is corn sugar to which water has been added.]
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5282499

Cornstarch, Molecular Formula C27H48O20
[Note that dextrose/D-glucose is corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch.]
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24836924

Dextrose, Molecular Formula C6H14O7
[Note that dextrose/D-glucose is corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch.]
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/DEXTROSE

Dextrose Monohydrate, Molecular Formula C6H14O7
[Note that this is the same molecular formula as corn syrup, since water has been added to dextrose; i.e., "monohydrate."]

Additional false statements in this publication:

"A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state."
[Glucose (blood sugar) is "A primary source of energy for living organisms" -- NOT corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose).]

"It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other."
[Corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose) is an ADDED ingredient to food/drug/biologic products. It is NOT naturally occurring, and the only way it can be found in other products is through the deliberate addition into that food/drug/biologic product.]
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/22814120

Since the molecular formula for dextrose is C6H14O7, corn syrup is C6H14O7, cornstarch is C27H48O20, and dextrose monohydrate is C6H14O7, this would mean that corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose) would have to be synthesized to achieve the molecular formula of blood sugar present in all living organisms, C6H12O6. The FDA should have documentation of this synthesization process. 

Why is this important?

One of the primary complaints in our corn allergy support groups of over 13.5K members is that the majority of medical professionals are erroneously equating corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose) with blood sugar present in all living organisms (glucose). As a result, they continue to insist upon administering dextrose-containing IV fluids to corn-allergic patients in direct violation of the contraindication warning in the package insert. In addition, many food manufacturers are claiming their products are corn free; when, in fact, they contain dextrose (or other corn-derived ingredients), which can prove fatal to corn-allergic consumers.


Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/
Email:  cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com
Twitter:  @CornAllergy911

Additional References:

Dextrose: Facts vs. Fiction
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2020/08/dextrose-facts-vs-fiction.html

Corn Allergy References, Surveys, Studies (". . . Maize major allergen . . . "), Statistics, & Petitions
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/04/corn-allergy-reference-links.html


Blog Post Reference Link:

Confirmation that dextrose (corn sugar/D-glucose) is only derived from corn. Dextrin (usually derived from corn) may be derived from food products other than corn.
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2020/12/confirmation-that-dextrose-corn-sugard.html


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