The ACAAI's Endangerment of Corn-Allergic Infants (Documented)

UPDATE DECEMBER 10, 2021:  The ACAAI is once again intentionally endangering the lives of corn-allergic citizens.  

Update March 26, 2021:

For the safety of corn-allergic infants, we are grateful that the ACAAI has suspended this page from their website.
https://acaai.org/resources/connect/ask-allergist/infant-formulas-and-corn-allergy

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The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) is a "professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals. Members live and practice throughout the United States and internationally."

https://acaai.org/about-college

Legitimate board-certified allergists would never encourage a patient to consume their allergen (or derivatives thereof), and would advocate for strict avoidance of their allergen (or derivatives thereof).  In addition, they would be aware of the documented evidence that removing the allergenic protein from a food product does not guarantee an allergen hypoallergenic.  

STRICT AVOIDANCE OF ALLERGENS IS ALWAYS ADVISED
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2020/05/strict-avoidance-of-allergens-is-always.html

Removing a Food Protein Does Not Guarantee an Allergen Hypoallergenic
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/12/removing-food-protein-does-not.html

False:  “The allergen is destroyed by heating the food, which can then be consumed with no problem.” [emphasis added]
https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergy

False:  “The corn component in the hypoallergenic formulae is corn syrup, derived from corn starch [sic] which has been processed to remove any impurities. This corn starch [sic] does not have any corn protein in it. [emphasis added]
https://acaai.org/resources/connect/ask-allergist/infant-formulas-and-corn-allergy

Fact:  High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is made from cornstarch. Cornstarch can prove fatal to anyone with an IgE-mediated allergy to corn. This is also the reason that dextrose-containing IV solutions are contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients, since dextrose is corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch/D-glucose, 21CFR184.1857. 
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/high-fructose-corn-syrup-questions-and-answers

"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/

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

The ACAAI endangered my life with their false statement regarding the allergenicity of cornstarch, March 15, 2018. 

“Most corn-derived products, like cornstarch and high-fructose corn syrup, do not contain corn protein. If you have a corn allergy, you do not need to avoid these products.”
https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/corn-allergy

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.]
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/03/argo-cornstarch-oral-challenge-to-test.html

Approximately one year after mailing the ACAAI a certified letter and filing a petition against this organization, they finally redacted their false and misleading claim regarding the allergenicity of cornstarch; however, we have continued to appeal to them to redact their equally false claim regarding the allergenicity of corn syrup. 

My March 27, 2018, Certified Letter to the ACAAI Re: Cornstarch and Corn Syrup
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/03/my-march-27-2018-certified-letter-to.html

Petition to Demand that the ACAAI Remove False Statement Re: Cornstarch/High-Fructose Corn Syrup
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/02/petition-to-demand-that-acaai-remove.html

UPDATE DECEMBER 10, 2021:

The ACAAI is once again intentionally endangering the lives of corn-allergic citizens.  

UPDATE FEBRUARY 20, 2021:

We are grateful that the ACAAI has suspended this particular page from their website. 
https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/corn-allergy

 

My Appeal to the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition:

My October 20, 2020, Email to the ACAAI Re: Directive from the FDA Addressing the ACAAI’s Claims Regarding Corn Allergenic Proteins
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2021/02/my-october-20-2020-email-to-acaai-re.html

"Response: Case Number 247714

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding allergens in corn-derived products. You noted a statement from the ACAAI about allergen levels in such products.

There is no collaboration between FDA and the ACAAI, and FDA does not have records pertaining to their claims. Please contact the ACAAI for information about the testing procedures used to justify their claims. (emphasis added)

We hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you have further questions.

Thank you for contacting FDA’s FCIC/TAN."

 

February 18, 2021, Reply from Rick Slawny, Executive Director, ACAAI

In response to my October 20, 2021, email to the ACAAI, I received a reply on February 21, 2021, from Rick Slawny, in which he referenced the following statement by the FDA addressing "High Fructose Corn Syrup Questions and Answers."
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/high-fructose-corn-syrup-questions-and-answers

Who is Rick Slawny?

Mr. Slawny is not a clinician, and his expertise is "association management." 

"Rick is EAI President and serves as the Executive Director for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). With more than 30 years of association management experience, he is a specialist in leadership development, corporate development, governance and convention management.

Rick’s extensive management experience has made him highly skillful in contract negotiations, meeting coordination, development of publications and all forms of communications. He also has extensive experience developing non-dues revenue sources and implementing strategic plans.

Rick is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the American Association of Medical Society Executives."
https://execadmin.com/about/executive-staff/

The Executive Administration, Inc. (EAI)

"Strategic Planning, Government Relations, and Revenue Development"
https://execadmin.com/services/strategic-planning-government-relations-and-revenue-development/

"Our executive staff comprises skilled professionals who have extensive experience in association management and business. As a team and as individuals, we dedicate ourselves to delivering quality services and high performance outcomes to our client organizations. Together with our entire staff, we stand ready to help your association reach its full potential."
https://execadmin.com/about/executive-staff/

Excerpts from My February 18, 2021, Reply to Rick Slawny:

Rick Slawny:

"HFCS is derived from corn starch [sic]."

Cornstarch can prove FATAL to anyone with an IgE-mediated allergy to corn.  Therefore, HFCS may be safe for consumers who are not allergic to corn; however, it is NOT SAFE for anyone with an allergy to corn.

"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/

Corn Sugar (Dextrose/D-Glucose), Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857
[Corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (dextrose/D-glucose)]
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1857

It is for this reason that dextrose (corn sugar/D-glucose)-containing IV solutions are clearly contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients in the package insert.  Administering corn sugar (dextrose/D-glucose) IV fluids to corn-allergic patients is a critical medical error equivalent to administering penicillin to patients with an allergy to penicillin since corn sugar is manufactured from cornstarch.

Guidelines for reporting medical professionals who administer corn sugar (dextrose) IV fluids to corn-allergic patients in direct violation of the contraindication warning in the package insert.
Lactated Ringer’s in 5% Dextrose Contraindicated for Corn-Allergic Patients
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2019/12/lactated-ringers-in-5-dextrose.html

So the ACAAI is DENYING THE ALLERGENICITY OF CORNSTARCH, and they endangered my life with their initial claim that cornstarch was safe for corn-allergic consumers due to the lack of allergenic corn protein.  They redacted this claim a year after I mailed them a certified letter. 

I would be excoriated and sued if I made the same claims re: other allergens; e.g., wheat, peanuts, etc. that the ACAAI is claiming re: corn allergies. How can an allergy association be allowed to intentionally endanger the lives of people w/an IgE-mediated to corn?

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2021/02/my-october-20-2020-email-to-acaai-re.html

Please refer to the following list of common corn-derived ingredients we are advised to avoid due to our IgE-mediated allergies to corn.  We would like to know which of these corn-derived ingredients the ACAAI confirms do NOT contain corn protein.  The 13.5K members in our corn allergy support groups DO NOT AGREE WITH THE ACAAI'S CLAIM due to our allergic reactions to these corn-derived ingredients.

 "Corn Allergy Food List"
https://www.leavesoflife.com/corn-allergy-food-list/?fbclid=IwAR1v_17JjwBItTzKGX9NcGwSpiwC_3Hgggq6mYQawQOlrdQWfn8vm18nB_4

Apparently, this statement by the ACAAI is also of concern to the FDA, and they have specifically stated in their directive:

“There is no collaboration between FDA and the ACAAI, and FDA does not have records pertaining to their claims. Please contact the ACAAI for information about the testing procedures used to justify their claims.” (emphasis added)

Therefore, we continue to wait for the ACAAI's testing procedures [as directed by the FDA] to confirm that "Most corn-derived products, like high-fructose corn syrup, do not contain corn protein;" because we can attest to the fact that this declaration by the ACAAI is false; and endangers the lives of corn-allergic consumers and patients. 

Thank you very much for your response, and we look forward to receiving the requisite documentation from the ACAAI that was requested by the FDA. 

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

 

The ACAAI's Endangerment of Corn-Allergic Infants

Although the ACAAI has suspended the corn allergy reference page from their website, they continue to endanger the lives of corn-allergic infants.  I have forwarded numerous other emails to Rick Slawny with my appeal that they immediately redact the following page, as well.  I have provided the ACAAI with indisputable documentation that their claims are false and misleading.  In addition, the ACAAI has not yet complied with the FDA’s directive to “provide information about the testing procedures used to justify their claims.”

Infant Formulas and Corn Allergy:

“The corn component in the hypoallergenic formulae is corn syrup, derived from corn starch [sic] which has been processed to remove any impurities. This corn starch [sic] does not have any corn protein in it.”
https://acaai.org/resources/connect/ask-allergist/infant-formulas-and-corn-allergy

I became a full-time corn allergy advocate over 7 years ago due to heartbreaking testimonies from parents of corn-allergic infants.  THERE ARE NO COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED CORN-FREE INFANT FORMULAS ON THE MARKET.  Hypoallergenic formula means that the formulas are void of the Top 8 allergens.  If a person is allergic to corn, hypoallergenic does NOT apply to them. 

If the mother is nursing, she must adhere to a strict corn-free diet.  The only other source of nutrition for these struggling babies is milk from goats and/or camels, or a homemade formulation.  If these babies require hospital care, hospitals have no corn-free source of nutrition to offer to these babies!  They cannot administer dextrose (corn-sugar)-containing IV fluids to these infants (contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients), so the only other option is straight saline-only IV fluids. 

Since the ACAAI refuses to redact this false and misleading claim from their website, I interpret this as their continued endangerment of corn-allergic infants.

For the safety of corn-allergic babies (and corn-allergic consumers/patients), please join me in demanding that the ACAAI immediately redact this page from their website.  Rick Slawny’s email address is rickslawny@acaai.org. 
https://acaai.org/resources/connect/ask-allergist/infant-formulas-and-corn-allergy

 

Thank you for your attention to this critical concern.

 

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

 

Reference:

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

 

Blog Post Reference:

The ACAAI's Endangerment of Corn-Allergic Infants (Documented)
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-acaais-endangerment-of-corn.html