My June 2, 2021 Email to ADM, sweeteners@adm.com, Re: Dextrose (Corn Sugar)

Re:  Discrepancies on your website that endanger the lives of corn-allergic consumers and patients. 

Correct:
"Dextrose from ADM, a . . . sweetener made from corn . . ."
"Energy source: supplies efficient, energy-maintaining fuel for foods, beverages and supplements"
https://www.adm.com/products-services/food/sweetening-solutions/dextrose

Incorrect:
Dextrose: The Can-Do Sweetener
"Dextrose (also known as D-glucose) is a simple sugar that comes from corn, wheat and other natural sources, like fruits and honey." [FALSE]
"Since dextrose is the body’s primary source of energy, [FALSE] the medical industry uses dextrose in a range of applications . . ."
https://assets.adm.com/Products-And-Services/Food-Ingredients/SparkHub/Sweeteners/Dextrose_Sell_Sheet.pdf

Consequence of these errors:

Endangering the lives of corn-allergic consumers and patients.

Some food manufacturers; e.g., Beanitos and Mike's Mix, are claiming their products are "corn free" even though the product contains dextrose, which endangers the lives of corn-allergic consumers.  I reported my allergic reaction to the FDA after consuming one of Beanitos products that contained dextrose.  This company is also claiming that dextrose can be derived from other sources other than corn, like fruits and honey. [False]  In addition, I also suffered an acute allergic reaction to a product the company had falsely labeled as "organic tapioca dextrose."  [False]  The product was actually tapioca starch to which corn sugar in the form of dextrose equivalent (DE) had been ADDED TO THE PRODUCT.  

It is impossible for dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch) to be "naturally present" in any food product other than corn.  The only way that dextrose would be present in other products is through the deliberate application or injection of dextrose on, or into. these products. 

Dextrose is used as a glucose (blood sugar)-elevating agent in some IV solutions, which is why these IV fluids are contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients in the package insert. 

Glucose (blood sugar naturally present in all living organisms, and necessary for survival) is the body's primary source of energy -- NOT DEXTROSE (corn sugar). 

We, the corn allergy community, are requesting your immediate correction of these false and misleading statements, which endanger our lives.  

Thank you.

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

DOCUMENTATION:

Dextrose is corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch (D-glucose), while glucose is blood sugar naturally present in all living organisms.  Glucose is produced by the liver; D-glucose (dextrose/corn sugar) is produced from cornstarch.  

Since dextrose (corn sugar/D-glucose) is often the carbohydrate-of-choice utilized as a glucose (blood sugar)-elevating agent in some IV solutions, this is the reason these solutions are contraindicated for administration to corn-allergic patients in the package insert.

Corn Sugar (Dextrose/D-Glucose) IV Solutions Contraindicated for Corn-Allergic Patients
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2020/08/corn-sugar-dextrose-iv-fluids.html

BCPharmacists, "Warning: corn-related allergens . . ."
http://library.bcpharmacists.org/6_Resources/6-7_ReadLinks/ReadLinks-MayJun2007.pdf

“DEXTROSE or refined corn sugar is a relatively new sweetening and preserving agent in the food industries. It was not until 1922 that Newkirk made possible the commercial manufacture of dextrose by his special crystallization process. Refined dextrose is made by converting highly purified starch with hydrochloric acid.  Anhydrous dextrose is prepared by recrystallization of the hydrated dextrose, ground very fine and heated to 600C. to remove the molecule of water of crystallization. This is the form of dextrose used for intravenous injections and in various pharmaceutical and medicinal preparations.”

https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.29.2.135

"The Liver & Blood Sugar," University of California, San Francisco
https://dtc.ucsf.edu/types-of-diabetes/type1/understanding-type-1-diabetes/how-the-body-processes-sugar/the-liver-blood-sugar/

"What is Glucose?," WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/glucose-diabetes

 "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/

The Corn Refiners Association correctly identifies corn-derived sweeteners with the requisite “D-“ modifier (DE for dextrose equivalent).  This critical modifier has been omitted from many published articles over many decades, which is the reason that corn-derived sweeteners are being erroneously equated with blood sugar (glucose).

Nutritive Sweeteners From Corn, Corn Refiners Association, 2006
https://corn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NSFC2006.pdf

The Corn Products Refining Company declared dextrose to be corn sugar back in the 1940s.

“Dextrose: All-American Corn Sugar,” Candy Professor, September 29, 2010
https://candyprofessor.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/dextrose-all-american-corn-sugar/

The FDA also confirms that dextrose is corn sugar/D-glucose.

Dextrose (corn sugar) is a food additive that is generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

If you reference “Dextrose” on the FDA’s Food Additive Status List, it refers to 21CFR184.1857.
https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/food-additive-status-list#ftnD

If you reference 21CFR184.1857, the definition is “Corn sugar.”
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1857

Therefore, the FDA classifies dextrose as corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch.

"...called corn sugar...the name for the sweetener dextrose...used by people who have trouble tolerating regular sugar for 30 years, the FDA says."
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/05/30/154009682/fda-rules-corn-syrup-cant-change-its-name-to-corn-sugar

What are the sources that continue to propagate the false narrative of equating dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from allergenic cornstarch) with glucose (blood sugar naturally present in all living organisms that is necessary for their survival)?

 

Reminder:  Dextrose (corn sugar) is an FDA-approved “food additive” that is manufactured from cornstarch.  Dextrose is not naturally occurring, but is manufactured corn sugar. Dextrose can never be “naturally present” in any other food product, and it can never be “naturally present” in mammals.

 

The following resources have been contacted with the correct definition of dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch/D-glucose). 

American Heritage Dictionary
"The dextrorotatory form of glucose . . . naturally occurring form of glucose found in all organisms.  Also called dextroglucose."
https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=dextrose

Cambridge Dictionary
"a form of glucose (= a type of sugar) that is found in fruits, honey, etc."
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dextrose

Cargill (ingredient supplier)
[Documentation submitted June 2, 2021, via online contact form.]
https://www.cargill.com/food-bev/emea/sweeteners/c-dex-dextrose

Collins Dictionary
"Dextrose is a natural form of sugar that is found in fruits, honey, and in the blood of animals."
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dextrose

definition.org
"The dextrorotatory form of glucose, C6H12O6·H2O, found naturally in animal and plant tissue and derived synthetically from starch. Also called dextroglucose."
https://definition.org/define/dextrose/

Encylopedia Britannica
"Glucose, also called dextrose . . ."
https://www.britannica.com/science/glucose

Macmillan Dictionary [Blocked my Twitter account!]
"a type of sugar that is found in fruit"
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/dextrose

Merriam-Webster
"technical : a kind of sugar found in fruits, plants, etc. : a form of glucose"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dextrose#h1

Vocabulary.com
“. . . an isomer of glucose that is found in honey and sweet fruits.”
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dextrose

Wikipedia: 

Wikipedia warns against citing their articles.

If the reader references "dextrose" on Wikipedia, the reader is erroneously redirected to "glucose."  Glucose (blood sugar naturally present in all living organisms) must never be equated with dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch/D-glucose).

 

1.     Wikipedia has been notified of this critical error. 

2.      Wikipedia banned me from my talk page when I provided documentation that dextrose (corn sugar) must never be equated with glucose (blood sugar).  The vitriolic rhetoric from Wikipedia contributors was quite remarkable. (Copy of transcript saved).

3.      Wikipedia rejected my dextrose page submission.

4.      Before I was banned from my talk page, a Wikipedia contributor actually endangered my life by claiming that dextrose can be derived from other food sources; and specifically recommended “Mike’s Mix Tapioca Dextrose.” (also falsely advertised as containing no corn). For the protection of corn-allergic consumers, I have exchanged over 40 emails with Mike’s Mix.  They refuse to correct their labeling or their “corn-free” claim.  Did this Wikipedia contributor have a financial interest in this product?

https://mikesmixture.com/products/tapioca-dextrose

5.      Based on the advice from this Wikipedia contributor, I conducted an oral challenge of 1 level tsp. of “organic tapioca dextrose” from Ciranda.  This product was actually tapioca starch to which corn sugar in the form of dextrose equivalent (DE) was added.   I suffered an acute, 8-hour allergic reaction to this product requiring two antihistamines and two prednisone tablets.

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

"Wikipedia:Wikipedia is not a reliable source"
"Wikipedia is not a reliable source for citations elsewhere on Wikipedia. Because it can be edited by anyone at any time, any information it contains at a particular time could be vandalism, a work in progress, or just plain wrong. Biographies of living persons, subjects that happen to be in the news, and politically or culturally contentious topics are especially vulnerable to these issues. Edits on Wikipedia that are in error are usually fixed after some time. However, because Wikipedia is a volunteer-run project, it cannot constantly monitor every contribution. There are many errors that remain unnoticed for hours, days, weeks, months, or even years. Therefore, Wikipedia should not be considered a definitive source in and of itself."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_is_not_a_reliable_source#:~:text=Wikipedia%20can%20be%20edited%20by,progress%2C%20or%20just%20plain%20wrong.&text=Therefore%2C%20Wikipedia%20should%20not%20be,source%20in%20and%20of%20itself

Your Dictionary:
". . . the naturally occurring form of glucose found in all organisms." 

"A right-handed form of glucose found in plants and animals and in human blood, and made by the hydrolysis of starch with acids or enzymes."
https://www.yourdictionary.com/dextrose#websters

 

References:

ADM
https://www.adm.com/our-company

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is a “Member Company” of the Corn Refiners Association
https://corn.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/NSFC2006.pdf

 

 

Blog Post Reference:

My June 2, 2021 Email to ADM, sweeteners@adm.com, Re: Dextrose (Corn Sugar)
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2021/06/my-june-2-2021-email-to-adm-re-dextrose.html