Comments on: Living Without Exposes FAAN’s Duplicity on Corn Allergy? Well, a Little… http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:55:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Shauna http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-2544 Shauna Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:22:51 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-2544 The problem with lists of corn derivatives is that they are ever evolving. Sometimes labels don't list corn, because corn is found in the production process. Having said that, www.cornallergens.com has a really extensive list. We are still learing about what to avoid. Our main problem has been that my daughter's elementary school loves to pop popcorn - which causes severe asthma attacks. She has a 504 in place and it was suggested that I check her out of school when they are popping popcorn. I went to the PTO and threw a fit, but I do know that if my daughter had a severe peanut allergy, there wouldn't be any arguments at all. The problem with lists of corn derivatives is that they are ever evolving. Sometimes labels don’t list corn, because corn is found in the production process. Having said that, http://www.cornallergens.com has a really extensive list. We are still learing about what to avoid. Our main problem has been that my daughter’s elementary school loves to pop popcorn – which causes severe asthma attacks. She has a 504 in place and it was suggested that I check her out of school when they are popping popcorn. I went to the PTO and threw a fit, but I do know that if my daughter had a severe peanut allergy, there wouldn’t be any arguments at all.

]]> By: Chef Joel http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-2543 Chef Joel Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:48:24 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-2543 I am a chef and have been serving people with food allergies for many years. I have not come across many people with a corn allergy but there have been a few. I find this very difficult to accommodate since corn IS in almost every manufactured food, even more than soy. I also find it difficult to get manufacturers to provide concrete information on corn ingredients. I am looking for a reliable ingredient list that provides information on corn derivatives so I can have it handy for the next guest requesting corn free foods. Anyone have a suggestion? I am a chef and have been serving people with food allergies for many years. I have not come across many people with a corn allergy but there have been a few. I find this very difficult to accommodate since corn IS in almost every manufactured food, even more than soy. I also find it difficult to get manufacturers to provide concrete information on corn ingredients. I am looking for a reliable ingredient list that provides information on corn derivatives so I can have it handy for the next guest requesting corn free foods. Anyone have a suggestion?

]]> By: Shauna http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-2418 Shauna Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:14:02 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-2418 My daughter is SEVERELY allergic to corn.The reason, I believe, for the unwillingness to address the growing corn allrgy problem is because a majority of the US infrastructure is corn based. The US produces more than half of the world's supply of corn. The US has incorporated corn into thousands of products in order to a) keep cost down and b) claim "all natural" and "green" because of plant based material. My daughter is SEVERELY allergic to corn.The reason, I believe, for the unwillingness to address the growing corn allrgy problem is because a majority of the US infrastructure is corn based. The US produces more than half of the world’s supply of corn. The US has incorporated corn into thousands of products in order to a) keep cost down and b) claim “all natural” and “green” because of plant based material.

]]> By: Carol http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-2128 Carol Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:38:27 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-2128 Wow what an article! I had no idea about the problem with corn being ignored . I know that one of my little one's food allergies , mustard seed is definetly ignored. I thought it was just the mustard that was being ignored. I ran into a problem when I tried to tell FAAN that after mychild's severe mustard allergic reaction at age3 that I would like to have some info re this they had basically zilch to offer. They did not recognize it as it was not in the top 8 as you mentioned similarly with your corn issue. Although I even pointed out that ALL of Europe has listed it in their top 12 Major Allergen List . They still said nothing helpful. IO even offered to send oodles of data re and they said that they would have to run it by their doctors etc. This was 2 1-2 yrs ago. I called the FDA not much luck there either.It takes an act of Congress is what one said to me. My letter was replyed with a letter sdaying spices were not considered as an allergen . How is it that 26+ countries of EU inc Eng Ire Scot.. France etc.... and now Canada in 2010 consider mustard to be severe enough to be listed #4 behind peanut in children and yet our wonderful country (whom must label mu if exporting by the way) does not have the power to protect its' own consumers here in USA for severe mustard allergens? I hope that parents and non parents never have to be surprised like our child's anaph reaction caused us to be. We thought peanut was the only worry and had none for 2 years in the home. The miniscule amount of mustard touched plain pretzel and caused a near fatal reaction . I had just been given an epi jr. which we used and it saved her life according to paramedics who arrived after. It is time testing is done for more than 8 allergens at least 12 as Eu and then some. Labels should reflect true allergy barometers in this country and not what is perceived as comfortable for the big companies. God Bless and Hopefully the changes will come to be on the same page with the rest of the civilized countries. Wow what an article! I had no idea about the problem with corn being ignored . I know that one of my little one’s food allergies , mustard seed is definetly ignored. I thought it was just the mustard that was being ignored. I ran into a problem when I tried to tell FAAN that after mychild’s severe mustard allergic reaction at age3 that I would like to have some info re this they had basically zilch to offer. They did not recognize it as it was not in the top 8 as you mentioned similarly with your corn issue. Although I even pointed out that ALL of Europe has listed it in their top 12 Major Allergen List . They still said nothing helpful. IO even offered to send oodles of data re and they said that they would have to run it by their doctors etc. This was 2 1-2 yrs ago. I called the FDA not much luck there either.It takes an act of Congress is what one said to me. My letter was replyed with a letter sdaying spices were not considered as an allergen . How is it that 26+ countries of EU inc Eng Ire Scot.. France etc…. and now Canada in 2010 consider mustard to be severe enough to be listed #4 behind peanut in children and yet our wonderful country (whom must label mu if exporting by the way) does not have the power to protect its’ own consumers here in USA for severe mustard allergens? I hope that parents and non parents never have to be surprised like our child’s anaph reaction caused us to be. We thought peanut was the only worry and had none for 2 years in the home. The miniscule amount of mustard touched plain pretzel and caused a near fatal reaction . I had just been given an epi jr. which we used and it saved her life according to paramedics who arrived after. It is time testing is done for more than 8 allergens at least 12 as Eu and then some. Labels should reflect true allergy barometers in this country and not what is perceived as comfortable for the big companies. God Bless and Hopefully the changes will come to be on the same page with the rest of the civilized countries.

]]> By: Wheat Allergy Symptoms http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-1294 Wheat Allergy Symptoms Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:22:13 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-1294 Living Without Exposes FAAN’s Duplicity on Corn Allergy? Well, a Little…? Seriously? I was searching Google for wheat allergy symptoms and found this... will have to think about it. Living Without Exposes FAAN’s Duplicity on Corn Allergy? Well, a Little…? Seriously? I was searching Google for wheat allergy symptoms and found this… will have to think about it.

]]> By: The Sensitive Gourmet » Blog Archive » Corn syrup temper “rantrum” http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-1230 The Sensitive Gourmet » Blog Archive » Corn syrup temper “rantrum” Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:32:23 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-1230 [...] allergen.  One concerned corn allergic blogger who dug deeper into the matter suggests in his post that it’s because Kraft Foods Inc., a major donor to FAAN, uses corn in their products.  [...] [...] allergen.  One concerned corn allergic blogger who dug deeper into the matter suggests in his post that it’s because Kraft Foods Inc., a major donor to FAAN, uses corn in their products.  [...]

]]> By: Side Effects Of Allergy http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-1174 Side Effects Of Allergy Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:22:56 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-1174 Living Without Exposes FAAN’s Duplicity on Corn Allergy? Well, a Little…? Seriously? I was searching Google for side effects of allergy and found this... will have to think about it. Living Without Exposes FAAN’s Duplicity on Corn Allergy? Well, a Little…? Seriously? I was searching Google for side effects of allergy and found this… will have to think about it.

]]> By: D Umeno http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-1053 D Umeno Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:52:20 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-1053 Thank you so much for this post. My daughter has asthma and reflux and it took me 3 years to figure out that corn is most likely a problem in addition to dairy and soy and nuts and artificial food colors. One reason is that I never looked beyond the top 8 until I began to notice that she would always have a bad night of reflux following eating corn or corn chips. And I had no idea about FAAN's KRAFT funding. Thanks for that tidbit. I'm a big believer in following the money where it comes to research about food allergies and intolerances. Thank you so much for this post. My daughter has asthma and reflux and it took me 3 years to figure out that corn is most likely a problem in addition to dairy and soy and nuts and artificial food colors. One reason is that I never looked beyond the top 8 until I began to notice that she would always have a bad night of reflux following eating corn or corn chips. And I had no idea about FAAN’s KRAFT funding. Thanks for that tidbit. I’m a big believer in following the money where it comes to research about food allergies and intolerances.

]]> By: W Boyd http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-1006 W Boyd Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:53:59 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-1006 I am not allergic to corn but I do feel for those who are because my wife is allergic to shell fish and I have seen what mistakenly eating some of it can do to her. I do not however trust any of the big maufadtures or major companies because all they are interested in is making BIG money and they don't give a hoot how they make it or who gets injured as long as their profit margin continues to go up. In my opinion, money is the major cause of most of the illnesses in this country due to the greediness of the major corporations and their quest for money. I am not allergic to corn but I do feel for those who are because my wife is allergic to shell fish and I have seen what mistakenly eating some of it can do to her. I do not however trust any of the big maufadtures or major companies because all they are interested in is making BIG money and they don’t give a hoot how they make it or who gets injured as long as their profit margin continues to go up. In my opinion, money is the major cause of most of the illnesses in this country due to the greediness of the major corporations and their quest for money.

]]> By: Donna http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-978 Donna Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:03:56 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-978 I was diagnosed with my corn (and soy, peanut and egg) allergy (not intolerance) 5+ years ago. I took the drugs they prescribed and while they helped my allergies, the rest of my body fell apart. I got sicker and sicker and sicker until finally I was unemployed and had no life but was so drugged up I didn't know what I was doing. Finally I stopped taking the drugs and started getting better and better and better. Unfortunately the allergies are still there and while I was always very careful about what I ate, it is sooooo hard. To have it further compounded by people (doctors, food & personal care manufacturers, government agencies and agencies that are SUPPOSED to help the CONSUMER) telling me there is no such thing as a corn allergy is enough to make me cry at times and I've felt so all alone with this. I went to ER 3 weeks ago because I couldn't breathe. It was their opinion that I had an unexplained severe asthma attack. Of course I was given more drugs of which I was told there are NO SIDE EFFECTS. Of course they had SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS. Now in trying to figure out what caused this, I have since discovered my "100% orange juice" has corn in it. My vitamins (manufactured by a company owned by a big pharmaceutical company) have corn and soy in them. My jar of organic face cream has corn in it. I want you to know I support what you are doing to publicize that corn allergy is real and we are people that should be protected as well. Now that I'm not running around in a drugged stupor I will be doing all I can to let people know that corn allergies exist!! I was diagnosed with my corn (and soy, peanut and egg) allergy (not intolerance) 5+ years ago. I took the drugs they prescribed and while they helped my allergies, the rest of my body fell apart. I got sicker and sicker and sicker until finally I was unemployed and had no life but was so drugged up I didn’t know what I was doing. Finally I stopped taking the drugs and started getting better and better and better. Unfortunately the allergies are still there and while I was always very careful about what I ate, it is sooooo hard. To have it further compounded by people (doctors, food & personal care manufacturers, government agencies and agencies that are SUPPOSED to help the CONSUMER) telling me there is no such thing as a corn allergy is enough to make me cry at times and I’ve felt so all alone with this.

I went to ER 3 weeks ago because I couldn’t breathe. It was their opinion that I had an unexplained severe asthma attack. Of course I was given more drugs of which I was told there are NO SIDE EFFECTS. Of course they had SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS. Now in trying to figure out what caused this, I have since discovered my “100% orange juice” has corn in it. My vitamins (manufactured by a company owned by a big pharmaceutical company) have corn and soy in them. My jar of organic face cream has corn in it.

I want you to know I support what you are doing to publicize that corn allergy is real and we are people that should be protected as well. Now that I’m not running around in a drugged stupor I will be doing all I can to let people know that corn allergies exist!!

]]> By: LAC http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-802 LAC Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:08:46 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-802 I too am disturbed by the lack of information about corn allergies and applaud you for taking on FAAN about this. As I have been allergic to corn for 23 years, I was surprised that one of my newest "finds" of corn ingredients was vanilla extract. Here I thought that desserts were too rich for me as a I aged when--BY MISTAKE--I found out that the alcohol itself in many brands is made from grain alcohol, specifically CORN. I wasn't buying vanilla extract that was labeled with "corn syrup" thinking I was doing a good thing and it didn't even occur to me that the corn in the alcohol was causing me to react. Thank you for your help with FAAN. I too am disturbed by the lack of information about corn allergies and applaud you for taking on FAAN about this. As I have been allergic to corn for 23 years, I was surprised that one of my newest “finds” of corn ingredients was vanilla extract. Here I thought that desserts were too rich for me as a I aged when–BY MISTAKE–I found out that the alcohol itself in many brands is made from grain alcohol, specifically CORN. I wasn’t buying vanilla extract that was labeled with “corn syrup” thinking I was doing a good thing and it didn’t even occur to me that the corn in the alcohol was causing me to react. Thank you for your help with FAAN.

]]> By: LK http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492&cpage=1#comment-739 LK Tue, 27 May 2008 20:03:29 +0000 http://www.mloknitting.com/?p=492#comment-739 I also sympathize. I have a recently discovered intolerance to corn, wheat, rice, mustard, yeast, and 5 other culprits. Corn is probably the toughest to try and substitute. I have known for years that something was not right with my body - every time after eating, my abdomen would distend greatly. I still get the distention because I am just beginning to try a new diet and am finding it difficult. Within the past 2 years I have started having chest pains. I had an echocardiogram and was discovered that my heart was enlarged and one of the valves was leaking. The swelling has now decreased but I still occasionally get the chest pains. I am now 36 years old and believe that the pains are related to the food intolerances and because I have never dealt with them (because they were unknown) they are starting to take a toll on other parts of my body which I think will probably become more life threatening if I do not change my diet. I would like to see the FDA require that Corn be listed as an allergen on food / drink labels and also I would like to see Corn as one of the MAIN allergens (I don't understand why it is not). Corn is in everything and I think it is far more serious than people know and are taking it. My doctor / doctors have never suggested food intolerances as the culprits but it is my belief - I do not have a lot of faith in any doctors of any particular practice. It took my a long time just to find a doctor who tested for food allergies - imagine that. And once my results were returned, my doctor did not even talk to me about alternatives or offer any help or guidance on the issue so I am trying to do this on my own and find my own information. I also sympathize. I have a recently discovered intolerance to corn, wheat, rice, mustard, yeast, and 5 other culprits. Corn is probably the toughest to try and substitute. I have known for years that something was not right with my body – every time after eating, my abdomen would distend greatly. I still get the distention because I am just beginning to try a new diet and am finding it difficult. Within the past 2 years I have started having chest pains. I had an echocardiogram and was discovered that my heart was enlarged and one of the valves was leaking. The swelling has now decreased but I still occasionally get the chest pains. I am now 36 years old and believe that the pains are related to the food intolerances and because I have never dealt with them (because they were unknown) they are starting to take a toll on other parts of my body which I think will probably become more life threatening if I do not change my diet. I would like to see the FDA require that Corn be listed as an allergen on food / drink labels and also I would like to see Corn as one of the MAIN allergens (I don’t understand why it is not). Corn is in everything and I think it is far more serious than people know and are taking it. My doctor / doctors have never suggested food intolerances as the culprits but it is my belief – I do not have a lot of faith in any doctors of any particular practice. It took my a long time just to find a doctor who tested for food allergies – imagine that. And once my results were returned, my doctor did not even talk to me about alternatives or offer any help or guidance on the issue so I am trying to do this on my own and find my own information.

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