The Mystery of Corn Allergy

In the pure form, corn is easily recognizable. For people that suffer from corn allergy, the problem arises when corn is used to manufacture another product.

The recognizable forms of corn such as:

• Corn-on-the-cob
• Cornbread
• Corn chips
• Corn meal
• Canned corn/Frozen corn
• Corn oil
• Cornflakes
  
• Corn cereal
• Corn starch
• Grits
• Corn syrup
• Corn flour
• Popcorn

leaves no mystery as to there origin.

The mystery of corn allergy is intensified because of the following products:

• White vinegar – derived from corn and used in salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and pickled products.
• Fructose - In drinks and syrupy medicine is often seen as high fructose corn syrup.
• Dextrose, - is known as glucose or corn sugar and is used in a variety of foods. It can also be found in Gatorade. I have noticed dextrose in frozen French fries. glucose, caramel coloring
• Dextrin, maltodextrin – You can find these thickening agents in sauces, dressings and ice cream. The most common product used to make dextrin and maltodextrin is corn.
• Treacle – Golden syrup, see below.Golden syrup – can be made from a mixture of molasses and corn syrup.
• MSG – mono-sodium glutamate is usually derived from corn in the US.
• Xanthan gum – is a thickener. Derived from corn syrup, it is used in salad dressings, mayonnaise and some cream cheeses.
• Modified food starch – Corn is usually the common source.

The mystery continues. Have you ever wondered why so many stores now carry grass feed beef. Cows are feed corn right before they go to market to add bulk and mass. Dairy cows are feed corn and the effect is evident in milk and butter.

My allergy to corn is severe so this information has been very helpful for me. In my research I have discovered even free range chickens are feed corn. There’s no such thing as a non-corn fed chicken. Chickens will not grow properly just by eating insects and bugs. My corn allergy doesn’t react to cage free eggs but I do react to free range chicken.

Farm raised fish is feed corn and wheat along with other animal by products and grains. You will notice supermarkets are labeling their fish as wild caught or farm raise. North Atlantic Salmon can be fresh caught or farm raised. The same goes for Alaskan Cod. Don’t let the name deceive you.

Of course the main food source for pigs is corn. It also gets tricky with wild boar or venison. Hunters normally put out deer corn. The deer and the boar will eat the corn. Therefore even though it might be wild, think about the source.

Corn allergy is magnified when you have a wheat allergy. It is important to read labels to see exactly what is in manufactured products. My rule of thumb is, more than 5 ingredients and things get tricky.

Women Health and Family › Corn Allergy