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Celiac Disease ~ Food Allergies
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Member Twin Cities R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids) Member Life Unlimited II Member FASGMN (Food Allergy Support Group Mn)
Corn Allergy
Allergies to corn are more prevalent now than in previous years, although corn is not listed on the top 8 allergens list. A corn allergy refers to the body's reaction to the protein in corn. An allergy occurs when the body reacts to the protein in corn, as if it was a foreign substance. Symptoms of corn allergy can affect the skin, the digestive tract and the respiratory system. If you suspect you have a food allergy, consult your physician. Allergy testing may help to determine if you have a food allergy.
It is almost impossible to list all of the foods, ingredients and additives that contain corn. Corn and corn oil are used in many products in addition to food such as soaps, shampoos, make-up and cleaning products.
The top 6 ingredients to be aware of are:
HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) (any of a group of corn syrups that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fructose to produce a desired sweetness)
Citric Acid (Citric acid is used commercially to enhance the tartness in foods. It can be synthetically produced form corn)
Ascorbic Acid (Supplemental ascorbic acid, also known as Vitamin C, rarely comes from the sources where you'd find Vitamin C naturally. Instead, it's synthetically produced from corn)
Dextrose (Also known as glucose) Glucose, glucose syrup (Glucose syrup is most commonly made from corn starch)
Iodized Salt (Detrose is added to stabilize the iodine compound in the salt)
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) (In the US, MSG is made from corn through fermentation)
Xanthan Gum (Natural sugar derived from corn)
Symptoms of a corn allergy can include:
Hives Eczema Brain fog Dark circles under the eyes Anxiety attacks Depression Runny nose Unexplained tiredness Painful, swollen joints Headaches / Migraines Unexplained weight gain Diarrhea Constipation Vomiting Abdominal pain and bloating Difficulty breathing Flatulence (gas) Sudden blood sugar fluctuations
US food labeling laws require that if one of the top 8 allergens (note that corn is not in the top 8) is a direct ingredient of the end product, it needs to be listed either as an ingredient, or by the phrase "contains . . .". However, if an additive is derived from or has been contaminated by, an allergen, the allergen does NOT need to be highlighted on the ingredient list or label. For example, if dextrose is an ingredient, "corn" does not need to be listed as an allergen, even though the dextrose has been manufactured from corn starch. Many processing plants use a corn-based lactic acid wash on their meats - but "corn" does not need to be listed on the label.
Common ingredients that may contain corn:
Acetic acid Alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E - may be derived from corn, or in a corn oil base) Ascorbates Ascorbic Acid Aspartame Baking powder (may have cornstarch added) Calcium citrate Calcium fumarate Calcium gluconate Calcium lactate Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) Calcium stearate Cellulose Citric acid Corn oil (anything with "corn" in the name) Corn starch Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose Inositol Invert syrup or sugar Iodized salt Lactate, lactic acid Lecithin Linoleic acid Lysine Magnesium fumarate Maize Malic acid, malonic acid Malitol Maltodextrin Maltose Methyl glucose Modified cellulose gum Modified food starch (if the "food" is not listed, avoid foods with "food" starch) Mono- and di-glycerides MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) Olestra / Olean Polenta Polydextrose Corn sweetener Crystalline dexrose Dextrin, Dextrose (found in IV solutions) Fumaric acid Glycerol Golden syrup Grits High fructose corn syrup Hominy Hydrolyzed "vegetable" protein (does not name vegetable it was derived from) Sodium citrate Sorbic acit Sorbitol Splenda Starch (if it does not list where starch was derived from) Stearic acid Sucrose Threonine Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Vitamin C & Vitamin E Xanthan gum Xylitol
This is by no means a complete list. If you question what a particular ingredient is, or what the source of the ingredient is, do your research before choosing to eat a product with that ingredient. There are many books and websites dedicated to corn allergies that can be very helpful.
The information on this website is for informational purposes only. The information provided and opinions stated herein are not meant to diagnose any condition. If you have concerns about your health, please consult a medical professional. As always, it is up to those following a gluten-free, dairy-free diet to determine if information or products are safe for them.
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