Little man has multiple FPIES triggers (the food protein that triggers a reaction/symptoms); however corn is his worst and it is the most difficult to avoid. Corn is in so many things.
I often get questions on where to start, or what to avoid. So, I wanted to have a specific reference list for places that are my 'go-to' for corn sourcing, I added a Corn Allergy page (see tab above or link here): http://fpiesmudpies.blogspot.com/p/corn-allergy.html
Showing posts with label corn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corn. Show all posts
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I am sure you have no idea...
I am sure I had no idea either. I am almost embarrassed to admit my ignorance towards corn and it's allergens. I am sad when I think of the months I kept my Little Man on a product that's base is corn (much less the "other" ingredients and vitamins in it that are derived from corn...that product being something that is supposed to sustain the life of a severely allergic infant/young child who can not tolerate a complete diet. I was told it was not possible to react to a "hypoallergenic" formula. Keeping in mind that, hypoallergenic does not mean non-allergenic. Non-allergenic = no such thing. I have learned so much.
I am not the only one who has had to learn on their own. I wanted to share some advice from some other educated corn allergic people. My first go-to was the Corn Free website. This women spent painstakingly oodles of hours putting together extensive lists of ingredients, that have almost memorized in my efforts to keep my son safe.
I have since joined a community on babycenter where moms come together to share their experiences and a very knowledgeable mom posted this: Considerations when dealing with corn allergy:
"Here is a short list of items that I have in my son's allergy binder. It is aimed at anyone who has to care for him should something happen to me, and focuses on things that I thought people would normally not think of. Feel free to add your own thoughts.
- NO dextrose IVs
- NO latex balloons, gloves, etc. (powdered with corn starch)
- NO vitamins
- NO rubbing alcohol
- Kosher for Passover items are generally considered safe in the corn-free community, but some are not. Generally, those designated Kosher for Passover by the Orthodox Union are safe. These will have a “U” inside an “O” and a “P” to the right. Kosher for Passover items are generally available in the early spring, though some are available year-round.
- His medicine must be compounded corn-free. You must do the research on the active and inactive ingredients because most pharmacists do not understand what all is made from corn.
- Grocery store produce and sometimes meat are washed with a corn-derived citric acid wash. To counter the effects of the produce wash, the produce must be washed and scrubbed with baking soda. Before buying meat, you must check with the store’s customer service to make sure they do not use any corn derivatives in their wash (mostly an issue with poultry).
- Some produce is also waxed. He CANNOT eat the outside of these commonly waxed items unless they are farm-fresh and verified to be wax-free. It is required by law that retailers display signs identifying which items have been waxed. Our grocery store’s list is: apple, cucumber, grapefruit, lemon, lime, melon, nectarine, orange, parsnip, peach, pepper, pineapple, plum, rutabaga, hard squash, sweet potato, tomato, yucca root.
- Vitamins are added to cow’s milk most often using corn oil or alcohol as a carrier. He CANNOT drink milk unless it has been confirmed with the manufacturer that no corn products were used in the vitamin addition.
- Corn can also hide in cheeses. Potential sources are: annatto (this yellow coloring often is extracted using corn oil or alcohol), enzymes or cultures (often grown on corn), and salt (iodized). There are very few cheeses safe for him and most are foreign.
- When contacting companies to verify corn-free status, you must specify that it does not matter if the corn protein is present or not, if it ever came from corn he can’t have it.
- In recipes, substitute potato starch for corn starch."
And, I have recently found a community on facebook that is run by Corn Freedom. Her son has a severe corn allergy, and she too has had to learn everything to keep him safe, and is thankfully sharing it. I wanted to share some advice that she recently posted:
I AM SURE YOU HAVE NO IDEA.by Corn Freedom.
When speaking with a "professional" whether in a store or on the phone always remember they are SURE of themselves. They are SURE there is no corn because to the best of their knowledge why would peppers be coated with corn? Why would peaches be coated with corn? Tomatoes? Why is it in their HUMMUS made with LEMON JUICE that's not labeled as concentrate and it's from the green bottle with the yellow top. They simply don't know. So YOU be SURE and don't buy it or don't eat it until you press for the information you are looking for.
I sometimes believe that there is no corn in a product because the person I am speaking with is so confident in their response. They are not thinking of our derivatives list, they are thinking about logic. There is NO logic on where corn is located in your products. It is squeezed into every vitamin, additive, flavoring, coloring, sweetener, lotion... no one who didn't need to know will actually know about these things.
Each time you educate yourself a little more you will realize that it's not them wanting to hurt you or they are less intelligent, it's just they simply do not know. So keep plugging along and if your questions are not answered by the first person, push for the next. Your health and the health of your family comes before being embarrassed by asking questions.
There are a few other useful websites for references, there is a lot you just need to learn on your own (unfortunately). I hope this post can help guide some of that learning process for those just beginning. I learn more everyday, through my son and for my son. Corn allergy awareness is on the rise, but we (corn allergic parents and individuals) need to continue to raise the awareness of the realities of a corn allergy.
I am not the only one who has had to learn on their own. I wanted to share some advice from some other educated corn allergic people. My first go-to was the Corn Free website. This women spent painstakingly oodles of hours putting together extensive lists of ingredients, that have almost memorized in my efforts to keep my son safe.
I have since joined a community on babycenter where moms come together to share their experiences and a very knowledgeable mom posted this: Considerations when dealing with corn allergy:
"Here is a short list of items that I have in my son's allergy binder. It is aimed at anyone who has to care for him should something happen to me, and focuses on things that I thought people would normally not think of. Feel free to add your own thoughts.
- NO dextrose IVs
- NO latex balloons, gloves, etc. (powdered with corn starch)
- NO vitamins
- NO rubbing alcohol
- Kosher for Passover items are generally considered safe in the corn-free community, but some are not. Generally, those designated Kosher for Passover by the Orthodox Union are safe. These will have a “U” inside an “O” and a “P” to the right. Kosher for Passover items are generally available in the early spring, though some are available year-round.
- His medicine must be compounded corn-free. You must do the research on the active and inactive ingredients because most pharmacists do not understand what all is made from corn.
- Grocery store produce and sometimes meat are washed with a corn-derived citric acid wash. To counter the effects of the produce wash, the produce must be washed and scrubbed with baking soda. Before buying meat, you must check with the store’s customer service to make sure they do not use any corn derivatives in their wash (mostly an issue with poultry).
- Some produce is also waxed. He CANNOT eat the outside of these commonly waxed items unless they are farm-fresh and verified to be wax-free. It is required by law that retailers display signs identifying which items have been waxed. Our grocery store’s list is: apple, cucumber, grapefruit, lemon, lime, melon, nectarine, orange, parsnip, peach, pepper, pineapple, plum, rutabaga, hard squash, sweet potato, tomato, yucca root.
- Vitamins are added to cow’s milk most often using corn oil or alcohol as a carrier. He CANNOT drink milk unless it has been confirmed with the manufacturer that no corn products were used in the vitamin addition.
- Corn can also hide in cheeses. Potential sources are: annatto (this yellow coloring often is extracted using corn oil or alcohol), enzymes or cultures (often grown on corn), and salt (iodized). There are very few cheeses safe for him and most are foreign.
- When contacting companies to verify corn-free status, you must specify that it does not matter if the corn protein is present or not, if it ever came from corn he can’t have it.
- In recipes, substitute potato starch for corn starch."
And, I have recently found a community on facebook that is run by Corn Freedom. Her son has a severe corn allergy, and she too has had to learn everything to keep him safe, and is thankfully sharing it. I wanted to share some advice that she recently posted:
I AM SURE YOU HAVE NO IDEA.by Corn Freedom.
When speaking with a "professional" whether in a store or on the phone always remember they are SURE of themselves. They are SURE there is no corn because to the best of their knowledge why would peppers be coated with corn? Why would peaches be coated with corn? Tomatoes? Why is it in their HUMMUS made with LEMON JUICE that's not labeled as concentrate and it's from the green bottle with the yellow top. They simply don't know. So YOU be SURE and don't buy it or don't eat it until you press for the information you are looking for.
I sometimes believe that there is no corn in a product because the person I am speaking with is so confident in their response. They are not thinking of our derivatives list, they are thinking about logic. There is NO logic on where corn is located in your products. It is squeezed into every vitamin, additive, flavoring, coloring, sweetener, lotion... no one who didn't need to know will actually know about these things.
Each time you educate yourself a little more you will realize that it's not them wanting to hurt you or they are less intelligent, it's just they simply do not know. So keep plugging along and if your questions are not answered by the first person, push for the next. Your health and the health of your family comes before being embarrassed by asking questions.
There are a few other useful websites for references, there is a lot you just need to learn on your own (unfortunately). I hope this post can help guide some of that learning process for those just beginning. I learn more everyday, through my son and for my son. Corn allergy awareness is on the rise, but we (corn allergic parents and individuals) need to continue to raise the awareness of the realities of a corn allergy.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Is a Corn Allergy for real?
Corn is an ever growing allergy in the United States. I, myself, never fully understood it and surely had never met someone allergic to it. That is until my Little Man was not tolerating things like Tylenol and having violent reactions to formula's and reflux medications that I even began to look into the very real possibility of a corn allergy. When you first come across it, trying to absorb everything that a corn allergy entails in our everyday lives - in our food supply, it is overwhelming.
When a mom on a corn-free babies board I visit said, "Corn allergy seems to be a pretty big nightmare but to me, it is much better to know and be able to manage than to feel like I am missing something and my baby is suffering for it."....I felt like nothing can sum it up better.
Recently, an article has gotten some wheels spinning for me (and other corn allergy sufferers). As if a corn allergy isn't very real, or that it is not important....that those suffering from it simply need to just deal with it- for the sake of the economy? That is the message I received from this article: Allergies: nothing to sneeze at.
Now, I am not one to think the world has to change to accommodate my needs, my son's allergies. What I would like though is: 1). acknowledgment that a corn allergy is very real. 2). awareness that corn is in everything (don't worry about keeping track- I will do that) and 3. DISCLOSE and LABEL that corn is in your product....and the VERY least - when I call your company to ask about the source of an ingredient, please do not tell me "I don't know where it is from, it's just not from corn"....if you don't know where it is from- it is probably from corn. It can be refined, processed, fermented, proteins removed and my son will still react to it.....so I need to know. I do not hold anyone else responsible for his allergy, but I need to know because I am.
When a mom on a corn-free babies board I visit said, "Corn allergy seems to be a pretty big nightmare but to me, it is much better to know and be able to manage than to feel like I am missing something and my baby is suffering for it."....I felt like nothing can sum it up better.
Recently, an article has gotten some wheels spinning for me (and other corn allergy sufferers). As if a corn allergy isn't very real, or that it is not important....that those suffering from it simply need to just deal with it- for the sake of the economy? That is the message I received from this article: Allergies: nothing to sneeze at.
Now, I am not one to think the world has to change to accommodate my needs, my son's allergies. What I would like though is: 1). acknowledgment that a corn allergy is very real. 2). awareness that corn is in everything (don't worry about keeping track- I will do that) and 3. DISCLOSE and LABEL that corn is in your product....and the VERY least - when I call your company to ask about the source of an ingredient, please do not tell me "I don't know where it is from, it's just not from corn"....if you don't know where it is from- it is probably from corn. It can be refined, processed, fermented, proteins removed and my son will still react to it.....so I need to know. I do not hold anyone else responsible for his allergy, but I need to know because I am.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Corn is in Everything!
I have a few corn website resources since we discovered corn being a trigger for Little Man. I wanted to do a post about it, as I have been finding new resources for corn allergies...and also finding something as reassuring as finding FPIES support groups....that there are other corn allergic people out there, facing the same challenges and obstacles to health.
The first one I found still has been my biggest "go-to" as she put a lot of work into her webpage to help corn allergic people. She provides a list of corn derived products, product names that could mean corn....it is at the very least a great list to know which ingredients I need to yield to, and check on....I always check everything for myself. You can not simply trust a doctor or a pharmacist, or a company customer service representative (no matter how well meaning)....or the ingredient listing. You need to know the ingredient source of all ingredients. Corn has many names and many things you wouldn't suspect corn to be a part of, has corn derivites; and many people simply do not recognize this to know. It is up to you, as the corn allergic person to check ingredients. Her website is: Corn Allergens
The next one I came across is: Corn free foods blog
This is an active blog and has provided some eye opening topics, discussions, articles. I follow this blog daily.
Another good blog to follow is: Live Corn free. Visit this site to sign a petition to get corn added in the top 8 Allergens.
Another one I just found is appropriatly named: a Zillion Uses for Corn. It is a quick-read-great eye opener for just how many things corn are in (wish I would have found it when I spent a few hours researching why Little man kept reacting to the sheetrock he was putting in his mouth, or the books he was eating!)...paper and gypsum board have corn in them!!
An article shared to me shed some light on why corn is in everything, it is: http://www.abmf.com/news/nabitor It is good to know why it is in everything because then you know when to suspect it might be in something. In short, it is a mold-inhibitor...so a preservative (for food and non-food).
There are many more, and the list grows. I have started a corn resources section on the side of my blog for those following that also have to worry about corn for their little ones (and my place to keep it all organized!).
Little Mans corn intolerance is quite sensitive. I get worried when I wonder if he'll ever outgrow it...being so sensitive to it and us taking so long to discover it, his last corn ingestions were in August, but then he did have an accidental ingestion, of sheetrock (we really need to get our basement finished - we started the remodel of the walls before Little man was born but we haven't had the time or money to finish mud/tape/painting it!). Since his anemia is better, he doesn't have the PICA he has had in the past so his sheet-rocking seeking obsession isn't as bad. And since the last time he accidently ingested it, he hasn't tried again -- maybe he finally associated that ingestion with his reaction.
The first one I found still has been my biggest "go-to" as she put a lot of work into her webpage to help corn allergic people. She provides a list of corn derived products, product names that could mean corn....it is at the very least a great list to know which ingredients I need to yield to, and check on....I always check everything for myself. You can not simply trust a doctor or a pharmacist, or a company customer service representative (no matter how well meaning)....or the ingredient listing. You need to know the ingredient source of all ingredients. Corn has many names and many things you wouldn't suspect corn to be a part of, has corn derivites; and many people simply do not recognize this to know. It is up to you, as the corn allergic person to check ingredients. Her website is: Corn Allergens
The next one I came across is: Corn free foods blog
This is an active blog and has provided some eye opening topics, discussions, articles. I follow this blog daily.
Another good blog to follow is: Live Corn free. Visit this site to sign a petition to get corn added in the top 8 Allergens.
Another one I just found is appropriatly named: a Zillion Uses for Corn. It is a quick-read-great eye opener for just how many things corn are in (wish I would have found it when I spent a few hours researching why Little man kept reacting to the sheetrock he was putting in his mouth, or the books he was eating!)...paper and gypsum board have corn in them!!
An article shared to me shed some light on why corn is in everything, it is: http://www.abmf.com/news/nabitor It is good to know why it is in everything because then you know when to suspect it might be in something. In short, it is a mold-inhibitor...so a preservative (for food and non-food).
There are many more, and the list grows. I have started a corn resources section on the side of my blog for those following that also have to worry about corn for their little ones (and my place to keep it all organized!).
Little Mans corn intolerance is quite sensitive. I get worried when I wonder if he'll ever outgrow it...being so sensitive to it and us taking so long to discover it, his last corn ingestions were in August, but then he did have an accidental ingestion, of sheetrock (we really need to get our basement finished - we started the remodel of the walls before Little man was born but we haven't had the time or money to finish mud/tape/painting it!). Since his anemia is better, he doesn't have the PICA he has had in the past so his sheet-rocking seeking obsession isn't as bad. And since the last time he accidently ingested it, he hasn't tried again -- maybe he finally associated that ingestion with his reaction.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
More sliding...
Little man has been sick for a week now. We've lived in this place before - all the crying, stomach aches and pain, sleepless nights, wondering what is wrong, what to do to stop it, or fix it...
He isn't throwing up, so for that I am extremely grateful. It also is a good indication that what he is enduring isn't FPIES reactions.
His diapers are another story. Since corn fail, we continued to give him Neocate- with trace corn proteins. His body was reacting to the trace corn proteins already and after we pushed the limits with a true food trial of whole corn; his body now recognizes corn as an offender- and launches the attack at even trace recognition of the proteins. We continued to give him Neocate following corn fail because he was just too sick to test out a new "formula" or milk. The mucous in his stools was daily, the throwing up kept up sporadically (despite no crumb ingestions or other food exposures). We were moving him slowly to only Hemp milk...until the mucous in his stool turned to blood. We stopped Neocate right away and went straight to Hemp milk and building a formula out of that.
His bloody stools were accompanied by unexplained low-grade fevers and lots of fussiness but we didn't see any more blood....until yesterday. Blood throughout his diaper, in streaks and clots, and the pain cries have been intense, until the diaper today with a very large blood clot- he's been feeling better since then so hopeful this was the "end"....and maybe just his body cleaning out.
I can hope, I am optimistic. We were getting to see such good progress before last week, if only we could get back there and stay there for awhile.
He isn't throwing up, so for that I am extremely grateful. It also is a good indication that what he is enduring isn't FPIES reactions.
His diapers are another story. Since corn fail, we continued to give him Neocate- with trace corn proteins. His body was reacting to the trace corn proteins already and after we pushed the limits with a true food trial of whole corn; his body now recognizes corn as an offender- and launches the attack at even trace recognition of the proteins. We continued to give him Neocate following corn fail because he was just too sick to test out a new "formula" or milk. The mucous in his stools was daily, the throwing up kept up sporadically (despite no crumb ingestions or other food exposures). We were moving him slowly to only Hemp milk...until the mucous in his stool turned to blood. We stopped Neocate right away and went straight to Hemp milk and building a formula out of that.
His bloody stools were accompanied by unexplained low-grade fevers and lots of fussiness but we didn't see any more blood....until yesterday. Blood throughout his diaper, in streaks and clots, and the pain cries have been intense, until the diaper today with a very large blood clot- he's been feeling better since then so hopeful this was the "end"....and maybe just his body cleaning out.
I can hope, I am optimistic. We were getting to see such good progress before last week, if only we could get back there and stay there for awhile.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Corn is in EVERYTHING!!!
Ok, really- I knew this...we are a corn based nation...but when you don't have to stop and think about every additive to everything, you simply don't think about it.
Little man threw up again last night, not terribly violently- just 2 large amounts and he was pretty much done, so could've been a couple of things: 1.large volume in short time period or 2. pedialyte.
We had a little bit of a formula supplier mix up and kinda ran a little short yesterday, not that it made too much of a difference because he hasn't been wanting much formula anyway but he went a few hours without eating, followed by a large ingestion of formula and pedialyte -- so,so hot out yesterday, and we were out in in for awhile running errands in the afternoon and at his big brothers baseball game in the evening and since I didn't have enough formula to give him, he had pedialyte to be sure he was staying hydrated.
I have been worried about the possibility of corn in pedialyte so I sent Abbott Nutrition and e-mail inquiry; I got a quick response this morning only to have my suscipions confirmed....sigh, it's all corn- the dextrose is corn derived and so is the citric acid. Sigh.
Little man drinks it well after a reaction and with repeated vomiting, emptying your stomach until bile followed by loose stools -- it is a good thing to have something to replenish those losses. So we were glad to have it in our treatment options for him, to be able to manage this at home, and help him recooperate from his reactions. Sigh.
He isn't feeling well today but is down for his 2nd nap, and we are told his corn-free compounded ibuprofen is ready at Walgreens; so hopefully he will feel better tonight/tomorrow.
Check back later because we are giving Samuel a second first birthday tonight. His brothers are so excited!! We finally got around to getting him some presents, and this time he can blow out the candle on his "cake".
Little man threw up again last night, not terribly violently- just 2 large amounts and he was pretty much done, so could've been a couple of things: 1.large volume in short time period or 2. pedialyte.
We had a little bit of a formula supplier mix up and kinda ran a little short yesterday, not that it made too much of a difference because he hasn't been wanting much formula anyway but he went a few hours without eating, followed by a large ingestion of formula and pedialyte -- so,so hot out yesterday, and we were out in in for awhile running errands in the afternoon and at his big brothers baseball game in the evening and since I didn't have enough formula to give him, he had pedialyte to be sure he was staying hydrated.
I have been worried about the possibility of corn in pedialyte so I sent Abbott Nutrition and e-mail inquiry; I got a quick response this morning only to have my suscipions confirmed....sigh, it's all corn- the dextrose is corn derived and so is the citric acid. Sigh.
Little man drinks it well after a reaction and with repeated vomiting, emptying your stomach until bile followed by loose stools -- it is a good thing to have something to replenish those losses. So we were glad to have it in our treatment options for him, to be able to manage this at home, and help him recooperate from his reactions. Sigh.
He isn't feeling well today but is down for his 2nd nap, and we are told his corn-free compounded ibuprofen is ready at Walgreens; so hopefully he will feel better tonight/tomorrow.
Check back later because we are giving Samuel a second first birthday tonight. His brothers are so excited!! We finally got around to getting him some presents, and this time he can blow out the candle on his "cake".
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