What is Corn Allergy?
CORN-FREE DIET
One of the sneakiest of foods, corn can creep into almost every meal in one form or another. The corn-allergic person can be so sensitive that she can't lick a stamp because of corn in the glue, or drink milk because of minute traces of cornstarch from the paper container.
Eczema and abdominal and respiratory problems are associated with this allergy.
Corn-free diets are relatively easy to prepare because few recipes call for corn products. Various starches such as potato, arrowroot, taro, and tapioca can substitute as thickeners, and corn-free baking powder is available in health food stores.
Corn shows up in so many unlikely places, sensitive persons must be diligent in reading labels. Avoid not only the word "corn," but all sugars ending in "ose," which are corn derivatives.
Speaking of labels, a computer executive in California, concerned about his corn-allergic son, decided to print a corn graphic on computer labels and affix them to all the edible and other corn products in the house. When his six-year-old sees the label, he knows it's a no-no and backs off. Not a bad idea!
Some unexpected sources of corn might be:
· Ale, beer, gin, whiskey
· Aspartame (NutraSweet)
· Aspirin, cough medicine
· Bakery goods
o Baking powder
o Candies
o Carbonated drinks
o Catsup
o Coffee (instant)
o Fruits (canned, frozen)
o Gravies, soups
o Ham, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, lunch meats
o Ice cream, sherbet
o Jams, jellies
o Margarine
o Peanut butter
o Plastic food wrap
o Salad dressings
o Sorbitol, mannitol
o Table salt
o Tamales, tortillas, enchiladas
o Toothpaste
HINT: Stay out of Mexican restaurants.
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