Foods I’ve recently discovered 4 secrets that every person with a corn allergy should know about.
Corn is insidious. No really, it is. Did you know it’s in yogurt? Deli meat? Bacon? Sausage? Potato chips? Toothpaste? Juice? Salt? Yes, I’m now convinced that virtually anything that is not in a whole food form has added corn. Where does that leave someone who has tested positive for a corn food allergy? Oy!
Little did I know just how difficult it would be when 3 out of 4 of us who were tested for food allergies would test positive for a corn allergy (I was the lucky one with no corn allergy). People think dairy is hard…gluten…but take it from me, someone who has cut all of those, corn is by far the most difficult.
You see, prior to food allergy testing, I thought we ate a pretty “clean” diet. We were gluten-free (the kids were mostly gluten-free with occasional treats at grandmas house, or special events). I had cut sugar out of our diets. Our diet consisted of primarily of whole foods. I didn’t think that we were consuming much corn, with the occasional exception of when I was hit with a serious Mexican craving and my husband would take me to my favorite Mexican restaurant on a date.
4 Unexpected Items I Had to Stop Feeding My Family Due to a Corn Allergy
When I was challenged to cut corn out my families diet 100%, due to the corn allergy issues, my eyes were opened to all of the insidious places it was lurking in my pantry and refrigerator! Of course I knew how to avoid the common culprits: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn flour, corn starch, corn meal, and, of course, corn. You know, everything that has the word “corn” in it is off-limits.
What about the bacon and sausage my kids loved to eat for breakfast? If they didn’t have corn syrup in them then they had MSG. If they were free of both of these than they most assuredly had dextrose.
What about making homemade jello for my kids? Gelatin, stevia, and fruit juice – a fun treat without a bunch of added junk. Go down the juice aisle and look at the back of every single container of juice. Yes the front says 100% juice, but the back says citric acid. Citric acid is a corn derivative.
And what about all of my lovely pickles I canned this past summer? Nobody can eat them right now. All of them were made with distilled vinegar.
What about condiments? NO. Absolutely not! To date, I’ve found no condiments at any of our local grocery stores that are corn-free. Virtually all condiments are made with vinegar – distilled vinegar. Distilled vinegar is, you guessed it, derived from corn. Not to mention salt, yes salt too has corn in it (at least the salt most people add to their food). Salt has added dextrose (ie. corn sugar). This has made my crew sad, they all enjoy their dipping sauces.
The list goes on and on. I won’t bore you with any more details.
4 Solutions for Corn Allergy People Who Want to Feel Normal
How did I solve these problems so corn allergy people can still feel normal in our home?
The main thing we did is clean up our diet even MORE to reflect a whole foods diet. Now, I’ve had to cut almost all canned food items from our pantry (we do consume a lot of canned organic coconut milk). But, I’ve been able to find specific resolutions to each of the problems above.
Sausage: I make my own. Sausage is nothing more than spiced up ground pork. So, I tried a plethora of recipes, tweaked them all to come up with one that is given thumbs up by all of the kiddos.
Jello: If you go to the health food section, you will find a small selection of juices that really are 100% juice.
Pickles: I could ferment my own, but it’s not exactly cucumber season in Michigan. I did find a fermented pickle alternative that is sold at my local Meijer, and that is the only local grocery store I can find it at. Topor’s Pickles – these pickles may be some of the best pickles I’ve ever had. I’m looking forward to attempting my only naturally fermented pickles this summer though!
Condiments: I’ve only just recently delved into making condiments. It was only after I got the book Restocking the Pantry that it dawned on me to make all of these things myself. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it before? Kresha has compiled over 55 recipes of condiments!
I have thus far tried the ketchup and the classic yellow mustard recipe and they both turned out great! I did have to tweak the mustard recipe a bit. I used apple cider vinegar in place of the distilled vinegar and tapioca starch in place of corn starch. I’m anxious to try the barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, chili sauce, plum sauce…there are more. So many more recipes I want to try in this book.
If you are dealing with a corn allergy or intolerance, my heart goes out to you. It is not fun. Restaurants are not equipped to deal with these allergies. Food labels do not have to tell you if there is corn or corn derivatives in the products you’re eating. You must be exceedingly diligent in knowing exactly what is in every bite you eat.
This book is a fantastic resource for anyone with a corn allergy or for those just trying to avoid corn syrup and other unhealthy additives in commercially available condiments. You can click here to purchase the book.
For further reading:
- Quick Start Guide to Easy Healthy Meals
- 10 Motivations for Healthy Eating
- Should I Try a Gluten-Free Diet?
- The Ultimate Guide to Substituting Sweeteners and Sugar
- Could Wheat Be Destroying Your Thyroid?
I have been becoming inventive myself and making things on my own. My 4yr old is allergic to corn and all dairy. Thank You for the sausage recipe he love sausage. He love hot dogs the only ones I have found that he can have are Hebrew National and there is a trick to making those so they taste good.
Yes, I get Hebrew National’s for my boys too 🙂 Great tip for other mama’s trying to come up with corn-free options.
Hebrew National are far from corn free please be aware for the sake of your little darlings…There is a Facebook group “Corn Allergy & Intolerance…. I suggest you join. Lots of us there helping each other out and
positing research and new product reviews…
HI Olivia,
Thanks for the note. I just double checked the package and don’t see anywhere there is anything listed that could be corn in these hotdogs. Would love it if you could point me to the ingredient you think is (maybe I’m overlooking something?!). Here is the ingredient list:
Beef, Water, Contains 2% or Less of: Salt, Sodium Lactate, Spice, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Paprika, Sodium Diacetate, Garlic Powder, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Flavorings.
Sodium lactate is usually synthesized from corn and is listed as food to avoid on corn allergy lists.
Sodium Erythorbate – also made from corn
Can’t find that group
I am allergic to corn and everything that eats corn. This includes my husband. I found another brand of beef hot dogs made from grass fed cows. I also had to give Hansen’s soda because of citric acid. All my medications have to be made. Thanks for the heads up on the books.
So far, I can only have corn syrup, citric acid and one other something-chemical (CRS) corn item. Everything else either causes knife- like stomach pains, diarhhea and/or hives. Thought it was only salt…then found out, lol, salt granules made by chemically using corn agents to make them. Challenging to find all corn ingredients in food or cleansing products (RenPure safe for shampoos & conditioners), label reading is key.
Yes please bore me with list! lol. I have had a corn allergy my whole life and I’m sick all the time. I’m also Allergic to Wheat and tomatoes. And Citric acid, (which makes more sense now.) I didn’t know I corn was everything. crap. I’m screwed. Can’t be gluten free and corn free from stuff I buy. I’m so gonna die by the time I’m 40. I’m 36 and it just gets worse. I had to drop out of college because I was bed ridden for 6 months. I’m 36 now, and 120lbs down from 160. And this pandemic isn’t helping things one bit.
In the Hebrew National ingredients it simply states salt.
So is this the iodized salt that contains dextrose? Or
the non-iodized salt often contains an anti-caking agent, which may not be directly from corn but often causes more sensitive corn allergies to react, probably due to cross contamination.
What’s your trick to make them taste good? Thanks. Do they have milk or wheat in them?
Not to put any more downers about corn being everywhere (because it is) you also have to be careful about your meats and eggs as most livestock and poultry is fed corn and this can be a problem.
My boyfriend is severely allergic to both corn and gluten. I don’t know what to make ever. It’s definitely going to be a learning curve. Thank you for this <3
Corn has gluten e even though not recognized by most Drs.
Check out http://www.glutenfreesociety.org
Great post!! I love that you are sharing this information. We dealt with a possible corn allergy in #2 and we knew there was NO getting it all out of her diet 🙁 Thankfully she is not. Soy, Lactose and Citrus were hard enough to avoid.
Thanks Karen! Yes, corn is hard. Soy is another really hard one too! Because we eat primarily a whole foods diet, we’re mostly soy free, but I know there are a couple places it sneaks into our diet.
Thank you for this post. I don’t feel as alone in going crazy of what I’m now able to eat. I was just diagnosed at 36 with corn, soybean, mustard seed, hazelnut, sesame, barley, watermelon, cantalope, peanut, and I feel like I’m leaving something else off. I am so mentally exhausted trying to find what I can eat and potentially let the rest of my family eat what they are used to. This is helpful but I wish it would be required to list everything in a simple to understand way on labels.
Try having wheat, corn, milk, eggs, citrus, tomatoes, strawberries, pineapples and shrimp. Absolutely everything except meat, vegetables and a few fruits have 1 of these. And one place I read basically said all fruits have citrus even apples.
I keep thinking it’ll found something I can eat only to realize it has corn or citrus or wheat or eggs. I feel like I’m starving to the point I’ve had several light headed episodes this last week. I NEED HELP!!!
Oh and I live in a small town with only a small Safeway and a small Walmart. No such luck as a Health Food Store here or any of the surrounding towns. I’d have to go at least over a hundred miles for one.
HELP
I have the same issue. Following
This is my bread replacement. If you have allergies to these maybe you can tweak. We have egg, gluten and dairy allergies, if you don’t you can use 1 egg and regular mayonnaise. Makes two 4 inch bread chaffles.
3 tbsp almond flour (use sunflower flour if you can’t do tree nuts)
1 tbsp vegan mayonnaise
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup ju.st egg (an egg replacer)
Use the dash waffle maker for crispier shortcake. If you use the dash griddle it is softer and more like buns. For the buns I put sesame or poppy seeds. Cook 3 minutes.
I have tried other egg replacer without much success and have had limited success with powdered egg replacer because they are heavier and need more liquid. You can freeze them if you want to make them in batches.
https://thehealthyapple.com/corn-free-how-to/
This gives a list of even the “hidden” corn products
This is great information! Sorry for all the allergies at your house. I was just allergy tested and also live in Michigan. Doctor said, “well you’re basically allergic to Michigan.” Pretty much every tree, grass, weed, plus some foods, and animals. Corn was on the list. Now I’m excited to make my own condiments! In the long run this will make us healthier? We won’t be eating so much processed, convenience, and fast foods. Although more time consuming. Best of luck to you and your family. Thanks again for all the information.
Corn is a pain! We discovered it in kiddo #4 at four months of age (at the same time we discovered wheat with kiddo #2 and pear and pineapple with kiddo #3) – he had been allergic since birth and after removing the corn he suddenly stopped his reflux and diarrhea and started gaining weight. He is now 2 1/2 and growing fast. We tried non-gmo corn this summer, and he looked at it as if it were the strangest thing in earth! But he ate a few kernals and had no reaction- no diarrhea and no diaper rash! Would be wonderful to get that on food labels as well as the corn listed.
Thanks for the great post to get awareness out! We also use Hebrew National hotdogs. And I think buying canned fruit is so much harder than it should be- since we have to be on the lookout for pear and pineapple juices in addition to the corn junk.
Corn is terribly difficult to keep out. Even things you’d never think of are made from corn. Thankfully, we’ve been able to add corn back into our diets without any ill effects. We still try to keep consumption low.
I just found out my 8yo is allergic to peanuts (which we kinda figured) but also to corn and soy. What do you guys do for school lunches? Or bread or lunch meat? I’m at a loss on what to feed him and I know he can’t avoid it with school food it’s all processed. I have no problem making anything from scratch and have joined the thrive online grocery to supply me with options I hope. I live in a small town far placed from Whole Foods or other such grocery stores
Thanks for the post. All of your suggestions are fabulous yet I also have a rice allergy. Guess what that replace a lot of corn sugars with…rice starches. I’ve been plagued for the past year trying to find anything “safe” to eat between the two allergens.
That is rough! We try to focus on whole foods (meats, veggies, fruits) as much as possible and that really is helpful in avoiding all of the starches!
I just found out I have allergies to corn, wheat, milk, eggs, tomatoes, citrus, strawberries, pineapple and shrimp. I’m definitely overwhelmed. I feel like I can’t eat anything. And if I eat whole foods I still long for butter and condiments on them. (Milk and tomatoes) Even my steak sauce has ketchup. I finally used mustard. But I bet it has distilled vinegar in it. And I thought I could use Italian Salad dressing, or oil n vinegar but I’m guessing they have distilled vinegar too. What’s a person to do?
Also does sea salt have any corn products in it?
I feel your pain. I am intolerant of wheat, soy, corn, peanuts, eggs, milk and beef. I also suspect that I am intolerant of other things too like rice.
I have no clue what to eat every day, and due to my current situation I can’t prep and cook my meals. My two choices are either starving or eating and getting myself sick. Either way it results in my feeling terrible. I wish I was just on a feeding tube so I wouldn’t have to worry about it.
Try tapioca starch or potato starch in lieu of rice or corn in your find good benefits for that replacement .
Best wishes
OH my goodness I am NOT alone! I have a serious problem with corn and I have been trying to cut it out but it’s in EVERYTHING. When did america
It really is crazy how many things we put corn in 🙁
Unfortunately – the FDA and Agriculture Giant Heads allow plant hybridisation and dividing and reproducing of plants, especially CORN because it is grown easily and cheap fir farmers to mass grow and to mass sell to companies who produce food of al sorts. That is why Americans are FATTER and more UNHEALTHY than other countries which are more pure and their population is healthier.
Corn is in the majority of products sold in America. That is why it is used for fillers. Corn (HFCS) *High Fructose Corn Syrup is even in most all Honey brands you buy! If it is clear or transparent and you can see through the jar – be CERTAIN IT CINTAINS HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP!! The FDA does not warrant disclosure on any label. At least for now they don’t have to. Consider it to be a Hidden File or Ingredient in your food!!! The US Government allows it, for US TO SUFFER!!!!! We eat, get sick and have to buy medicine… to try and heal… IT’s A CYCLE – THE AMERICAN WAY! One of these days AMERICA WILL WAKE UP AND GET **”SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED!!!”**
GOOGLE THIS:
What is made from Corn?
You should find a list of ***** 200 INGREDIENTS MADE FROM CORN!!!!!
I am severely allergic to all corn and corn derivatives. Along side of that I suffer from Celiac Disease too. I have other food allergies, but they dont hold a candle to CORN. Corn is my worst enemy… I steer clear!! I’m pretty Vegan and occaisionally do enjoy some fish.
I love to breathe and hate to get stuck in the bathroom!!!
I saw nothing on this subject so I thought I would add that they have found out that dairy allergy is a hidden primary allergy with corn and such as secondary
Not sure what that means. I have a corn allergy as well as milk, eggs and wheat and several other things.
What would that mean for me?
Omg I felt like I was the only one on the planet!! I accidentally ran into your site looking up maltodextrin. I found out about 7 yrs ago I have a wheat, corn, peanuts allergy when I had my first aniphlaxis. Needless to say it has been so…. Hard and frustrating!!! Nice to know there are others who struggle with the same thing😊. Your info on foods has been very helpful, thank you!!! I’m definitely getting the recipe book.
My son has a corn allergy of 4 on the allergy scale. I have found a he has no problems with any uncured bacon. It is preferred to have the ingredient of sea salt over salt but neither has been a problem in bacon. He had been reluctant to try any sausage.
There is a Pita Pocket bread called Simply White from Kangaroo that my son eats. This is the only bread I have found for him. Available in a Tennessee Krogers.
What about corn fed? That is fed to the animals and milk and egg products. Even if it says organic natural there corn fed?
Some people with corn allergies can handle meat and eggs from corn-fed animals. Others cannot. It is important to note that some animals are “grass-fed” but are also “grain-finished” (they feed them mostly grass but then fatten them up with grains at the end of their lives to get them ready for slaughter). Organic farmers are usually pretty open about what they feed their animals, and there’s no way to know how your body handles it unless you try it out.
My son who has a gluten dairy soy allergy recently developed a corn allergy as well. It was also
Strange that he would vomit after eating blueberries, but I heard that certain fruits and vegetables either have a corn-based wax or even organic fruits use a corn based gas instead of pesticides. Have you found this to be the case at all?
Wow Kristin, I actually did not know that the wax on some foods was corn-based. We’ve not run into this problem as no one in our family is that sensitive to corn. Corn and corn-derivatives are one of those things that are VERY difficult to get away from.
Yes please be aware of this also. Produce is usually gassed twice. To stop ripening and to restart ripening…many are washed in critic acid washes and some are then waxed …Many produce departments use citric acid in their sprayers….Farmer’s markets are your best bet for untreated fruits and vegetables. Interview your farmer as to what he uses on his crops before buying…Frozen fruits and vegetables are also frequently citric acid washed and they can actually put citric acid into the bags themselves. Bags can also have cornstarch dusted in them to keep them from sticking on the production line…
Oh my gosh. I have a citrus allergy and thought I could eat most fruits. Can it be removed? Soda water bath or anything?
Curious if you’ve noticed any issue with meats which would have consumed corn while they were alive? E.g. chicken, eggs.
I have been trying to figure out which allergies myself and my daughter have. We haven’t tested corn yet. We don’t eat it but I didn’t know about all of the hidden soucres, but I have noticed that some eggs bother me while others don’t. My theory is that it is because of the feed they eat.
Anyone have a similar experience?
We did not have any trouble with this.
WOW! Great article! We are new to having a corn allergy with our 11 month old. Can you provide any corn free recipes?? He is eating table foods very well, occasional baby food when out and about for convenience. I like to make a large amount and freeze portions to send to grandparents’ houses. Thanks in advance!!
Oh, that is terrible that your 11 month old has a corn allergy. If you breastfeed, I’d encourage you to continue to give your baby nutrition that way for a while more. I’d really try to focus on whole foods with him – avocado and egg yolk are very nutrient dense and good options for babies. If you’re looking for some other treats most all of the recipes on my site are completely grain free. We have a 25 days of grain-free Christmas cookie series going on right now – so those would make some nice corn-free treats :).
Just be aware that avocado, like all commercially-sold produce, is also contaminated with corn. I’m very sensitive to corn and I can’t eat them. Others’ results will vary.
AVOCADOS:Can be gassed with ethylene from corn to ripen them. These are also commonly waxed in a corn based wax to make them shiny and trees may be sprayed with all sorts of corn-based things just like anything else can be.
https://cornallergygirl.com/2013/06/03/wheres-the-corn-in-foods/
Thanks for the info!
i just found your blog. Thank you! I just found out (2 months ago) I’m allergic to corn, hence makes my arms break out in open sore. Truly embarrassing. I have been cooking in a lot, sticking with fresh veggies and grass fed meat. If you have any suggestions please let me know.
Oh, that is just terrible. I’m so sorry to hear that. I think sticking with whole foods (grass-fed meats and organic produce as much as possible) is the best route for you. We have quite a number of recipes on our site that are completely grain-free that you may want to try out.
Just found out my 12 year old is allergic to corn. We had tried to be gluten free, sugar free, etc and finally got her tested and she is fine with all the others foods but not corn. How wild! We were sooo happy it was just “corn” but I am realizing its not going to be as easy. Help!
I’m sorry to hear your 12 year old is struggling with a corn allergy. That is so difficult! I mentioned to someone else in the comments, and thought I’d also mention to you, that you might want to consider looking for a doctor in your area that does LDA treatments. This can really be a game-changer with food allergies!
My English Springer Spanial is allergic to corn. He eats dog food made from bison and sweet potato only. So his treats are the same as his food. He loves hot dogs. I slice them into 15 – 20 slices. They are the special treat. For taking med or doing something really good. So when I found out he couldn’t have corn I felt bad. Now to find out I can give him Hebrews hot dogs. I can’t wait to get him some. I hope he likes them as well. I know he misses his hot dog treat. Thank You so much for the info.
You’re so welcome! I didn’t know my post would help canines, but I hope he enjoys his new treats 🙂
My 17 year old is allergic to yeast, oats wheat, potatoes, corn, and soy , as well as beef and a few fruits and vegetables. This was all blood test derived after some gastrointestinal issues. He’s had eczema since he was very young. He is miserable at the notion of not being able to eat much of anything. Do you have any suggestions, especially on the yeast free portion? That seems to be his highest allergen
I have celiac. You are right. Gluten is easy in comparison to the rest!
Wow, that really is rough Eva. I would look for a doctor near you that does LDA treatments. I’m using a derivative of it (LDI) for part of my lyme disease treatment. But, I’ve heard amazing things about LDA for treating food allergies and people who had severe food allergies and are now able to eat much more. If you’re on facebook, you might consider joining this group as there are many knowledgeable women who might be able to point you in the direction of a doctor in your area who can help you. I hope your son can find some relief!
Your like a good friend I’ve yet to meet
Until a couple of years ago my son and I suffered from corn
We gone through the best children’s hospitals a few allergists and nobody can make this conclusion that corn is an allergen and can be avoided
We made our own condiments sodas breads pickles chips fries and many more things
After being through endless doctors and misdiagnosis we found some comfort through making things from scratch just unbelievable how much corn is in food items .
Great job with article
It really is unbelievable how much food corn is in. Corn allergies are the WORST!
I recently found out after being sick so much after eating that I was allergic to mostly everything I eat. I really need help cause I’m literally starving at this point afraid to eat anything. I found out I’m allergic to these foods; shrimp iodine, cod, tomatoes, corn, eggs, watermelon, and chicken.. this was practically my diet .. I don’t know where to begin . Please help
Trisha I’m in the same boat. Everything I Love it just found out I’m allergic to. I Love anything tomatoe and wheat foods. Corn and pineapples, too.
2 weeks ago I found out I’m allergic to Wheat, Corn, Milk, Eggs, Shrimp, Tomatoes, Pineapple, strawberries, and all citrus (lemon, limes, oranges, grapefruit).
That’s basically my diet except for meat and a few vegetables. My garden has 12 tomatoe plants, corn and strawberries in it if that tells you anything.
I’m crushed and having an awful time finding anything to eat. I only like meats with something on it, Barbecue Chicken, Hamburger w/cheese and mayo, Ribs w/ barbecue sauce, Steak w/ steak sauce, pork chops w/mushroom gravy, etc. My favorite fruits are out and so are my favorite vegetables.
I too feel like I’m starving. I’ve even been having some dizzy spells. Have you found any foods we can eat? Or condiments without tomatoes or milk? I really need Help!!!
Great post. I just wanted to add that (I found out the hard way) fruits and veggies are no longer safe for highly sensitive corn allergies. Fruits and Veggies are now being sprayed with a zein-based preservative. I only shop at Whole Foods, and had the most life-threatening reaction in 40 years from a fresh pre-sliced cucumber that I purchased at Whole Foods.
I have not confirmed that this is the actual product that was sprayed on the cucumber, but a store employee at Whole Foods did confirm that most of their fruits and veggies are now sprayed with a zein-based preservative. More info on zein based sprays: http://www.zeinproducts.com/zeinapplications.html
Jones Dairy Farm Sausages are good and are found in the frozen section of BJ’s Costco and a lot of other grocery stores. Their ingredients are pork, water, salt, spices, and sugar.
About the hot dog post regarding Hebrew National brand……sodium erythrobate is a corn derivative. My daughters react terribly it. We have been fortunate to find Hempler’s brand hot dogs that are safe for them. But be careful, not all Hempler’s hot dogs are safe. The same with their bacon. We do buy a uncured vartery from them without corn or corn derivatives. But they make a great deal of other varieties with corn too! Unfortunately for me, whenever we find a lunch meat, sausage or bacon that’s corn free they tend to contain celery juice or powder. I’m allergic to celery. Also, one of my daughters all of a sudden was reacting to something…..I couldn’t figure it out. It turned out a trusted lunch meat changed their recipe to include dextrose. I now read labels every time I buy a product, no matter how many times I’ve bought it before.
Thank you for pointing that out. Thankfully, our family didn’t have any trouble with Hebrew National. I just went and read up a bit on sodium erythrobate and it looks like it can be derived from corn or sugar beats or sugar cane, it’s unfortunate when these things can’t be more cut and dry!
We are about to start my daughter on an elimination diet (soy, dairy, gluten, sugar, corn).
Have you found any lunch meats that are corn-free?
I read your post, ,but I think you are somewhat misled on citric acid. It is made from a variety of places, including deriving it from fruit. For industry it does use bacteria to produce, from their ingestion of sugar, some of which is a corn derivative. But this is a chemical change of sugar to an acid, it is not corn or sugar. If you are thinking citric acid is corn, do not eat an orange or use lemon, or grapefruit, or just about any fruit or vegetable, they almost all have at east trace amounts of citric acid.
This wasn’t to say that all citric acid is bad, but those who have a severe wheat allergy do need to stay away from citric acid that is derived from corn. This was also confirmed by my allergy and immunology doctor.
Unfortunately I’m allergic to citric acid too and I’m having trouble figuring out what fruits I can eat since like you said most fruits have at least some citric acid. Other places say a lot of fruits aren’t citrus. I don’t know where to begin. With all my other allergies about the only thing I can eat is meat. N those without any condiments ick!
Hey. My 5 month old has suspected food allergies. So far, her triggers are dairy, soy, gluten, peanuts, and corn. Would I be able to use the “Restocking the Pantry”? We have her scheduled top get in with an allergist but it’s a long 3 month wait to get in. She is exclusively breastfed at this point and I’m trying to keep it that way as long as we can because she’s VERY sensitive to stuff
My second born had some sensitivities as well when he was little. I went on a complete elimination diet in order to find the culprit. I ate only five food for several weeks and then slowly added back things until I found the source of the problem.
My son has allergies to corn potato carrots chicken spinach onion tomato peanuts. He’s 11yrs old. I need help on what to cook for him. He’s only had this for 3yrs but it’s getting harder by the min
Thank you. I am so discouraged and searching for any sense of normalcy. After multiple surgeries for serious digestive issues it looks like a severe (not anaphylaxis) allergies to corn snd corn products is the cause. I am so overwhelmed and you post helps me to not feel so alone and has given me some good ideas.
I cut vinegar, all vinegar, out of my diet about two years ago because I thought I reacted to it. At the time I thought I either had celiac disease or was extremely gluten-sensitive, so I figured it had to be the vinegar I was reacting to because it’s supposedly gluten-free. Now I believe I’m allergic to wheat, after finding out that my symptoms would improve drastically after taking antihistamines. I’ve been rethinking vinegar a lot lately, but it’s hard to find much information about it online in relation to wheat allergy. Most of what comes up deals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and that vinegar is gluten-free. I decided to see what I could find out about it in relation to corn allergy since from what I read, distilled or grain-based vinegars are mostly derived from corn. Do the corn-allergic avoid all vinegars where the source is uncertain, meaning just the word “vinegar” on the label would cause them to put the product back on the shelf? I’ve read that just plain “vinegar” on the label is supposed to be apple cider vinegar, but I’m very skeptical about that. That would mean apple cider vinegar is probably the most-used in processed foods, and I find that very hard to believe. I don’t see many foods with the vinegar specified as “apple cider”, “distilled”, “balsamic”, etc. I think the most-used is probably distilled/white, but it’s not specified that way on the label in most cases. I also wonder if more vinegar than what people think is actually made from wheat, and I might have been reacting to the traces of wheat left behind in the making of the vinegar. I’ve thought about trying products with vinegars not derived from grains, like apple cider vinegar, but am frankly scared to try. I’m fighting between this fear and getting an answer on why I have problems with vinegar, whether it’s the vinegar itself or traces of wheat in the vinegar. Hopefully after some more research I can gather the courage to try!
I did finally try products with specific vinegars like apple cider, rice, etc. and am fine with those products. I do continue to avoid distilled vinegar if I don’t know the source, and after doing some research and asking concerning just the word “vinegar” on food labels, I’m convinced that just “vinegar” on the label is NOT apple cider vinegar like some seem to believe. I continue to avoid products that list just “vinegar” as well. Since I’m gluten-free as well, I’ve been avoiding malt vinegar all along.
I know this is an old response but you may see it, or someone else later on. I have a tested and confirmed wheat and dairy allergy. Many vinegars (amongst other foods fermented in it) are often stored in barrels, and corn derived is the most common, however those barrels are put together with wheat paste, as most glues are wheat based. I have a hard time drinking or eating many things, not because the product itself is the issue, but the factories practices that become the issue on top of the already limited wheat choices. Many wines are killer because they’re stored in barrels, and its often just a choice of, do I wanna test this with my epi pen on hand, because its hard to know for sure, especially since many companies can’t understand the difference between gluten and wheat free, or they don’t even think about the process of things like, wheat paste in barrels.
Been following corn allergies for years, and knew about the barrel fermentation. I had no idea about the glue they use on the barrels being a potential trigger – as if we didn’t have enough to worry about! Thank you for this information.
Corn is a no no for me. The whole 30 has a really good ketchup recipe. and you can make barbeque from that. It also has a really good ranch recipe.
Bacon: Get a slab of side pork from a butcher, they will even slice it thin for you(like bacon). If you season it well it tastes very similar to bacon. It just isnt cured or smoked. So it wont last as long as bacon, and wont have some of the flavor. although you can smoke it yourself, or add a hint of smoked paprika to it!
I join the many of you who have a boat load of allergies from a wide variety of foods. Corn and wheat are what I absolutely stay away from. But recently I found out that I began to take magnesium and potassium tablets due to age depletion and leg cramps I would get about every night in bed. They were painful and my doctor told me to take these for relief. However I looked at the igredients in both and found much to my amazement that the hidden “corn” word was in the magnesium and potassium. in mag. it was microcrystaline cellulose, citric acid, dextrose,polysorbate 80 and dextrin. sorry, but what the h does all that have to go into this tablet ? the potassium has potassium glocanate in it. Can anyone suggest a place to purchase vitamins that are free of these deadly to me items in the tablets. I already cant eat alot, now I cant even get relief at night from cramps? Im still taking them but Ive substituted one problem for another. thank you.
I realize this comment is from 2017, but you could use the magnesium spray. I use it every day for migraines. I used to have them moreso than not, but since using the magnesium spray the migraines have decreased dramatically. I use the Ancient Minerals brand, you can find it on Amazon. You could also do epsom salt soaks for the magnesium.
Also the approved food grade wax found on certain fruits and veggies (as well as the pesticides-both organic and non organic) are commonly corn based 🙁
That’s not cool!
I know it isn’t food, but Fabreeze also contains corn. Who would have thought. Best of luck to everyone.
I have been gluten and corn free for several years due to Crohn’s disease. Yes, this causes Crohn’s disease. It’s hard enough to be gluten free but even harder when dealing with corn and corn derivatives. I do not know if this is the cause of all Crohn’s disease but it certainly is for me. Thank you for the interesting page.
My heart goes out to you all who deal with these difficult allergies and intolerances. Mine are an odd mix: corn, lactose, tomatoes, honey, cabbage etc. We cook mostly from scratch so can mostly avoid most of these.
Trader Joe’s has condiments that use wheat as the base for the vinegar ingredient, not corn, but you might contact them to be sure there are no other corn ingredients. Their chicken broth is corn free, as are a few organic brands at other stores. A couple of their sausages are corn free. Their hams and shredded cheeses are *not* corn free.
Sargento shredded cheeses are corn-free. And for lactose intolerant folks, most cheese, butter, and heavy cream are relatively lactose-free, though some will have corn hiding in them. Look at the label’s nutrition section; if it says 0 grams sugar, it’s probably fine.
A local health food store has gone HFCS-free but they add invert sugar instead, which is corn.
I look forward to a day when corn will be added to the list of common allergens products must include on the label but not sure it will ever happen.
Is there a corn-free and lactose-free long acting antihistamine/decongestant. Any suggestions? I use the dye-free Benadryl for allergy issues but I don’t like to feel drowsy. It’s too bad most pills in this country have corn and/or lactose.
People don’t believe me when I tell them I’m allergic to the world. Try having celiac, being allergic to melons, avocados, peanuts, almonds soy, sunflower, tomatoes, carrots, celery, peas, peppers and corn. Oh and being diabetic. It’s a struggle.
I’m trying to figure out the issues my 4yr is having so cutting out the main things dairy,corn, wheat, oat, rice are the few that we have had to do. But I’m curious and confused bc I have been staying away from things that have the word corn in it , but the allergy link posted below says that corn starch and corn syrup is ok bc they don’t have the (I just drew a blank) stuff your allergic to in it. So I’m not sure what to think. And then also a few things on their don’t eat list is vanilla extract and xylitol two things I didn’t know had corn in them (? I guess?). Which make backing for my daughter very much very hard. Any ideas or suggestions?
https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/corn-allergy
Lizzie –
What a fantastic Mama to figure out your 4 yr olds allergens! I know it’s a challenge. We’ve been dealing with childhood allergies for 22 plus years. (all dairy, wheat, corn, chicken eggs, soy, plus environmental).
What I’ve learned is that we have to know what the derivative of the item is… such as vanilla. Store bought vanilla is made with corn. The alcohol they use is usually a grain base (wheat, corn). However, if you make your own with potato vodka and vanilla beans… CORN FREE VANILLA! yummy! 🙂 Xylitol–is it a birch derivative or a corn derivative? A lot of times that may require phone calls to the actual company.
These allergies require a lot of time and effort to figure out what we can and can’t feed our kiddos safely.
I know that our children with corn allergies CANNOT have anything with corn starch or corn syrup.
You’re doing a super job! Keep it up!
I make my own vanilla extract. Initially I used potato vodka but wanted organic vodka so I switched to Ocean Organic vodka which is distilled from organic sugar cane.
Most xylitol on the market is derived from corn cobs, but some manufacturers use birch.
Also, I absolutely would NOT use corn starch or syrup. I have had severe reactions to frozen vegetables that were dusted with corn starch. I’m not sure why anyone would say that they are safe. You can use tapioca starch or arrowroot powder in place of corn starch. Some applications it does not work exactly the same. For instance, when using to thicken a sauce, I add it last and remove from heat. If the tapioca is continually heated it thins out and defeats the purpose.
Have you found a corn free gelatin? I was told that most gelatin has corn in it.
I just found your website and I want to thank you for your article. My son is allergic to wheat, corn, eggs, turkey, apples, maple and artificial colors.
It makes cooking a challenge!
I’ll be returning to your site often. Keep up the good work! You are helping so many people.
Do you eat chicken if the chicken was fed corn? I’m having a lot of issues with my daughter 🙁
I’m sad that there are so many that struggle with corn allergy as I do. It makes it hard to eat with friends and family. In addition to corn I’m allergic to Buckwheat, Cashews, Coconut, Cod fish, Garlic, Grapes, Goat milk and cheese, Green peppers, Herring fish, Kiwi, Lactose, Lettuce, Olives, Paprika, Peas,Peanuts, Pumpkin, Rasberry, Strawberry, Wine and Zucchini. So I eat a lot of rice and eggs and potatoes. I’ve noticed that when there’s some food items at stores that I can actually eat, like bean chips, when they sell out what they have in stock they don’t get anymore in. One of the reasons is because it doesn’t sell. I wish there was more awareness about corn allergies.
This must be an old article because there are many condiments that are now corn free. But back a few years ago your article was spot on.
I have no problems with distilled white vinegar because it is distilled. Some who have more severe corn allergies than I do can’t tolerate white vinegar, I understand.
I am finding more and more companies are addressing the corn issue. Spin Blend makes a salad dressing similar to Miracle Whip that is corn free. Heinz now makes a organic ketchup that is corn free and even Kroger brand makes a bread and butter pickle slices that are corn free (in white vinegar) that I can throw in my food processor to make relish. Brandless sells some products online that are good to. Some of their chips are safe. They sell a steak sauce that tastes like A1 that is safe. And it’s only $3 a bottle.
I could go on. It takes time to fine alternate foods, and often we have to go to the city to the health food stores to find the things I can eat that are safe. But I’ve found, breads, bratwurst sauces, breakfast sausages, waffle mix, kielbasa sausage, lunchmeat and the list goes on.
Is there a white vinegar that isn’t derived from corn?
I have a friend with a corn and dairy allergy, and I myself have a wheat and dairy allergy. We use to joke that whatever she could eat, I couldn’t, and visa versa, because as the gluten free craze took off, many wheat derivatives in food became corn derivatives and now her chances of finding food are greatly reduced, while mine have now increased. Unfortunately for us both, environmental factors such as cross-contamination of surfaces, storage, and packaging issues, we both still can’t eat things. I’m glad to see top 8 allergy free companies like Enjoy Life and Free to Eat are both gaining lots of popularity, so that I have at least some really tasting junk food that I don’t have to make myself.
For all of you folks that are living without corn, here is something I have done for myself. Very year, I stock up, and I mean stock up at Passover. Vinegar, condiments, and you name it, you buy it for a year. Candy too! And just so you know, there are many products that are kosher for Passover all year long and you can find them on the shelves at any time.
I clicked on the homemade sausage recipe, but noticed in the comments a suggestion to try xylitol in the recipe— but that also can come from corn (corn cobs).
Can my daughter eat organic veg fed chicken if she has a corn sensitivity?? So lost. She has bad eczema along with other sensitivities and allergies