Corn Allergy Basics

Corn Allergy:

A corn allergy is an immune reaction to corn proteins.

Symptoms of corn allergy:

Symptoms of corn allergy can be divided into 3 categories:

• Gastrointestinal – nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, gas, bloating
• Respiratory – wheezing, asthma, nasal congestion, runny nose
• Skin – hives, itching, swelling of tongue or face, rash, eczema

Anaphylaxis due to corn allergy is extremely rare.

The corn-free diet:

Following a corn-free diet requires the elimination of the following types of foods:

• Corn
• Cornmeal
• Corn flour
• Corn starch
• Corn syrup
• Popcorn

Corn oil may not contain any corn protein, and therefore may be tolerated by corn-allergic individuals. However, products can be contaminated with corn protein during processing, so a highly sensitive person should avoid corn oil.

Nutritional needs:

Corn is a good source of folate, vitamin C, niacin, thiamine and fiber. These nutrients can be found in beans, vegetables and fruits, fortified breakfast cereals, some meats, liver and whole grains.