Finding out you have a food allergy can be devastating.

Finding out you have a food allergy can be devastating. I think my first thought was, "What does that mean?" You ask your doctor and he says just avoid that food. It's just a skin test. They aren't entirely accurate.

I am going to attempt to give you ideas and recipes on how to avoid corn. It can be quite the challenge.

Sorry that my blog is evolving into a little bit of everything in life.



Contacting Media

Corp News Stations
http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3068843 abc news contact

http://www.nbc.com/contact/general/ nbc contact

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml?tag=ftr cbs contact

Look for your local news stations. 

I was thinking about taping into the beef industry.  I think the Cattlemans assn, and Farm Bureau types of organizations should know that their products are being contaminated with corn or gmos...  You know most of the little beef mom and pops don't realize their wholesome grass feed beef gets contaminated when it is processed by a federal facility.  Thats the only way you can buy cuts of meat. 

Kristy added:  You know, that's a good idea. Most of these small processors are getting run out of business by the huge ones that do nothing but mass production, USDA certified processing. There needs to be a way that grassfed cows can be processed using a different process. At least, they can be informed so that they don't pick cornstarch lined cryovacs for packaging. Maybe there is a way that they can always have their grassfed cows custom processed as if one person is buying the whole cow. I don't know what the answer is, but I am holding my breath that my processor doesn't go out of business any time soon.


Dottie's Comment:
All of these a good points.  I feel each of us is already an advocate for awareness of corn allergy in our own circles, social, business, relatives, etc. pretty much wherever we talk to anyone, especially if there is food involved.
But a larger profile depends on so many issues.  I think each of us, when we have some time and energy for it, maybe can think of one thing to do to raise public awareness of our situation.  I like all of your ideas. 
After all, It's not like we're asking for money!  Just more cultural understanding of the dangers of using corn indiscriminately and without labeling, or the impact of wearing fragrances, plugging in chemical-stew perfumes to spritz themselves around your house for no reason, etc., etc., etc.
I'm going to think about a good target for an article about us...maybe some kind of Salon or Slate forum, or a Wiki contribution.  I know many members here have blogs and are devoting parts of it to corn allergy awareness. 
I wish Michael Moore would do a documentary specifically on corn in America and especially on the effect it's having on our health.  Maybe Michael Pollan will pick up the idea to highlight.  There must be many people who would be interested to know about the lives we live due to corn allergy and how we cope, how we manage the stress and outrage and thoughtless comments/actions of others, which make us sick if that health "bucket" is full this week and it tips over the edge to a reaction.  I'd like to see us mentioned by Dr. Oz, Oprah, Sanjay Gupta, Andrew Weil, Dean Edell, and every other voice of medical advice.  
I like the nofragrance.org website, it may be a model for something we can collectively do to help others understand us better.  The Jenny Connors website is also really well done and a great public information resource. This forum is also a wealth of information and support on every topic relating to how we cope with corn allergy.  But you have to be looking for it, to find these. 
Living Without magazine just had a corn allergy article.  But maybe they would publish another if slanted from a different angle.
Let's think more about this and see what everyone comes up with.  We all know that so many days are taken up with daily life + avoiding corn, and don't want to add another "should do" to our list for the day...but some days we do have more energy and motivation, so maybe we can just let this evolve organically in its own time, and if someone has an idea post it here so maybe others can follow up on it as well.  I know we are already doing that now.  Thank you to everyone for your contributions.



Corn site with corn allergy comments: 
http://corncommentary.com/2011/01/21/allergies-nothing-to-sneeze-at/

The Corn List
http://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php

The Forum
http://forums.delphiforums.com/AvoidingCorn/

I have other sites listed on my front page.  Not duplicating here.

Sample letter:
Dear ABC News,
I thought you maybe interested in doing a report on the raise in corn allergy.  I am personally affected.  Most all food in the grocery stores is contaminated with some sort of corn derivative.  This includes toilet paper, medication, cleaning products, personal hygiene products and much more.  Since July I have lost 20 pounds.  I am now 5'9" 115 lbs.  I bought smaller clothes last month and I feel they are now falling off of me. 

I belong to a corn allergy forum at http://forums.delphiforums.com/AvoidingCorn/  Recently there was a blog ost on http://corncommentary.com/2011/01/21/allergies-nothing-to-sneeze-at/ My group came out and posted their comments to the article.  I am sure you will find enough material to start your report. 

Sites posted to:
http://farmaid.blogspot.com/2011/01/farm-aid-participates-in-farm-bill.html#disqus_thread
I hope the Farm Bill doesn't include subsudies to the corn industry without corn allergy research.  I am one of many corn allergic people trying to get some help.  Check out comments on the following site.
http://corncommentary.com/2011/01/21/allergies-nothing-to-sneeze-at/

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