From: Judy Keller [jckeller@jlc.net]
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 11:59 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: corn derived food ingredients

  Hello,
  I am allergic to corn. I have had many adverse reactions to foods that
contain "hidden corn." Your agency is supposed to protect people by
requiring that food labels contain information so people with allergies
can avoid products that contain substances harmful to them.
   However, it is not currently required under your laws and rules that
corn-derived food additvies be labeled. For example, I recently had a
terrible reaction to tomato sauce that appeared to be safe for me.
After getting quite ill, I called the manufacturer to ask if there was
any corn-derived product in it. I was told that citric acid is commonly
derived from corn.
   It would be very helpful to people like me if ALL of the things in
our food were clearly explained. I am allergic to milk and so I should
be clearly told on the label that Cassein is a milk protein.
    More than six million Americans are allergic to subtances and while
90 percent of these are allergic to the 8 allergens your agency
recognizes, it should be pointed out that corn is a very common allergy
not rare as is repoted by the Food Allergy Network and your agency.
  We have in this country a very rich and powerful corn lobby. Could
this be why corn -derived products are not labeled? Is this why corn is
in nearly every product?
   While I cannot suggest that corn not be used, I can ask that you as a
governmental agency can require that all corn-derived additives be
labeled. I should not have to guess if the fructose in my food is form
corn or from fruit. I should not have to call every single manufacturer
to ask if they dust their production lines with corn starch that is not
declared on the ingredients label.
    I almost died one night from being given a prescription drug that
did not appear to contain corn, but turned out to contain hidden corn
additives. I wound up in the emergency room.
    This should not happen to consumers who are trying to protect
themselves by reading labels. Even if corn is not a common allergy, ALL
ingredients and their origins should be clearly labeled for me to see
and avoid if I choose.
    Your agency has historically been responsive to consumers, but you
have been a great stone wall of silence about corn allergies.
    I am a reporter by trade and today talked to a FDA spokesperson who
refused to discuss corn allergies for an article I am writing. She
simply flat out refused.
      So now I am urging you to live up to your mission--protect all
consumers. Require labeling of ALL ingredients. Do not discriminate
against corn allergic people any more.

  Judith Keller