Day 9: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is what??

As you've been reading I have made it to day 9 being gluten free, dairy free, and rice free. But what about corn free? I thought I was doing good considering I wasn't eating the obvious offenders. Avoiding corn on the cob, canned corn, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, and modified starches.  Turns out this isn't going to be that easy.

Did you know corn is among one of the largest Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). You see our food industry is more interested in $$$, than if a modified food is actually safe or nutritious for us.  When did things become so complicated with our food and the people who produce it?  I mean we pay for it and we have no idea what exactly we are eating.  Regardless of the ingredients I try to buy organic and products labeled Non-GMO whenever possible. Check out the Non-GMO project here: http://www.nongmoproject.org/

It seems the more research I do on corn the more depressing my allergy becomes! I mean it's in everything from medicines, pickles, body products, packaging, and fuel. With this particular ingredient you have to really be familiar with the various names it has been given. These are just a sample of things you can find on a food label that contain corn:

Crosscarmellose sodium
Crystalline fructose
Cyclodextrin
Decyl glucoside
Decyl polyglucose
Dextrin
Dextrose (also found in IV solutions)
Dextrose anything (such as monohydrate or anhydrous)
d-Gluconic acid
Distilled white vinegar
Drying agent
Erythorbic acid
Erythritol
Ethanol
Ethocel 20
Ethylcellulose
Ethylene
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl alcohol
Ethyl maltol
Flavorings
Food starch
Fructose
Fruit juice concentrate
Fumaric acid
Germ/germ meal
Gluconate
Gluconic acid
Glucono delta-lactone
Gluconolactone
Glucosamine
Glucose
Glucose syrup (also found in IV solutions)
Glutamate
Gluten
Gluten feed/meal
Glycerides
Glycerin
Glycerol
Golden syrup
Grits
High fructose corn syrup
Hominy
Honey
Hydrolyzed corn
Hydrolyzed corn protein
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP)
Inositol
Invert syrup or sugar
Iodized salt
Lactate
Lactic acid
Lauryl glucoside
Lecithin
Linoleic acid
Lysine
Magnesium fumarate
Maize
Malic acid
Malonic acid
Malt syrup from corn (barley malt is fine)
Malt, malt extract
Maltitol
Maltodextrin
Maltol
Maltose
Mannitol
Methyl gluceth
Methyl glucose
Methyl glucoside
Methylcellulose
Microcrystaline cellulose
Modified cellulose gum
Modified corn starch
Modified food starch

And these are just a small fraction of them! To check out more see these sites: http://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php, http://cornfreedom.com/List.php, http://www.vishniac.com/ephraim/corn-bother.html


It seems I have my other 3 allergens in check but this one I can't say for sure. As I have eaten canned items that contain citric acid and distiller vinegar. With this allergy I'm going to really have to focus on making everything from live fresh foods and restrict my food list even more. This I'm afraid will always be a work in progress.  But knowing is just half the battle!!