Rice Krispies & Corn Allergy

http://www.ricekrispies.com/

As much as we'd all love to sit and eat Rice Krispy Treats, Kellogg's Rice Krispies are not safe for corn allergies.

First, Rice Krispies are fortified. The fortification process adds corn. ALWAYS. So if you see a product that is fortified with vitamins, just put it back on the shelf.

Fortification contains corn for two reasons.
1. The vitamins are sometimes sourced from corn as it the case with almost all Vitamin C products on the market. They are produced via fermentation of corn.
2. Corn and corn derivatives are used to stabilize the vitamins so that they are viable when added to the product, and so they are shelf-stable.. so that when you eat the product the vitamins are still viable.

I have circled/boxed in the main corny ingredients in these products. BHT is almost always derived from corn. And then there's the aforementioned vitamins.

Also in the original Rice Krispies there is malt flavor. There are two things this could be and both are so often from corn that I'd be surprised if it wasn't.
1. Malt Flavor can be from actual malted products, which is usually a mix of corn and barley. That it's not included in the gluten-free one, means there's likely some barley in it.
2. "Flavor" in most products - even natural flavor - is made in a lab somewhere from chemicals, which are usually corny.

All this to say, yes... Rice Krispies are not safe for corn allergies. 

Rice Chex & Corn Allergy

http://www.chex.com

It turns out there are quite a few foods that aren't posted about on here because none of our group eats them nor have they tried to eat them in many many years because of the obvious corn. But some of the newer to corn allergies crowd are attempting to eat them. So we'll be making a few posts here in the next few days so that these products show up in our page search.

As much as we'd all love to grab a box off the shelf and start eating, General Mills Rice Chex is not safe for corn allergies.

First, Rice Chex is fortified. The fortification process adds corn. ALWAYS. So if you see a product that is fortified with vitamins, just put it back on the shelf.

Fortification contains corn for two reasons.
1. The vitamins are sometimes sourced from corn as it the case with almost all Vitamin C products on the market. They are produced via fermentation of corn.
2. Corn and corn derivatives are used to stabilize the vitamins so that they are viable when added to the product, and so they are shelf-stable.. so that when you eat the product the vitamins are still viable.

I have circled/boxed in the main corny ingredients in this product. Vitamin E is almost always corntaminated, but can be from corn or soy. BHT is almost always derived from corn. And then there's the aforementioned vitamins.

Now let me talk for a minute about the things not boxed in red. Lets ignore that rice can be corntaminated and that the cereal itself could easily be made on the same lines as their Corn Chex (which is also gluten-free).  The sugar is likely safe, and the salt is likely safe-ish.

Molasses on the other hand is easy to have corn added to it. There are very few molasses products on the market that are safe for corn allergies, so if you see molasses on a product you should use caution.

Anyway, I hope this helps some of our newer group members and those new to corn allergies to better avoid some of the pitfalls.

Quaker Oats

A recent inquiry by one of our Facebook group members into Quaker Oats, received this response:

"Thanks for letting us know that you're allergic to corn. We appreciate your interest in buying Quaker Old Fashioned Oats directly from us.

I'd like you to know that our oats could have been grown, harvested, stored, and/or transported with corn; therefore, we cannot guarantee that our oats didn't have incidental exposure to this ingredient.

I wish we could be more helpful. Thanks for considering our brand of oats.

Quaker Consumer Relations"

Since most customer responses we get are ambiguous or "there's no corn in it" when there is, we're super-stoked about the honesty of this response, and would totally buy them if we could.

Quaker Oats have had many reports of allergic reactions among our corn groups and so we do not deem them safe for corn allergies. 

Fred Meyer - Private Selection Organic Raisin Bran

A member of Delphi - Avoiding Corn did an indepth inquiry into Fred Meyer's Private Selection Organic Raisin Bran and the company confirmed that the cereal is corn-free.

As of yet, I don't know if anyone has tried this cereal. If you do try it, or if you currently eat it, do let us know how you do with it.

Perky O's Cereal

Perky O's cereal is often asked about.. "Why isn't this on the list?"

Most of us are extremely leery of products with enrichments as often those enrichments are either from corn, or contain some kind of corn stabilizer or carrier.

Enjoy Life: Perky's has confirmed with one of the Delphi members that the Vitamin C in the Perky O's cereal is obtained from corn.

If you are eating this product, do be careful. Reactions to this product have also been reported in the past.