I am severly allergic to some product that is found in both Tostitos and Doritos, as well as random other types of chips. I know the solution is "don't eat chips" but what could the product be? I don't want to accidentally consume it. When I eat this, I get very bad stomach cramps and it ruins the rest of my day/night - the only solution is to go to sleep so I can't feel it. Help! Any ideas on this?

I have a couple of suggestions for you.

First, in a corn chip you would have to include any of the ingredients used directly by the manufacturer, and any product used by the suppliers in the raw ingredients. For example: when you eat chips that have been fried in oil, not only do you worry about the corn or potato allergy, but you have to include as potential allergens the oil (type of oil, or oils if it is a blend.) the ingredients used to process the oil (preservatives so it won't go rancid in the bag, and any type of chemical used to process the raw oil). You also need to consider the spices and flavorings used to give it the flavor that you like. I have found that manufacturers include only the ingredients they add directly to the product, and not necesarily the ingredients used by the suppliers. Picture this, if you are allergic to peanuts and somebody in on the suppliers side cook, fries, or adds peanut oil to thier raw materials to process into the product they sell to the chip manufacturer, you could get the impact from the oil and not know what it was because it would not be disclosed in the ingredients.

Another way to find out would be to go on an eliminaion diet. This would give you a frame work to start finding out what ingredient is that bothers you. It takes will power and organization. I once read a book called "Arthritis the allergy connection" It may not be in print now. But, it did have a wonderful insight into the elimination diet and some of the things this particular doctor/author, has found during his career to produce dangerous allergies.

The third way I can suggest is to go to a doctor that specializes in allergies and take the tests that determine all the things you are allergic to. It takes a while and it does cost some money (lots) and when you finally find out what it is that bothers you, you need to remember that your allergis will change as you change your lifestyle and as you get older and exposed to more or less of the allergens and new allergens.

Remember, if you have a life threatening, or severe, allergy you need to check with your doctor before you start any program that might put you at a higher risk, or place in a a position in which you will have an allegic episode, and are not prepared to cope with the results of such allergy.

Hope your sleuthing proves productive.

Frustrated:

You could have an MSG sensitivity...many people do. Although it is a naturally derived product (made from sugar beats) it is used in many types of fast food (chips included) as a flavour enhancer and preservative, and many have a reation to it. I myself list it as one of the things I WILL NOT CONSUME.
In Canada all products MUST have labels detailing what is in the products...so that we can make an informed decision regarding consumption of it. I would suggest you try some 'natural snack foods' like Natural chips or organic ones and see if the problem persists.
Just so you know, I have a variety of food allergies, and if I eat corn or MSG in even a small amount, I get symptoms just like you mentioned.
Good luck but know this...you need to keep away from products that cause you discomfort. One day you could actually DIE from eating something you are allergic to. Don't take it lightly!

Thank you - your responses were helpful! The MSG suggestion makes sense...all I have to do is take a nibble of a corner of one chip and that is enough to keep me doubled over for the next few hours - not pleasant. I tried natural chips and there were no such side effects...so it's probably something unnatural causing this. Thanks so much.

Frustrated... you may be sensitive to sulphites too. I know most potato chips contain sulphites.

Just a thought.

Originally posted by healwise:
Almost all the flavored chips contain MSG.
Nasty stuff. Monosodium Glutamate.
And if you don't see that name on the label,
that doesn't mean it isn't there. They cover it up with lots of different names.
This could be causing your reactions.

Healwise



i myself struggle w/these sorts of food mysteries.
for a while,now,i've been in denial about it all up until recently.
I began having the same stomach acid problems u are describing,to chips and fast food.
It seems to me to be preservatives and/or another ingredient unknown.
All i try to do is simply eliminate the foods i know will trigger these horrible reactions i have.
I get pains in the upper stomach.
I feel it may be the spices on doritos but i could eat them incessantly.
As for fast food,the only known ingredient i would say is oil or something used to cook.
unless its the meat itself.
Sometimes these allergic attacks,for me,trigger anxiety attacks and heart palpitations as well.
hope that helped.

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:)

Frustrated24,
Dogs develop allergies to corn in their feed.
Corn is an allergen, and may be in the chips.

Sound like you may be allergic to Corn or some type of salt. Do you have similair problems with other foods???

Thank you so much for all of your responses; you guys are great. To answer the questions, it only seems to happen with Doritos and some kinds of tortilla chips (I have to watch out when the group orders nachos at restaurants!). Obviously I eliminate what I know gives me the problem as soon as I realize it, but my problem is that I'm so afraid of this happening that I'd much rather avoid it all to begin with. It doesn't happen with ALL chips; I can eat other kinds. In any case, I've started buying only organic, baked chips (which are much healthier anyways). Sure, they're no Dorito, but it's a substitute. Fast food doesn't cause this either. My top suspisions (sp?) are the type of corn and the type of oil used. My father, genetically speaking, has a very similar type of reaction when he eats certain kinds of pasta. Again, he doesn't know what it is; he just avoids those pastas. Could it be a wheat?