I was in the Google cafeteria last night and saw a sign for "Corn into Plastics", so I thought I'd look it up today. I have this annoying and worsening corn allergy, and currently my environmentalist hippie side is fighting with the side of me that would prefer not to suffer from using plastic products. Google uses biodegradeable plastic cups derived from corn, made by NatureWorks. (I used a coffee cup instead). I'm trying to find out how other folks allergic to corn have reacted and if this process removes 100% of the protein.

It seems even letting corn products touch my food sets me off. Anything containing corn starch (baking powder, most baked goods) or dextrose, or other corn derivatives set me off. (There is an organic brand of baking powder with no corn starch, and I bake with it. I also substitute potato starch in most recipes.)

Apparently the first corn-to-plastics plant opened in 1994, but this is the first I've read about it. I do find it interesting that corn allergies are actually more common than I thought. And with schools and such being so worried about nut allergies, I'm wondering if corn will be the next big fear.