Last night, against my better judgment, I ate a tortilla-wrapped sandwich from KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) that I believe is the cause my swollen left eye (above) and smaller hives near my right wrist and on the bottom of my left foot. I took a look at KFC's website, and they do a fairly decent job of providing nutrition information and safety warnings for their menu items. From the site, I'm able to see the ingredients that went into preparing my sandwich (it's called the Toaster Wrap with Tender Roast Chicken): lettuce blend, tomatoes, chicken, wheat, MSG, gluten, soybeans, and something called pepper mayo.
Since people in my family have similar reactions to pepper and MSG, I'm going to go with the combination of both as the cause of my reaction, but since I hardly ever have such a reaction to either ingredient, I'm wondering if it could have been something else. For example, is it possible that KFC uses an over-the-top amount of MSG or perhaps uses Splenda in preparing the Ranch Dressing that was slobbered all over my sandwich/wrap?
Has anyone else experienced similar allergic reactions or food intolerance with KFC products?
A recent 'rash' of news articles--with titles like Splenda's Sweet Success Means Tight Supply and Dieters May Face Splenda Shortage--have caught my eye as of late. You see, back in March of 2003 I wrote about how I suspected that the artificial sweetener Splenda was directly responsible for a serious rash that developed on my face (specifically, my left eye was swollen shut, and my bottom lip was swollen to elephantiasis proportions, after consuming beverages which contained Splenda). Click here for the full post from March 26, 2003. My own self-test the following weekend yielded that unofficially, Splenda was the culprit. Now, nearly two years later, Splenda's in such high demand because of its no-calorie attributes, that it's manufacturer, Tate & Lyle, can't keep up with the demand.
They say everyone's allergic to something, so I'm not here to suggest that Splenda's bad for everyone; but since I first posted a blog entry about my own experiences with the stuff, the number one reason for people visiting my blog via Google.com has been because of one particular keyword search string... "Splenda Allergy". On average, every month, 200 people visit this site because of that particular post. (Stands to reason...go out to Google.com, search for Splenda Allergy, and Belicove.com is the number one resulting site. Click here to see for yourself.)
I now avoid Splenda at all costs, and so too it seems do a lot of other people. Here's a sampling from the comments left by some of the people who have visited my website because of their search for information about Splenda-related allergic reactions.
From Brandon L. on January 1, 2005:
Add my name to the list... I used Splenda for only two weeks when the itching started. Two trips to the hospital, one suspecting the shortness of breath some kind of heart attack, the other due to itching, suspected tension. Stopped using Splenda and all the symptoms vanished in a few days. Could not be sure it was because I'd stopped using Splenda so I put two packs into a cup of coffee. Before the cup was empty, the itching returned with a fury that numbed the fingers as did the shortness of breath and chest pains. Goodbye Splenda...forever! Am feeling just fine without it. Thought I had to let you all know.
From Bari on November 30, 2004:
I did a search on "Splenda Allergy" today after racking my brain to figure out why I am covered in hives and itching to death and imagine my surprise to find this. I have never been allergic to anything, ever. But I cooked with Splenda this Thanksgiving in the cranberries & the pumpkin pie and have been drinking Pepsi Edge daily since Thanksgiving. One day after Tday is when the problem started. I thought I was silly to suspect Splenda because I thought it was just a harmless "sugar derivative" but now it seems it is the only explanation because it is the only thing new in my life. I'm throwing away my Pepsi Edge.
From Steve on December 28, 2004:
I am really glad to have found this topic. I too started drinking Pepsi Edge as I am diabetic and don't really care for the taste of diet sodas. I liked the idea of drinking a "full flavor" soda and being able to keep my sugars under control. A few days after I started drinking Pepsi Edge, I broke out with a severe rash. It is on my arms from shoulder to fingertips, legs from above the knees to the tops of my feet and on my stomach as well. I am using a cream for diabetics to help with the itching and taking Benadryl as well. I am really upset that there has been no advisory that I am aware of from Splenda or Pepsi that people are experiencing these rashes. As stated above, I am diabetic and have to really be careful where my legs and feet are concerned when it comes to skin problems. I have awakened in the morning with sores opened on my legs which I am sure is from scratching the itch during my sleep. I am trying to heal them as I would hate to think that I lost a leg due to Splenda or Pepsi. Thanks to all of you for sharing your similar problems as I was going nuts trying to figure out what was causing the rash all of the sudden.
Like I said, everyone's probably allergic to something, and that people are having reactions to Splenda shouldn't necessarily surprise anyone. However, that having been said, if you suspect that Splenda may be causing you problems, read Dr. Joseph Mercola's The Potential Dangers of Sucralose available for free by clicking here. FYI... it's easy reading!
Lewis Black Cracks Me Up: Lewis Black has performed his caustic, cranky, bile-spewing, dead-on comedy at clubs throughout the U.S for years, for which he's received considerable critical acclaim and lots hate mail, I'm sure. In a recent commentary on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Black tells us that from wars and spelling bees to hockey and the horses, the United States of America loves a winner. Click Here to watch for yourself, and be sure to stick around long enough for his commentary on LL Cool J and Carol Channing. Classic stuff!
Dave Matthews Concert: My buddy Rick Epstein, a Denver/Boulder architect, and his wife Lisa, both of whom I know from my days in Colorado, were in town on Monday evening for the Dave Matthews concert up at Verizon/Deer Creek. Rick and Lisa (pictured here with their adorable children, Zivy and Micha) were kind enough to score me a ticket to the concert, so on pretty short notice I got to see great friends, listen to some good music, experience a so-so contact high, and pose for a group shot for an upcoming Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. Not bad for a rainy Monday night in Indiana.
Aliens Exist, and Splenda is Bad for You!: Back on March 23rd of last year I posted a piece to the Beli-Blog titled "Aliens Really Do Exist." Since that time, a number of people have found the link and have chosen to share their alien-related stories. Click Here to see for yourself. On the Artificial Sweetener front of things, back on March 26th of last year I posted a piece regarding my concerns with Splenda, and since that time a number of people have commented similarly. Click Here to read what people are saying about Splenda.
For the second time this week, I didn't go into work today (Wednesday the 26th). On Monday morning my left eye was swollen shut and my bottom lip was swollen, also, so I stayed home. Yesterday (Tuesday) I was back to normal and back at work. But this morning I woke up at 3:30 a.m. rubbing my right eye, and by 8:00 a.m. the eye was completely swollen shut. Now, at 9:45 p.m. it's almost back to normal (thanks Benadryl).
While I don't know for certain if it's food allergy or environmental allergy, something in my gut (no pun intended) tells me though that it's somehow connected to something called SPLENDA.
Has anyone reading this ever experienced something similar (eyes swelling shut without being socked in the eye)? Does anyone know anything about this SPLENDA stuff? Please leave me a message in the "Comments" area below if you know something I should know. Thanks!