Final answer:
c. Couscous is the food item not produced from corn; it is made from semolina flour, which comes from durum wheat. Grits, polenta, and masa harina are all corn-based products. Wheat, the source of couscous, is an Old World crop and did not originate in the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The food item that is NOT produced from corn is couscous. Couscous is a pasta made from semolina flour, which is derived from durum wheat, and it does not originate from corn. Conversely, grits, polenta, and masa harina are all corn-based food products. Grits are a type of coarsely ground corn used in Southern American cuisine, polenta is an Italian staple made from ground cornmeal, and masa harina is a traditional flour used in Mexican cuisine to make tortillas and tamales, among other dishes.
For additional context, it is crucial to note that corn, or maize, was one of the major crops that originated in the New World (the Americas). Two other significant crops that also originated in the New World are tobacco and potato. In contrast, wheat, from which couscous is made, did not originate in the New World; it was first cultivated in the Old World, specifically in the Near East.