Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Does Gluten Break Down From A Surface After A While?

BelleVie

By BelleVie
in Super Sensitive People

Recommended Posts

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted

It's been about two months since I went strictly gluten-free, and I've still been sick pretty consistently. Things are getting a littttle bit better, but still not where I'd like to be.

 

I'm certain that none of my food is CCed, as I cook mostly fresh veggies, and for processed things I try to use only gluten-free certified. But I work at a kindergarten, where people are constantly munching on cookies and crackers and bread, then using computers and the mouse, the tea kettle, the light switches, the doors, etc etc. It's in Korea, too, which isn't as obsessed with cleanliness as the U.S. is, so these things never get wiped down. My question is, could I be getting glutened from these things? For example, if I use the school computer, then get on my laptop right after, then eat a snack, could that be glutening me, or would that be too small of an amount? 

 

What sort of eating rituals do you all follow to ensure that your food and eating space is safe? And how much should one worry about being cross contaminated from unusual sources like these?  :rolleyes:  I don't want to be crazy, but I want to get into some really good habits so I can stop thinking about gluten so much during the day!!!!! 

 

Also, if my boyfriend eats a sandwich and then kisses me on the cheek, could that gluten me? I don't let him kiss me on the mouth until after he has brushed his teeth, but I've been allowing a peck here and there. :) 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

After touching anything that might have gluten on it, I am careful to wash up before touching anything that I am going to eat.  Skin contact with gluten should not be a problem if you wash it off before it can get ingested.

 

According to the University of Chicago celiac center, gluten takes 4 years to break down in soil.  I think that it would take longer to break down on a counter.  Open Original Shared Link

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted
  • Author

4 years? Seriously? Wow, this is like a rabbit hole. 

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

I don't know what their reference was.  I e-mailed to ask them and they didn't get back to me.  I haven't been able to find any scientific studies to back that up.  It does make me want to exercise caution in my garden.

  • 3 weeks later...
Yojimbo Newbie
Yojimbo
Posted

It's been about two months since I went strictly gluten-free, and I've still been sick pretty consistently. Things are getting a littttle bit better, but still not where I'd like to be.

 

I'm certain that none of my food is CCed, as I cook mostly fresh veggies, and for processed things I try to use only gluten-free certified. But I work at a kindergarten, where people are constantly munching on cookies and crackers and bread, then using computers and the mouse, the tea kettle, the light switches, the doors, etc etc. It's in Korea, too, which isn't as obsessed with cleanliness as the U.S. is, so these things never get wiped down. My question is, could I be getting glutened from these things? For example, if I use the school computer, then get on my laptop right after, then eat a snack, could that be glutening me, or would that be too small of an amount? 

 

What sort of eating rituals do you all follow to ensure that your food and eating space is safe? And how much should one worry about being cross contaminated from unusual sources like these?  :rolleyes:  I don't want to be crazy, but I want to get into some really good habits so I can stop thinking about gluten so much during the day!!!!! 

 

Also, if my boyfriend eats a sandwich and then kisses me on the cheek, could that gluten me? I don't let him kiss me on the mouth until after he has brushed his teeth, but I've been allowing a peck here and there. :)

Depending on how sensitive you are, yes, the gluten you pick up from shared objects could really be harming you.  I know this because I was working with a student last year in the faculty cafeteria after school.  We worked on the tables that the teachers used for lunch and there is gluten everywhere.  I would come home and scrub my hands under the sink like a surgeon multiple times.  Took a shower and tried to scrub it off again using a washcloth.  Made and ate dinner.  My stomach immediately bloated in a gluten reaction.  :rolleyes:

 

This happened every time I worked there.  It happens when I try to meet my business partner at a coffee shop where we chat and I take notes.  I come home after having my notebooks and pens all over these gluten-covered tables and I wash my hands many times using a scrub brush and I still get a gluten reaction.

 

My solution now is to wear latex gloves whenever I work in these places.  It made me feel weird in the beginning to be wearing these in public, but I can cook and eat dinner without any reaction whatsoever, so I've actually gotten used to it and don't make apologies for it anymore.  Cause otherwise, the alternative for me is to get sick and wait for the contaminated skin on my fingers and hands to slough off which could take 24 hours or more before I'm safe.  :wacko:

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

Isn't it weird that it doesn't seem to wash off?  I have examples of it not seeming to wash off either.  I find it mystifying.  

Gemini Experienced
Gemini
Posted

 

My solution now is to wear latex gloves whenever I work in these places.  It made me feel weird in the beginning to be wearing these in public, but I can cook and eat dinner without any reaction whatsoever, so I've actually gotten used to it and don't make apologies for it anymore.  Cause otherwise, the alternative for me is to get sick and wait for the contaminated skin on my fingers and hands to slough off which could take 24 hours or more before I'm safe.  :wacko:

It's official...now I've heard everything.   :wacko: 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Yojimbo Newbie
Yojimbo
Posted

Isn't it weird that it doesn't seem to wash off?  I have examples of it not seeming to wash off either.  I find it mystifying.  

 

Yeah, isn't that weird?  I thought washing with Dr. Bronner's and Ivory soap twice each along with a scrub brush and cloth and rinsing multiple times would do the trick, but nope! 

 

I found a post from someone about the difficulties of getting gluten off surfaces and it made a lot of sense that even soap might not be abrasive enough to get that "stickiness" off.  http://www.thesavvyceliac.com/2010/02/11/washing-away-the-gluten/%C2'>

 

 

It's official...now I've heard everything.   :wacko:

 

Yeah, but the funny thing is it works!  :lol:  I get less gluten reactions and I feel safer making my dinner from scratch every night. 

 

Also, probably the reason why I am that sensitive is because my leaky gut has never healed.  I think going gluten free is not enough for me.  I really need to be on a probiotic, enzyme, and glutamine regiment, and I just don't have the budget for it yet. :(

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted
  • Author

Depending on how sensitive you are, yes, the gluten you pick up from shared objects could really be harming you.  I know this because I was working with a student last year in the faculty cafeteria after school.  We worked on the tables that the teachers used for lunch and there is gluten everywhere.  I would come home and scrub my hands under the sink like a surgeon multiple times.  Took a shower and tried to scrub it off again using a washcloth.  Made and ate dinner.  My stomach immediately bloated in a gluten reaction.  :rolleyes:

 

This happened every time I worked there.  It happens when I try to meet my business partner at a coffee shop where we chat and I take notes.  I come home after having my notebooks and pens all over these gluten-covered tables and I wash my hands many times using a scrub brush and I still get a gluten reaction.

 

My solution now is to wear latex gloves whenever I work in these places.  It made me feel weird in the beginning to be wearing these in public, but I can cook and eat dinner without any reaction whatsoever, so I've actually gotten used to it and don't make apologies for it anymore.  Cause otherwise, the alternative for me is to get sick and wait for the contaminated skin on my fingers and hands to slough off which could take 24 hours or more before I'm safe.  :wacko:

Haha maybe we should invent a line of stylish latex gloves for celiacs.  :D  I'd buy some! Lol. 

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

I'd buy some too.   :rolleyes:

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

It's official...now I've heard everything.   :wacko:

 

Oh come now, I doubt you've heard "everything" yet. -_- you're still young.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

It's official...now I've heard everything.   :wacko:

It's official...now I've heard everything.   :wacko:

  

Oh come now, I doubt you've heard "everything" yet. -_- you're still young.

I am afraid you two are issuing a challenge!

GF Lover Rising Star
GF Lover
Posted

I've been thinking about this.  Reading about how gluten can jump off of tables whilst having a coffee or walking through the cafeteria and being assaulted by gluten particles and how all attempts to scrub the little beasties off have little effect, I did a quick search on ebay and found used HazMat suits at very reasonable prices.  :ph34r:  Do you think I'm over reacting?

 

C'mon Man

notme Experienced
notme
Posted

I've been thinking about this.  Reading about how gluten can jump off of tables whilst having a coffee or walking through the cafeteria and being assaulted by gluten particles and how all attempts to scrub the little beasties off have little effect, I did a quick search on ebay and found used HazMat suits at very reasonable prices.  :ph34r:  Do you think I'm over reacting?

 

C'mon Man

but...........who wants mesylthelioma, ya know?  ;)  if you or someone you know has it, you gotta call people and stuff.  (seems like a hassle)  ^_^

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Allergic to latex...sticking with soap and water.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

Allergic to latex...sticking with soap and water.

 

They make vinyl gloves you know, and they're usually blue. Us allergic people could start a new trend.

 

....ok, I actually use soap and water too. And since I'd probably turn up allergic to hazmat suits (and so would you for sure :lol:) I think it's a sound plan to stick to. Works on me and on my kitchen.

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

They make vinyl gloves you know, and they're usually blue. Us allergic people could start a new trend.

....ok, I actually use soap and water too. And since I'd probably turn up allergic to hazmat suits (and so would you for sure :lol:) I think it's a sound plan to stick to. Works on me and on my kitchen.

I know...I carry nitrile gloves in my go pack...but have never thought to use them to protect from gluten...

And I would certainly be allergic to a hazmat suit ;)

daisy buchanan Newbie
daisy buchanan
Posted

Isn't it weird that it doesn't seem to wash off?  I have examples of it not seeming to wash off either.  I find it mystifying.  

 

 

Can you give me an example of gluten not washing off because I do not understand how that is possible. It's not glue or anything.

Other foods wash off if you wash your hands, why not that one too?

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted
  • Author

C'mon guys, I really wasn't asking asking for sarcasm. You people, of all people, should understand that being perpetually sick can make you really re-think your steps, trying to figure out where the problem is hiding. I like a good joke, but I think gluten-free Lover's sarcastic comment was unkind. This stuff is new to me. I'm just trying to figure it out, kapeesh?  :unsure:

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted
  • Author

And on top of that, when a person spends 8 hours a day in an environment with 60 children who eat bread and snacks in the morning, at lunch, and after school, and then proceed to touch EVERYTHING, I don't think it's crazy to suggest that yes, gluten lingering on surfaces is a problem. 

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

And on top of that, when a person spends 8 hours a day in an environment with 60 children who eat bread and snacks in the morning, at lunch, and after school, and then proceed to touch EVERYTHING, I don't think it's crazy to suggest that yes, gluten lingering on surfaces is a problem.

I think they were questioning a few people who seem to claim that gluten cannot be washed off. If that were the case, we would need a bubble suit.

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted
  • Author

I think they were questioning a few people who seem to claim that gluten cannot be washed off. If that were the case, we would need a bubble suit.

 

Ah, in that case I must have misunderstood. Fair enough. 

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

Belle Vie

If I may say something here?

 

Washing your hands takes care of the problem.

Gluten does not adhere to things like a "film", hon. Even if I walked into an entire room of  150

3 year olds eating crackers, sammies and cookies,

I would feel comfortable just washing my hands, brushing off my clothes and not worrying that I had been glutened.

 

You and I have chatted a few times, right? I would never steer you wrong. :)

 

You have to INGEST gluten for it to cause a problem. 

Best wishes, as always!

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

Belle Vie

If I may say something here?

 

Washing your hands takes care of the problem.

Gluten does not adhere to things like a "film", hon. Even if I walked into an entire room of  150

3 year olds eating crackers, sammies and cookies,

 

You have to INGEST gluten for it to cause a problem. 

Best wishes, as always!

Gluten washes off 3 year olds, too! But some parents might frown on power washing the kids with a fire hose?

BelleVie Enthusiast
BelleVie
Posted
  • Author

Okay, okay, Irish, I'll resolve to chill on my paranoia.  :)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,023
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Tubbybooboo
    Newest Member
    Tubbybooboo
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Celiac getting dentures

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your experience is both shocking and critically important for the community to hear, underscoring the terrifying reality that cross-contamination can extend into the most unexpected and invasive medical devices. It is absolutely devastating that you had to endure six months of sickness and ultimately sustain permanent vision loss because a doctor dismissed your legitimate, life-altering condition. Your relentless research and advocacy, from discovering the gluten in MMA acrylic to finding a compassionate prosthodontist, is a testament to your strength in a system that often fails celiac patients. While the scientific and medical consensus is that gluten cannot be absorbed through the skin or eyes (as the molecules are too large to pass through these barriers), your story highlights a terrifying gray area: what about a substance *permanently implanted inside the body*, where it could potentially shed microparticles or cause a localized immune reaction? Your powerful warning about acrylic lenses and the drastic difference with the silicone alternative is invaluable information. Thank you for sharing your harrowing journey and the specific, severe neurological symptoms you endure; it is a stark reminder that celiac is a systemic disease, and your advocacy is undoubtedly saving others from similar trauma.
    • Scott Adams
      Dedicated gluten-free Restaurants in East Bay (near San Francisco):

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Those are driving distance from me--I will try to check them out, thanks for sharing!
    • Scott Adams
      Fighting for a name

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I am so sorry you're going through this bad experience--it's difficult when your own lived reality of cause and effect is dismissed by the very professionals meant to help you. You are absolutely right—your violent physical reactions are not "what you think," but undeniable data points, and it's a form of medical gaslighting to be told otherwise, especially when you have a positive HLA-DQ2 gene and a clear clinical picture. Since your current "celiac specialist" is not addressing the core issue or your related conditions like SIBO and chronic fatigue, it may be time for a strategic pivot. Instead of trying to "reprove" your celiac disease to unwilling ears, consider seeking out a new gastroenterologist or functional medicine doctor, and frame the conversation around managing the complications of a confirmed gluten-free diet for celiac disease. Go in and say, "I have celiac disease, am strictly gluten-free, but I am still suffering from these specific complications: SIBO, chronic fatigue, dermatological issues, and high blood pressure linked to pain. I need a partner to help me address these related conditions." This shifts the focus from a debate about your diagnosis to a collaborative plan for your current suffering, which is the help you truly need and deserve to work toward bouncing back.
    • NanCel
      Celiac getting dentures

      By NanCel · Posted

      Hello, no I had to have them re done and then used a liner over the top.  Many dentists are not aware of the celiac effects.  Best of luck.   There is other material, yet, very expensive.
    • sleuth
      Nicotine Gum For Gluten Symptoms.. Am I Crazy?

      By sleuth · Posted

      He is not just a psychiatrist.  He is also a neuroscientist.  And yes, I have already read those studies.   I agree with benfotiamine.  This is short term while glutened/inflammation occurs.  As I had already mentioned, these symptoms no longer exist when this phase passes.  And yes, I know that celiac is a disease of malnutrition.  We are working with a naturopath.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.